Seaplanes in the total number of aircraft graphics. “Flying boats. Types of seaplanes mainly depend on the design

The amphibious aircraft La 8 is a representative of Russian small aviation or, as it is also called “ultralight aviation,” which, before the collapse of the Union, was the link between remote regions and the centers.

All aircraft that were under state control have fallen into oblivion over the past twenty years. However, this industry is beginning to be developed by private companies that have unique designs for ultra-light aircraft. Today, the economy is developing an industry for the production of small aircraft.

The history of the glider

The first non-motorized flying vehicles appeared in the early years of the 19th century. Attempts to replicate the flight of birds have been made by people more than once. The shape of the structures resembled the silhouette of birds. However, none of the attempts to stay in the sky were successful.

The sky or the “fifth ocean” has always attracted people, so the success of Mozhaisky, who built the first aircraft with a steam engine that could take off with a person on board, determined the future of aviation.

The aircraft was a design with a wing length of almost 24 meters and a fuselage of 15 meters. Mozhaisky called the device he created an “aeronautical projectile.” He was unable to complete what he started, but thanks to his invention, a step was taken in the history of the development of aeronautics.

Using the experience of their predecessors, inventors in all parts of the world were looking for an opportunity to look at the earth from a bird's eye view.

American inventors the Wright brothers were able to pilot an aircraft lifted into the air using an engine fueled by gasoline. The device had no resemblance to current designs, but it provided a confident path to the future exploration of the sky by man.

Aeronautics, at the dawn of its development, according to contemporaries, was a complex, difficult and unsafe activity. According to the notes of the first testers, the flights were characterized by low comfort, since the fuel system and oil supply system had not been worked out.

But the device could take off, the pilot could pilot it, however, due to the lack of a braking system, the pilot could only leave the car by jumping out of it while it was moving.

The next step in aeronautics was Sikorsky's inventions, which brought him worldwide fame. A pioneer in the history of aircraft with rigidly fixed wings, he created airplanes for the Russian army, which took first place in all competitions.

Sikorsky's flying designs formed the basis of modern military aviation. Along with Sikorsky, other aviation designers directed their knowledge and efforts to conquer heights, speed and flight range.

Ultralight aircraft occupy a special position among many aircraft. For a long time, practically no attention was paid to her. Interest in her is gradually returning.

Especially in recent years, when new technologies, materials, lighter, but more powerful and economical engines began to be introduced into the aircraft industry.

La-8 ultra-light aviation representative

The La 8 aircraft has the “amphibious” category, that is, it can take off and land on the surface of the water. The developer of the device is the Russian company AeroVolga, located in the Samara region. This research and production association is in charge of the entire scope of development, manufacturing, testing and sales of small aircraft.

The future flying boat seaplane received the index LA-8. The International Aviation and Space Salon in 2003 highly praised the ultra-light aircraft LA-8 with the “amphibious” category.

This meant that the aircraft was competitive not only in the domestic but also in the foreign market.

The company began serial production of the amphibian after completing the entire test program.

The multi-purpose Russian amphibian was designed to operate in all regions of the country, and was also planned for export.

However, for some reason, the perfect aircraft has few customers. The designers do not stop there; customers can be offered several options for amphibious aircraft.

Flight characteristics of the LA-8 amphibian

The LA-8 ultralight aircraft, created by NPO AeroVolga, is designed to fly with a total of 8 people on board. That is, in addition to one or two pilots, six to seven passengers board and fly.

The seaplane can accept cargo weighing no more than 700 kg, provided that its dimensions correspond to the dimensions of the hatches.

The possibility of designing a vessel of ultra-light construction today is based on the use of materials of particular strength, but with a low specific weight. In addition, designers designing a seaplane incorporate modern, but freely available, instruments and equipment into the design of the device to ensure navigation and piloting.

The amphibian project provides two control options: single and dual.

