ZIL » 4906 / 49061 "Blue Bird"
In 1975, ZIL developed a new range of floating search and evacuation vehicles for the Space Rescue Units of the Soviet Air Force, which replaced the outdated PEU-1. Soon it got its unofficial name of "Blue Bird". Amphibians were adapted to use in different climatic zones, with high dust, high wind and waves with height of up to 0.5 m, they could be deliveried by rail, transport aircrafts and helicopters. The new range included two versions - cargo version ZIL 4906 and passenger version ZIL 49061. Both had an identical design with a sealed rounded fiberglass hull, aluminum spar frame and traditional on-board transmission.
The cargo version ZIL 5906 was a 3.5-tonne amphibious vehicle with a crew of four and a welded aluminum cargo platform to deliver a space lander capsule and had a hydraulic crane. Another mission of ZIL-4906 was shipping a 4-seater 77 hp rescue vehicle ZIL-29061. The passenger version ZIL 49061 with a crew of three differed from the cargo by a closed passenger compartment. It used to transport rescue teams to astronauts landing points, providing them with medical care and everything necessary to work and leisure. There were 10 seats or 6 bed-places in the passenger compartment, which was equipped with heating and air conditioning systems, medical and special equipment, radio navigation complex, and other devices.
ZIL 4906 and ZIL 49061 were fitted with a 150-horsepower gasoline engine ZIL-130 V8 with a preheating system, manual 5-speed gearbox, planetary splitter, transfer gearbox with a lockable differential, independent lever-torsion bar suspension of all wheels and a pressure control system of tires. Two water propellers were used instead of water jets applied to EMP-1. The curb weight of cargo and passenger vehicles was was 8450 and 8310 kg, respectively, GVW - 11850 and 9260 kg, overall length with a crane - 9250/8650 mm, width - 2670/2582 mm, height - 2944/2510 mm. Maximum speed on a hightway - 56 and 75 kph, afloat - 8 - 9 kph. The minimum land speed - 1 kph. Twelve ZIL 4906 and sixteen ZIL 49061 were produced till 1991.
