<strong>Straight up: </strong>The VVA-14 was designed to be capable of taking off vertically from land or water before flying like a regular airplane.
Straight up: The VVA-14 was designed to be capable of taking off vertically from land or water before flying like a regular airplane.
Courtesy Andrii Salnikov
<strong>Bartini Beriev VVA-14: </strong>The only surviving prototype of this unusual Soviet-era airplane, is currently sitting in pieces at Russia's Central Air Force Museum after suffering looting and vandalism.
Bartini Beriev VVA-14: The only surviving prototype of this unusual Soviet-era airplane, is currently sitting in pieces at Russia's Central Air Force Museum after suffering looting and vandalism.
Alamy
<strong>Seek and destroy: </strong>The aircraft was developed as a response to the Polaris ballistic missiles introduced by the United States in 1961 on its submarine fleet. Designer Robert Bartini believed it would be the perfect machine to seek and destroy missile-carrying submarines.
Seek and destroy: The aircraft was developed as a response to the Polaris ballistic missiles introduced by the United States in 1961 on its submarine fleet. Designer Robert Bartini believed it would be the perfect machine to seek and destroy missile-carrying submarines.
Courtesy Andrii Salnikov
<strong>Test flight: </strong>Only two of the proposed three prototypes were ever built, and only one was ever flown. When Bartini died, in 1974, the project died with him, and the second prototype was dismantled.
Test flight: Only two of the proposed three prototypes were ever built, and only one was ever flown. When Bartini died, in 1974, the project died with him, and the second prototype was dismantled.
Courtesy Andrii Salnikov
<strong>Versatile machine: </strong>Bartini had envisaged several different versions of the VVA-14, including one with inflatable pontoons to land on water and another with folding wings that could be operated from ships at sea.
Versatile machine: Bartini had envisaged several different versions of the VVA-14, including one with inflatable pontoons to land on water and another with folding wings that could be operated from ships at sea.
Courtesy Andrii Salnikov
<strong>Price tag: </strong>Russia's Central Air Force Museum, near Moscow, says that it would take about $1.2 million to restore the sole remaining VVA-14 prototype.
Price tag: Russia's Central Air Force Museum, near Moscow, says that it would take about $1.2 million to restore the sole remaining VVA-14 prototype.
Courtesy Andrii Salnikov
<strong>Giant legacy:</strong> The work on the VVA-14 helped inform the development of so-called ekranoplan aircraft -- like the gigantic Soviet Lun class machine pictured -- which skimmed over the water.
Giant legacy: The work on the VVA-14 helped inform the development of so-called ekranoplan aircraft -- like the gigantic Soviet Lun class machine pictured -- which skimmed over the water.