For dual control of the aircraft, double sets of basic systems and devices are installed in the cockpit, designed to activate the controls and adjust the flight mode. These include: elevator, control rudder, ailerons, adjustable stabilizer.

The design of the device, in addition to the main ones, includes additional control elements: flaps, slats, spoilers, this is the so-called wing mechanization.

Dual controls are designed for flights in difficult meteorological and natural conditions.

Such a complex is installed in an amphibian at the request of the customer.

The mass of a seaplane prepared for flight, with the mandatory set of equipment that ensures the operation of the device on water and land, is 1560 kg.

The set includes:

Anchor;
Towing mooring and anchor ropes on land and sea;
Hand tool gaff;
Emergency rescue devices and instruments.

All versions of the amphibious aircraft have a single take-off weight of 2720 kg.

The aircraft is designed for use in all regions, with any climatic conditions.

Its design allows for work on any surface:

Priming;
Asphalt;
Concrete;
Freshwater and salt water bodies
Snow cover.

The seaplane projection allows the use of an amphibian at sea if the wave height does not exceed 60 cm.

For a seaplane, a runway length of about 400 m is sufficient. It is capable of taking off and landing in mountainous areas at an altitude of approximately 1500 m, for piston engines. For amphibians with a turbo engine, operation at an altitude of 2500 meters is possible.

The existing Rules for Instrument Flights allow a seaplane to be equipped with radio communication equipment and sets of control systems intended for piloting and navigation.

The design of the device has a heating and ventilation system for the passenger compartment and pilots' compartment.

The maximum distance that an aircraft can cover without intermediate landings (maximum flight range) is 1200 km.

The cruising speed according to the project is 200 km/h.

The highest possible flight altitude is 4000 meters.

The seaplane can be equipped with two piston engines with a power of 310 l/s or turbine engines with a power of 300 l/s.

NPO AeroVolga provides for the provision of a choice of aircraft configuration, which is stipulated when drawing up an agreement for the production of an amphibious aircraft.

Design of an ultra-light amphibious aircraft

The LA-8 amphibious aircraft is a high-wing aircraft by design, equipped with two engines.

The seaplane is painted with American-made white paints. Additionally, the surface of the seaplane is treated with polyurethane paint. It protects the applied paint and inscriptions from damage and increases the protection of the material from which the body and wings of the aircraft are made from exposure to precipitation and sunlight.

Two fuel tanks are built into the wing structure of the aircraft, and another additional fuel tank is located in the cabin. The capacity of each tank is 455 liters.

On the lower surface of the aircraft wing there are nodes designed for mooring an amphibian, both on land and on water. There is one mooring point each in the bow and stern parts of the hull. The amphibian's entrance hatch has cleats for mooring the aircraft. Their design can be stably mounted on the body or retracted inside the aircraft skin.

The designers have provided for the possibility of moving the aircraft with a crane; for this purpose, four hinges are equipped in the upper part of the hull.

There is a standard socket on board the aircraft, with the help of which technicians can connect the amphibian located at the airfield to the airfield power supply. This operation ensures that the engines start and the aircraft's battery is charged.

The amphibian wings are equipped with the following navigation devices:

Taxiing and landing block lights. An LED block headlight is installed in the left wing, and a dual xenon landing light is located in the right wing;
Navigation lights are mounted on the wing tip;
The rear part of the fuselage is equipped with a rear light and a flashing light, and a parking light is built into the fin tip. It turns on when the aircraft is on the water;
The chassis of an ultra-light vessel have;
Three-legged design with a high stand;
The chassis is made of a special alloy that is non-corrosive in salt water;
Tire material that has a special protective layer that is not destroyed by mechanical and chemical influences;
The landing gear is designed according to special parameters that ensure the aircraft can land on an unprepared landing site;
The chassis is released and retracted by a hydraulic drive. In the event of a malfunction of this design, emergency release is provided using mechanical rods;
To indicate the position of the landing gear of a seaplane landing on the water with the devices retracted, a special system has been developed: the retracted position of the support system is recorded on the indicator in bright blue, the landing gear in the working, extended position is indicated in yellow, panoramic mirrors on the floats expand visual control;
The wheel suspension is equipped with gas-liquid shock absorbers.

