Boeing Pelican

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The Boeing Pelican ULTRA (Large Transport Aircraft) is a proposed ground effect airplane under study by Boeing Phantom Works. Intended as a large-capacity transport craft for military or civilian use, it would have a wingspan of 500 feet, a cargo capacity of 1,400 tons, and a range of 10,000 miles. Powered by four turboprop engines, its main mode would be to fly 20-50 feet over water, though it would also be capable of overland flight at a higher altitude but lesser range. It would operate from conventional runways, with its weight distributed over 38 fuselage-mounted landing gears with 76 wheels.

Contents 1 Body 2 Specifications 3 External links 4 Related content

[edit] Body

• Development: The Pelican is currently under development.
• Operational history: The Pelican is not yet operational.
• Variants: The proposal for the Pelican includes both military and civilian uses, suggesting that there may be at least two variants of the craft.
• Markings: Artists conceptions provided by Boeing show the Pelican with a plain gray or white paintjob.
• Users: Potential users include the United States Air Force, allied air forces, and civilian shipping companies.

[edit] Specifications

General characteristics

• Length: 400 ft (122 m)
• Wingspan: 500 ft (152 m)
• Height: ()
• Useful load: 2,800,000 lb (1400 tons) (1,272,727 kg)

Performance

Armament

The Pelican does not have a bomb bay, but unmanned aerial vehicles or other ordnance could in theory be released from a rear loading ramp. However, as a wing-in-ground effect vehicle, the Pelican would operate at an altitude too low for conventional bombs to be employed. Missiles could also theoretically be fitted to the vehicle.

[edit] External links

• The Pelican Boeing Frontiers online magazine

[edit] Related content

Related development

• Ekranoplan
• Beriev Be-2500 Neptun

Comparable aircraft

• Boeing 747 Large Cargo Freighter
• Lockheed C-5 Galaxy
• AN-225
• AN-124

See also