The Beriev Be-6 was one of several Soviet flying boats. The development of this aircraft started in 1944, with the first test flight taking place in 1946. It was finally introduced in 1952. This versatile aircraft of the Cold War years played several important roles for the Soviet Navy; coastal patrol, reconnaissance, search and rescue, transport, mine laying, but it was also a long-range torpedo-bomber. In 1957, it was fitted with updated sonar and radar for searching NATO's submarines marauding near the Russian sea coasts. It would be phased out of duty in 1968.
The Beriev Be-6 was a two-engine heavy monoplane. It featured gull wings, which were mounted high on the fuselage. The fuselage was all-metal, with its belly having the shape of a keel for operating in sea waters; thus, when it was above water, it resembled the keel of small ship. The aircraft had a two-fin tail, with a V-shaped horizontal stabilizer. The 'landing' gear consisted of the keel-shaped fuselage bottom and two small floats, each one set on each wing. The power plant was composed of two Shvetso ASH-73, 18-cylinder radial engines, which delivered 2,400 HP. The main production version was the Beriev Be-6M. The anti-submarine variant was the Be-6PL, fitted with a hydro-acoustic detection system.
Specifications
Type: Flying Boat (Reconnaissance/Torpedo-Bomber)
Length: 23 m
Wingspan: 33 m
Height: 7.45 m
Payload: 4,100 kg
Maximum Speed: 377 km/h
Range: 4,800 km
Armament: two heavy torpedoes and two rear 20mm cannons.
Below, the Beriev Be-6M on Baltic sea water.