The control of a seaplane when it moves on the water surface is based on the difference in thrust forces between the engines; separate braking of the wheels regulates the movement of the aircraft on the hard surface of the earth:

Braking is carried out by a hydraulic system on the brake pedals;
In addition to this braking method, the design of the device has a parking brake system, with which you can brake the main wheels. The parking braking system can hold the vehicle in place for quite a long time;
The La-8 seaplane can be controlled by one or two pilots. Its design provides two workplaces: left and right. Each of them has a full set of controls - a steering wheel and pedals;
The helm support has a built-in safety pin, marked in bright red. This element locks the elevators and ailerons while parked at the airfield;
A remote control is located on the central instrument panel, with the help of which the autopilot device is launched and controlled. There is an emergency shutdown button for the autopilot on the helm;
The central console, located between the pilots' workstations, is designed to control engines, trim tabs, and propellers. The engine control panel is equipped with an automatic lock that prevents the possibility of turning on reverse if the vehicle speed exceeds 100 km/h at an engine speed of 1,000 rpm;
The aircraft control system has control levers, with their help the forward/reverse thrust is controlled;
The flaps are controlled by an electric drive; their position is controlled visually or by an indicator.
The pilots' work comfort is determined by a comfortable seat position, which is determined by;
System for moving seats in the longitudinal direction;
Adjustment of their design according to the height of the pilot (160-200 cm), the presence of handrails that ensure the convenience of performing this procedure;
The presence of automatic cushion inserts in the design of the seats.

The amphibious aircraft is equipped with an entrance hatch, which is located at the rear of the fuselage. This hatch is used for boarding a seaplane on land and water.

This arrangement of the entrance hatch allows for the loading of long cargo and the transportation of patients placed on special stretchers.

The purpose of an amphibious aircraft

The widespread use of the amphibian is determined by its design. Specialists from NPO AeroVolga have developed an almost instantaneous transformation of the passenger version of the aircraft into a cargo one. For this purpose, power rails are installed, equipped with a device for securing loads. The aircraft cabin is designed to transport cargo no longer than 4 meters.

If necessary, the aircraft can be converted into an ambulance transport for transporting patients.

Arranging two beds and one place for accompanying personnel will take no more than half an hour.

The La-8 ultralight aircraft can continue to fly over long distances; in addition, the ability to land on water and a short runway allow it to be used:

To control the composition of water on the surface and depth of reservoirs;
Echo sounders and sonars allow you to explore the bottom of a water basin;
The device can be used in winter, for this purpose the installation of non-retractable ski chassis is provided. This equipment of the vehicle allows it to be operated on prepared snow-covered runways and on virgin land;

Safety

Over the entire period of operation, the seaplane aircraft acquired the characteristics of a reliable and safe transport used in difficult situations.

The following installations and devices ensure the safety of seaplane flights:

If one of the engines fails, the emergency situation is mitigated by the operation of the device on one power plant. At the same time, the aircraft is prevented from turning around, reducing altitude, the specified flight path is maintained, and autorotation of a failed propeller is prevented;
The device is equipped with flight navigation devices that ensure its operation in difficult weather conditions. The devices perform height control and visibility in poor weather conditions using highly sensitive optical cameras. The aircraft is equipped with a ground proximity warning system;
The TAS system ensures that there is no chance of a mid-air collision with other aircraft;
The main devices of the seaplane, on which the safety of the flight depends, are equipped with an emergency power supply device, which ensures the flight within 1 hour;
A detector that registers a sudden loss of lift, that is, the approach of the so-called stall mode, built into the left wing of the aircraft. The critical mode alert is signaled by a pulsed red light with an accompanying signal;
Since the aircraft is used in any climatic conditions, the design provides a heating system for components that are dangerous from icing;
Information about the status of all systems is displayed on a special screen;
An overview of almost the entire glider is provided by panoramic mirrors and mirrors in the glider's cabin. External mirrors on the floats have special lights for viewing in the dark;

LA-8 is a unique ultra-light vessel in which control of each individual component is carried out, and a system for warning of a possible emergency has been developed. On board the amphibian there are all modern rescue elements and warning devices provided for this type of aircraft.

