How Did The Beriev A-40 Albatross Earn Its Name?

The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 resulted in the cancelation of many interesting Soviet aviation projects, including the Beriev A-40/A-42 Albatross. When the Beriev A-40/A-42 was shelved, one prototype was completed, and a second was 70% or 80% complete. The Soviets were leaders in a range of remarkable water-based aircraft, like the Lun-class ekranoplans and the massive proposed Beriev Be-2500 ekranoplan.