We’re supposed to get our first substantial amount of winter precipitation tomorrow. Thinking about the white stuff (not Angel Dust) has put me in a wintery-mood and my YouTube searches yielded some frosty results. In fact, I did not actually search for this video, it was a suggestion.

I watched a documentary on the Russian Ekranoplanes around this time last year. YouTube has me figured out. The Ekranolanes video is only ten minutes long but full of interesting tidbits about those floating/flying monsters. This video on the Soviet-era Antarctic Cruisers is much longer.

The Kharkovchanka are amazing machines that were originally constructed in the 1950s. One of the first generation Soviet Antarctic Vehicles was still in use up to 2015. There are still second-generation vehicles in service in Antarctica. Two companies designed and built the original Kharkovchankas. The Kharkov Transport Engineering company worked on the engine and tractor portion. The Kharkov Aviation company created insulated, light components that made up the work and living quarters above the tractor. The ingenious thinking behind these extreme machines amazes me.

I don’t know where I would store one, but I think I want a tank.