Depending on the number of installed seats, the seaplane is equipped with life jackets. An axe, a fire extinguisher, a life raft for eight people, and a battery-powered floating lantern designed for long-term stay in water are required.

There are oxygen devices on board for the crew to use in case of smoke in the pilot compartment.

The structural part of the amphibian is designed to withstand the overloads that occur when falling and hitting the ground or water during a forced landing. Therefore, the powerful body of the aircraft serves as the main rescue structure for passengers and pilots.

The LA-8 amphibious aircraft made its first flight in 2004. Almost immediately after the presentation at the International Salon, manufacturers began producing a unique aircraft. Currently, 8 units are in operation.

Despite the small number of orders, the company is in full readiness to produce new aircraft. Designers continue to improve individual components of the LA-8 and can offer the customer several modifications of the amphibian, which gives hope for a long history of the aircraft with a happy ending.

Video

Aviation, both in Russia and in the world, is represented by different types of aircraft. There are civilian options, transport, cargo, military. And there is a category of aircraft that are required during various emergencies, for example, fires in forest or steppe zones. These include seaplanes, seaplanes and amphibious aircraft.

In fact, all of them - both seaplanes and amphibians - are seaplanes. They just have different configurations and slightly different operating styles. A seaplane is an aircraft, otherwise it is also called an aircraft that can take off and land on water. Previously, they were called only seaplanes, but today the concept of seaplane is broader.

Today, experts divide seaplanes according to their design features. Among these:

Flying boat: such a liner has a lower part, like a boat, due to which it can move quite quickly across different water surfaces
Amphibious aircraft: this option, as experts note, successfully combines different types of seaplanes. The liner has a chassis for moving on the ground, a cushion for splashdown, and there are also options with hydrofoils
Float seaplane: a variant that can be either conventional or specially built, having several floats that help it move along the surface of the water, as well as stay on it while stationary

Each of them is extremely useful and has its own strengths.

History of creation

Aircraft designers have been thinking about creating seaplanes for a long time. Moreover, the first ideas for such machines were voiced even before the first flight of a conventional airliner. Even in Russia at that time, several versions of liners capable of operating on water were designed. In their design, they look very much like boats.

At the same time, the first airliner that was able to take off into the sky from the water surface was an airplane created by the American engineer Glenn Curtiss. The year of his birth was 1909. This aircraft looked very much like a land airplane on floats. The real design of the hydroplane is considered to be the Grigorovich liner created in 1913. The flying boat was named M-1 and is considered the first seaplane in the history of the development of this type of aircraft. The field of waterborne aircraft began to actively develop in the 30s and 40s. At this time, jet aviation received an active impetus for growth, and seaplanes reliably occupied the economic niche, because were more economical.

The jet prototype, called successful, is considered to be the work of the Beriev design bureau, called the A-40 “Albatross”. In addition, at the same time such a popular seaplane model as the Be-200 was developed. Both of them were not inferior in their characteristics to the land variants. To this day, machines are in demand and continue to develop to be more efficient when working with water and in areas that are not particularly equipped in terms of infrastructure.

During wars, which occurred several times during the 20th century, seaplanes took their place at the front. Many of them were equipped with places for storing bombs, and machine guns were also installed in them. The crew of the liners consisted of 2 people:

Pilot
Flight engineer

The first was responsible for the operation of the airliner and the flight in general, the second was responsible for dropping bombs using special cables. During the Second World War, seaplanes completely turned into torpedo bombers.

