Russia revives A-40 Albatross seaplane project

3 September 2019 6

In Russia, they decided to “resurrect” the A-40 Albatross seaplane project, upgrading the device during the finalization. This was announced on the eve of the publication. "News"referring to a source in the aviation industry and the military department of the Russian Federation.

Recall that the aforementioned amphibious aircraft was developed by TANTK them. Beriev back in the late 80s - early 90s of the last century. At that time, the project was called Be-42. The seaplane carried out its first flight on December 8, 1986. However, in 1993, all work on the promising apparatus was discontinued due to lack of funding and lack of interest from the Russian Ministry of Defense.

It is worth noting that they tried to renew this project in 2008, but in 2012 it was again closed. Later, in 2016, the military department announced plans to replace the Be-12 aircraft in service with the A-40 by 2020.

In the event that the Albatross still “sees the light”, it will become the largest seaplane in the world. Its predecessor (Be-12) had a length of 45,7 meters with a wingspan of 42,5 meters. The maximum take-off weight of the device was 90 tons. An amphibious aircraft could reach a top speed of 800 km / h and cover a distance of up to 5000 km. To date, the largest representative of this class is the Chinese AG600, whose length is 37 meters and a wingspan of 38,8 meters.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation said that the modernized A-40 will be equipped with submarine detection systems and the latest avionics. At the moment, the project is under approval. If the latter is approved, the military will place an order for the manufacture and supply of three Albatrosses. The amphibious aircraft is planned to be used as a universal anti-submarine and rescue vehicle.

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boriz

0

3 September 2019 22: 11

To date, the largest representative of this class is the Chinese AG600, whose length is 37 meters and a wingspan of 38,8 meters.

And why? Be-42 where did it go? Do not cut it? After all, back in 2004. definitely flew!
1. Achilles86
  
  +1
  
  4 September 2019 10: 47
  
  The Be-42 never went into production. In 1993, the Russian Ministry of Defense abandoned the Albatross in favor of the Tu-204P ground anti-submarine aircraft. Although this project was later "hacked to death". On the basis of the Be-42, the Be-200 (Altair) was created with modifications, but it is much more "modest" (length - 32,05 m; wingspan - 32,7 m).
  1. boriz
    
    0
    
    4 September 2019 11: 47
    
    But did the plane survive? The statement about the Chinese seaplane does not say that it, for example, is the largest of the serial.
    "Mriya" is also not mass-produced. So what?
    1. Achilles86
      
      0
      
      4 September 2019 12: 01
      
      You are taken out of context. Read the full paragraph. Key moment:
      
      In the event that Albatros is still "See the light", it will become the largest seaplane in the world.
      
      We are talking about the aircraft currently in operation, and not about the projects that once existed or "museum exhibits".
      But I in no way underestimate the dignity of the Be-42. At the air show in Le Bourget in 1991, he made a splash. But unfortunately, it was never used for its intended purpose.
      1. boriz
        
        0
        
        4 September 2019 18: 35
        
        In November 1992, the international aviation exhibition "Air Expo 92" was held in the New Zealand city of Auckland, in which TANTK was invited to participate. Represented the company in the southern hemisphere again A-40 ("B2", airborne "378"), in the period from November 11 to 29, flying to New Zealand and back. The flight itself, with a total one-way range of 18620 km, on the Taganrog-Dubai-Colombo-Jakarta-Perth-Sydney-Auckland route, became a good test for the aircraft. The flight took place in difficult weather conditions on the route: rains, thunderstorms, hail. The test pilots noted that even with a forced entry into a powerful cumulus cloud, the aircraft retains excellent flight qualities. The route from Taganrog to Dubai passed over land, then only over the ocean. Nevertheless, the crew, headed by G. G. Kalyuzhny, successfully covered this route in 28 hours and 20 minutes of flight time.
        
        http://www.airwar.ru/enc/sea/a40.html
        
        During the next third international "Hydroaviasalon-2000" A-40, the same "20", increased the number of records set by "Albatross" by 8, bringing their number to 148. In record flights, performed on 8 and 9 September 2000, speed records were set for the 100- and 500-kilometer closed route. The crew commanders were test pilots GA Parshin and NN Okhotnikov.
        
        (ibid)
        Is this not a living plane? What kind of Chinese can be? Fifteen hundred records!
Sergey Latyshev

-1

8 September 2019 17: 16

Another mess for cutting. These floodlights regularly PR, and then close ...