Beriev Be-42
| Beriev Be-42 | |
|---|---|
 Beriev A-40 in Gelendzhik, September 2, 2004 |
|
| Type: | Jet propelled amphibious aircraft |
| Design country: | |
| Manufacturer: | |
| First flight: |
December 8, 1986 |
| Number of pieces: |
2 |
The Beriev Be-42 / A-40 Albatros ( Russian Бериев Бе-42 / А-40 Альбатрос ) is a Soviet / Russian transport aircraft and the world's largest amphibious aircraft . However, with only two aircraft produced, it remained a prototype and did not reach mass production. The planning stipulated that the Be-42 should take over the role of airborne anti-submarine defense in the Russian Navy from the Beriev Be-12 and the Ilyushin Il-38 .
technology
After no new designs from the OKB Beriev became known to the public for a long period of time, the A-40 amphibious aircraft with a jet aircraft design that was quite unconventional for flying boats was developed in a team under the direction of chief designer AK Konstantinov . The wings are swept and have a wingspan of over 41 meters. Two Solowjow-D-30KPW - turbofans are located directly behind and above the support surfaces in the hull sides mounted gondolas. Two additional Klimov RD-60K- engines as a starting aid are in the extended suspension gondolas on the wings.
The A-40 was originally designed as a anti-submarine aircraft and can carry 6.5 tons of bombs , torpedoes or sea mines , which are dropped from the weapons bay that opens downwards . Furthermore, ECM systems are integrated to disrupt enemy air defense . An air refueling facility is attached to the bow .
The aircraft reaches a top speed of 760 km / h and can take off and land on water and on land. In the water it can maneuver using a steerable rudder at the stern. When landing in water, it can then roll ashore over a slipway with a maximum incline of 7 degrees, for which the wheels are extended in the water. This combines the advantages of a water landing - independence from a taxiway - with convenient loading and unloading on land.
development
In December 1986 the A-40 took off from a land airfield on its maiden flight , the first take-off from the water took place in November 1987. In the summer of 1988 the western press reported for the first time about the new flying boat, which, since there was no official confirmation of its existence, Back then it was called Taganrog Tag-D . The machine was later given the NATO code name "Mermaid" (mermaid).
The veil over the aircraft was only lifted when, on August 20, 1989, after a twenty-year break, the first flight day took place in Tuschino north of Moscow : to the complete surprise of the visitors, the A-40, which was still being tested, was flown over there.
At the 39th Aerosalon in Paris- Le Bourget in 1991, the A-40 with the designation Be-42 was presented and flown, also in Singapore in 1992.
With the A-40 / Be-42, since it is by far the most powerful machine in its class, at least 144 world records were set for flying boats and amphibious aircraft.
After the end of the arms race, Russia saw no military benefit in introducing the pattern. Despite the unique performance and although different versions have been worked out, there are no civilian customers for this machine either. From the Be-42, the smaller Beriev Be-200 was also developed , which is now in series production.
Versions
The following versions were planned:
- Be-40P - passenger version for 105 passengers
- Be-40PT - combined cargo and passenger version for 37 to 70 passengers and cargo
- Be-42 - SAR version for up to 54 rescued persons with extensive rescue and navigation equipment for use even in difficult weather conditions.
- ASW version as a replacement for the Ilyushin Il-38 , NATO code name "May" with various weapons for fighting ships and submarines.
Technical specifications
| Parameter | Data |
|---|---|
| crew | 8 (2 pilots, flight engineer, radio operator, navigator, 3 observers) |
| length | 43.00 m (45.70 m with tank probe) |
| span | 41.80 m |
| height | 11.00 m |
| Wing area | 220 m² |
| Empty mass | 43,900 kg |
| Max. Takeoff mass | 86,000 kg |
| military payload | 6500 kg bombs, torpedoes or mines |
| Engines | 2 × Solowjow-D-30KPW -Turbofan, each 147.1 kN
|
| Cruising speed | 700 km / h |
| Top speed | 760 km / h (ASW) 834 km / h (SAR) |
| Service ceiling | 8,000-13,000 m |
| Range | 4000 km |
| Takeoff route | 1000 m (land) 2000 m (water) |
| Landing route | 700 m (land) 900 m (water) |
See also
Web links
- Globalsecurity.org (English)
- Data and photographs (English)
Individual evidence
- ^ Rudolf Höfling: Berijew - type compass . 1st edition. Motorbuch Verlag, Stuttgart 2017, ISBN 978-3-613-04025-0 , p. 98-101 .