Some submarines were quite actively equipped with small folding aircraft that could operate on the water. This gave them greater mobility.

Why are such planes needed?

Seaplanes of different configurations have quite a lot of capabilities, including:

Based at the pier on the water surface
Taxiing from water to land
Receiving cargo on board
Performing a ground landing
Working on snow in winter - airliners have skis for this

It is worth remembering that the most popular seaplane models today are amphibians, because... they are wider in their capabilities due to the combination of landing gear and splashdown surfaces.

Amphibious aircraft are widely used to solve the following tasks:

Carrying out aerial surveys of various areas - such recordings are made in the interests of public and private companies
Patrolling - often with their help they monitor the operation of power lines and large overpasses - both gas and oil
Participation in firefighting
Port Monitoring
Conducting environmental monitoring
Solving emergency medical care problems, for example, transporting patients to hospitals from hard-to-reach areas
Working with tourists
Training flights
Transportation of goods, including urgent ones

Amphibious aircraft: advantages over others

Such aircraft have a number of undoubted advantages over their other counterparts. Among the obvious bonuses:

Short take-off distances, which means there are no strict requirements for the runway - for such an aircraft, a water strip of 200 m and a depth of 0.5 m is enough for take-off
High hull strength
The ability to operate the liner all year round, without having to worry about the construction of hangars and airfields (such a liner can easily be based among boats)
High level of security
Takeoffs and landings on unprepared ground areas
Low cost of the liner
Easy maintenance
Using regular gasoline for refueling - you can refuel the amphibian with regular 95-octane gasoline

What aircraft are used in Russia today?

The most popular airliner today is the Be-200 ChS. This variant replaced the Soviet Be-42, which was the largest in the world and set many records. The Be-200 has been operating in Russia since 2003 and is distinguished by its lack of analogues. This liner is widely used for:

Rescue operations
Firefighting
Transportation

This airliner is capable of flying at a speed of 700 km per hour, carrying 8 tons of cargo and 12 m3 of water through the air.

Seaplanes, despite the fact that small aircraft are often relegated to the background, continue to maintain their positions in the sky. After all, such aircraft are reliable, cheap and easy to operate. And their maneuverability allows you to significantly expand the range of possibilities for transporting goods and solving other tasks of paramount importance.

The transport aircraft was produced by Boeing in 1938-1941. based on the Boeing XB-15 bomber. It was a four-engine high-wing aircraft with a cantilever wing and a three-finned tail. A total of 12 aircraft were produced in the following modifications: Boeing 314 (with 1500-horsepower engines), Boeing 314-A (with 1600-horsepower engines). Four vehicles in the US Air Force were designated S-98. The aircraft was also used in the UK. Vehicle performance characteristics: length - 32.3 m; height – 8.4 m; wingspan - 46.3 m; wing area – 266.3 m²; empty weight - 22.8 tons, take-off weight - 37.4 tons; engines - four Wright R-2600 Double Cyclone M-11/14; volume of fuel tanks – 4.5 thousand liters; rate of climb – 172 m/m; maximum speed – 311 km/h, cruising speed – 295 km/h; practical range – 5,600 km; practical ceiling – 4,100 m; number of passenger seats – 74; crew – 10 people.

The anti-submarine patrol aircraft was produced by Consolidated Aircraft in 1936-1945. The plane had a parasol wing with two struts and additional floats that were retractable in flight. The wing power kit was made of aluminum alloys.

