Beriev Be-6

Last updated
Be-6
Be-6 Ukrainian State Aviation Museum.jpg
Be-6 at Ukrainian State Aviation Museum
Role Maritime reconnaissance and patrol aircraft
Manufacturer Beriev OKB
First flight1949
RetiredLate 1960s
Primary users Soviet Navy
People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force
Produced1949–57
Number built123
Developed into Beriev Be-12

The Beriev Be-6 (USAF/DoD reporting name "Type 34", [1] NATO reporting name "Madge" [2] ) was a flying boat produced by the Soviet Beriev OKB. It was capable of accomplishing a wide variety of missions, such as long-range maritime reconnaissance, coastal and supply line patrols, torpedo/bombing strikes, mine-laying, and transport operations.

Contents

Design and development

The Be-6 was a gull-winged aircraft with twin oval vertical stabilizers on top of a deep fuselage. The aircraft was of all-metal construction except for fabric covering the rudders and ailerons. The engines were installed in the bends of the wings, with the floats on an underwing cantilever rack. Each float was divided into four watertight compartments.[ citation needed ]

Operational history

A U.S. Navy A-4B intercepting a Be-6 off Japan, 1964. A-4B VA-93 intercepts Be-6 off Japan 1964.jpg
A U.S. Navy A-4B intercepting a Be-6 off Japan, 1964.

The Be-6 was built from 1949 to 1957 at the Beriev plant in Taganrog. The aircraft had 19 variants through its production cycle, and 123 aircraft were eventually built. Since requirements of Soviet naval aircraft did not change rapidly, the reliable Be-6 remained in service until the late 1960s. Some aircraft ended service as civilian unarmed transports in Arctic regions. One survivor is preserved at the Ukraine State Aviation Museum in Kyiv, Ukraine. Beriev Be-6s operated by the People's Republic of China PLANAF proved useful in patrolling the long coastline and huge territorial waters off China's coast. During the 1970s the original Shvetsov radial engines began to wear out with no replacements available, so several aircraft were re-engined with WoJiang WJ-6 turboprop engines, in new nacelles, for a new lease of life and were redesignated Qing-6. [3]

Operators

Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  People's Republic of China
A Qing-6 (Be-6 conversion) powered by 4,250 hp (3,170 kW) WoJiang WJ-6 turboprop engines driving J17G13 propellers, at the China Aviation Museum, Beijing Beriev Be-6.jpg
A Qing-6 (Be-6 conversion) powered by 4,250 hp (3,170 kW) WoJiang WJ-6 turboprop engines driving J17G13 propellers, at the China Aviation Museum, Beijing
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union

Variants

Specifications (Be-6)

Berijev Be-6.svg

Data fromThe Osprey Encyclopedia of Russian Aircraft from 1875–1995 [4]

General characteristics

Performance

377 km/h (234 mph; 204 kn) at sea level

Armament

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

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References

  1. "Designations of Soviet and Russian Military Aircraft and Missiles". designation-systems.net.
  2. "Designations of Soviet and Russian Military Aircraft and Missiles".
  3. 1 2 Gordon,Yefim & Komissarov, Dmitry. Chinese Aircraft. Hikoki Publications. Manchester. 2008. ISBN   978-1-902109-04-6
  4. Gunston, Bill (1995). The Osprey Encyclopedia of Russian Aircraft from 1875–1995. Osprey Aerospace. ISBN   1-85532-405-9.
  5. Lednicer, David. "The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage". m-selig.ae.illinois.edu. Retrieved 16 April 2019.