Beriev R-1

The Beriev R-1 (known in-house as 'product R')^[1] was the first Soviet turbojet-powered flying boat.

Design and development

At the end of World War II, design work began on a request from the Soviet Navy for a jet-powered flying boat. Starting with the wing design of the Be-6, Beriev began in-house design work in May 1947, even before the official specifications were issued in June 1948. The specifications called for a radar-equipped aircraft with a three-man crew, capable of a speed of 800 kph, and with a range of 2000-2500 kilometers. The aircraft was to be armed with 2,000 kg of bombs and four 20mm cannons.

Beriev completed a mock-up by 10 June 1950, using Klimov VK-1 engines instead of the originally planned Rolls-Royce Nene engines. The first prototype was completed in November 1951. However, the prototype experienced severe vibrations and hydrodynamic instability at 165 km/hr and was nearly destroyed in testing. After much modification, flight testing began at the end of 1951. The prototype crash landed on 3 October 1953 and was again repaired.

Extensive testing continued to 1956, however, the development of land-based long-range reconnaissance aircraft put the project into jeopardy. After another crash in February 1956, the R-1 was never repaired and subsequently scrapped.^[2] The R designation is believed to have stood for Reaktivnyy (jet-propelled).^[1] Experience gained during the test programme with the R-1 was used in the development of the Beriev Be-10.^[3]

Specifications (R-1)

Data from Beriev's Jet Flying Boats^[4]

General characteristics

• Crew: 3, Pilot, navigator and gunner/radio operator
• Length: 19.9 m (65 ft 3 in)
• Wingspan: 20 m (65 ft 7 in)
• Height: 7.1 m (23 ft 3 in)
• Wing area: 58 sq m (624 sq ft)
• Airfoil: NACA 23009
• Useful load: 1,000 kg (2,205 lb)
• Max. takeoff weight: 20,300 kg (44,760 lb)
• Powerplant: 2 × Klimov VK-1 non-afterburning turbojets, 2,700 kgf (5,950 lbf) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 800 km/h (497 mph)
• Range: 2,000 km (1,242 mi)
• Service ceiling: 11,500 m (37,730 ft)

Armament

• Guns: 2 forward-firing 23-mm Nudelman-Rikhter NR-23 cannons, 2 tail-mounted 23-mm Shpitalniy Sh-3 cannons.
• Bombs: Maximum of 1,000 kg (2,205 lb) carried on underwing bomb racks.

See also

Related development

• Beriev Be-10

Related lists

• List of seaplanes and flying boats

References

Notes

Bibliography

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Beriev aircraft.