The boat's hull was divided by bulkheads into five waterproof compartments, ensuring the vehicle's buoyancy in case of damage. Communication between the compartments was carried out through sealed hatches. The car had a galley and bunks. A total of 4.1 thousand vehicles were built in the following modifications: PBY-1 (basic version with 900-horsepower engines); PBY-2 (with modernized tail section); PBY-3 (with 1000 hp engines); PBY-4 (with 1050-horsepower engines); PBY-5 (with 1200-horsepower engines); PBY-5A (with retractable wheeled landing gear) and PBY-6A (with radar). The aircraft was also used in Australia, Great Britain, Canada and the USSR. Vehicle performance characteristics: length - 19.5 m; height – 6.2 m; wingspan - 31.7 m; wing area – 130 m²; empty weight - 9.5 tons, take-off weight - 16.1 tons; engines - two Pratt & Whitney R-1830 with a power of 900-1200 hp; rate of climb – 5.1 m/s; maximum speed – 314 km/h, cruising speed – 200 km/h; practical range – 4,000 km; practical ceiling – 4,000 m; armament - two 12.7 mm M-2 Browning machine guns and three 7.62 mm machine guns; bomb load - 1.8 tons; crew – 8 people.

A four-engine all-metal monoplane was produced by Consolidated Aircraft in 1939-1941. It had high-mounted cantilever wings, double tail surfaces and additional floats that were retractable in flight. A total of 217 vehicles were built in the following modifications: PB-2Y-2 (with 1020-horsepower engines and six machine guns), XPB-2Y-3 (with 1200-horsepower engines and eight machine guns), PB-2Y-3B (UK version ), PB2Y-3R (transport version), PB-2Y-5 (with additional fuel tanks and launch rockets), PB-2Y-5R (sanitary version). The boat served as a bomber, patrol and transport aircraft. The seaplane was also used in Great Britain. Vehicle performance characteristics: length - 24.2 m; height – 8.4 m; wingspan – 35 m; wing area – 165 m²; empty weight - 28.5 tons, take-off weight - 30 tons; engines - four Pratt & Whitney R-1830; maximum speed – 310 km/h, cruising speed – 270 km/h; practical range – 1,700 km; practical ceiling – 6,200 m; armament - six to eight 12.7 mm M-2 Browning machine guns, bomb load - 5.4 tons; crew – 10 people.

The ejection reconnaissance aircraft was produced by Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company in 1944-1945. All aircraft were supplied with wheeled landing gear, with floats supplied separately and installed by the Navy as needed. A total of 577 vehicles were built. Vehicle performance characteristics: length - 11.1 m; height – 5.5 m; wingspan - 12.5 m; wing area – 26 m²; empty weight – 2.9 t, take-off weight – 4.1 t; engine – Wright R-1820-62 Cyclone 9 with 1350 hp; rate of climb – 762 m/m; maximum speed – 500 km/h, cruising speed – 210 km/h; practical range – 1,000 km; practical ceiling – 11,400 m; armament - two 12.7 mm M-2 Browning machine guns, bomb load - 320 kg; crew – 1 person.

A reconnaissance ejection biplane aircraft of mixed design was produced by the Curtiss Wright companies in 1935-1940. It had folding wings and the ability to replace the floats with a wheeled chassis. A total of 322 vehicles were built. Vehicle performance characteristics: length - 9.6 m; height – 4.5 m; wingspan – 11 m; wing area – 31.8 m²; empty weight – 1.7 t, take-off weight – 2.5 t; engine – Pratt & Whitney R-1340 with a power of 550 hp; rate of climb – 915 m/m; maximum speed – 270 km/h, cruising speed – 210 km/h; practical range – 1,100 km; practical ceiling – 4,500 m; armament - two 7.62 mm M-2 Browning machine guns, bomb load - 300 kg; crew – 2 people.

An all-metal reconnaissance monoplane was produced by Curtiss Wright from 1942 to 1944. It had a central float and two additional stabilizing floats. The floats could be replaced with a wheeled chassis. A total of 795 vehicles were built. The aircraft was also used in the UK. Performance characteristics of the vehicle: length - 11.2 m; height – 4.6 m; wingspan - 11.6 m; wing area – 26.9 m²; empty weight – 1.9 t, take-off weight – 2.6 t; engine – Ranger XV-770 with a power of 600 hp; maximum speed – 280 km/h, cruising speed – 210 km/h; practical range – 1,800 km; practical ceiling – 4,800 m; armament - 7.62 mm M1919 Browning machine gun and 12.7 mm M-2 Browning machine gun; bomb load - 300 kg; crew – 2 people.

The amphibious transport flying boat was produced by Douglas Aircraft in 1931-1935. and was developed on the basis of the Sinbad boat. It was a cantilever monoplane with a high wing. A total of 58 cars were built in 17 variants, differing from each other in power plants and passenger compartment layout. Performance characteristics of the vehicle: length - 13.8 m; height – 4.6 m; wingspan – 18 m; wing area – 59.2 m²; empty weight – 3.1 t, take-off weight – 4.4 t; engines - two Pratt & Whitney R-1340-4 with a power of 450 hp; fuel tank capacity – 908 l; rate of climb – 4.1 m/s; maximum speed – 240 km/h, cruising speed – 170 km/h; practical range – 1,100 km; practical ceiling – 4,600 m; crew – 2 people; payload – 6 passengers.

The twin-engine transport monoplane was produced by Grumman in 1937-1942. It was a high-wing aircraft with two underwing stabilizing floats. The horizontal tail was supported by struts. A total of 345 vehicles were built. The aircraft was also used in Australia, Great Britain and Canada. Vehicle performance characteristics: length - 11.7 m; height – 4.6 m; wingspan – 15 m; wing area – 34.9 m²; empty weight – 2.5 t, take-off weight – 3.6 t; engines - two Pratt Whitney R-985 450 hp; rate of climb – 5.6 m/s; maximum speed – 320 km/h, cruising speed – 300 km/h; practical range – 1,000 km; practical ceiling – 6,400 m; bomb load - 230 kg; crew – 2 people; number of passenger seats – 6.

The twin-engine seaplane was produced by Grumman in 1941-1945. and served as a patrol aircraft. A total of 317 vehicles were built. The aircraft was used in the UK and Portugal. Vehicle performance characteristics: length - 9.5 m; height – 3.5 m; wingspan - 12.2 m; wing area – 22.8 m²; empty weight – 1.5 t, take-off weight – 2 t; engines - two Ranger L-440C-5 200 hp; rate of climb – 305 m/m; maximum speed – 250 km/h, cruising speed – 220 km/h; practical range – 1,500 km; practical ceiling – 4,400 m; bomb load - 150 kg; crew – 2 people; number of passenger seats – 3.

The aircraft was produced by Martin since 1939. It had a narrow high fuselage, a gull-type wing, a two-fin tail, and a retractable wheeled landing gear. A total of 1.4 thousand vehicles were built in the following modifications: RVM-1 (basic version), RVM-3B (version for Great Britain with 1,700-horsepower engines), RVM-3S (version with armor protection), RVM-3D (version with radar), RVM-3R (transport version) and RVM-3S (with additional fuel tanks). The seaplane served as a bomber, anti-submarine, transport and rescue aircraft. It has also been used in the UK and Canada. Vehicle performance characteristics: length - 24.4 m; height – 8.4 m; wingspan – 40 m; wing area – 130.8 m²; empty weight – 15 tons, take-off weight – 26.3 tons; engines - two Wright R-2600-12 with a power of 1,900 hp; rate of climb – 125 m/m; maximum speed – 340 km/h, cruising speed – 280 km/h; practical range – 3,600 km; practical ceiling – 6,000 m; armament - five to eight 12.7 mm machine guns; bomb load - 3.6 tons; crew – 7-11 people.

The training aircraft was produced by Naval Aircraft Factory in 1936-1942. It was a biplane with wings of equal span, with a wheeled or float landing gear and a metal power structure with fabric covering. A total of 997 vehicles were built. Performance characteristics of the vehicle: length - 7.7 m; height – 3.3 m; wingspan - 10.4 m; wing area – 28.3 m²; empty weight – 948 kg, take-off weight – 1.3 t; engine – Wright R-760-2 with a power of 220-240 hp; maximum speed – 200 km/h, cruising speed – 170 km/h; practical range – 750 km; practical ceiling – 4,600 m; crew – 2 people.

The aircraft was produced by Northrop Aircraft Inc in 1940-1941. commissioned by the Norwegian Air Force. A total of 24 cars were built. It was used as a naval reconnaissance aircraft, light bomber and torpedo bomber. Performance characteristics of the vehicle: length - 10.9 m; height – 3.6 m; wingspan - 11.9 m; wing area – 34.9 m²; empty weight – 2.8 t, take-off weight – 5.1 t; engine – Wright GR-1820-G205A with a power of 1,200 hp; maximum speed – 410 km/h, cruising speed – 300 km/h; practical range – 1,600 km; practical ceiling – 7,300 m; armament - four 12.7 mm and two 7.7 mm machine guns; bomb load - 950 kg; crew – 3 people.

The aircraft was produced by the company "" in 1936-1940. It was a monoplane with a wing raised above the boat-fuselage. A total of 53 vehicles were built. During flight, the landing gear wheels were pulled up and placed along the sides of the fuselage. Vehicle performance characteristics: length - 15.6 m; height – 5.4 m; wingspan - 26.2 m; wing area – 72.5 m²; empty weight - 5.8 tons, take-off weight - 8.7 tons; engines – two Pratt Whitney Hornet S4EG with a power of 750 hp; maximum speed – 312 km/h, cruising speed – 270 km/h; practical range – 1,200 km; practical ceiling – 6,300 m; crew – 4 people; number of passenger seats – 18.

The ejection reconnaissance two-seat seaplane was produced by the Vought company in 1940-1943. It was an all-metal monoplane with a mid-wing and single-fin tail. The cabin was completely glazed. The aircraft had one large ventral float and two underwing floats. A total of 1.5 thousand vehicles were built in the following modifications: OS-2U-1 (basic version with a 450-horsepower engine), OS-2U-2 (with modified equipment), OS-2U-3 (with self-sealing fuel tanks) and OS-2N-1 (with modified engine). The aircraft was used in Australia, Great Britain, Cuba and Chile. Performance characteristics of the vehicle: length – 10.3 m; height – 4.6 m; wingspan – 11 m; wing area – 24.3 m²; empty weight – 1.9 t, take-off weight – 2.7 t; engine – two Pratt Whitney R-985-AN-2 with a power of 450 hp; maximum speed – 290 km/h, cruising speed – 260 km/h; practical range – 1,300 km; practical ceiling – 4,000 m; armament - four 7.62 mm machine guns; bomb load - 150 kg; crew – 2 people.

On January 26, 1911, the first seaplane test flew, piloted by American aeronautics pioneer Glen Curtis. The land airplane, mounted on floats, became the first aircraft to actually take off from the water. From this day on, the era of seaplanes began. "RG" has collected facts about five iconic seaplanes in world aeronautics.

Flying boat M-1

M-1 (Sea First) is the first seaplane of a special design, which was created in 1913 by Russian Dmitry Grigorovich. It was this flying boat that became the impetus for separating seaplanes into a separate type of aircraft.

Work on the seaplane was carried out at the plant of the First Russian Aeronautics Partnership of Shchetinin. It is curious that the reason for the development was an accident: the captain, naval pilot Alexandrov crashed the French flying boat "Donnay-Leveque". To avoid penalties (and, apparently, the unsuccessful flight was carried out with some violations), Aleksandrov turned to Shchetinin’s plant with a request to repair the plane. Grigorovich took up the work with the goal of studying the design for further his own work on flying boats. Thus, according to the drawings of "Donnay-Leveque", which were made from life, by shortening the hull, changing the profile of the wings, making the nose more keeled, the designer built the M-1 seaplane. It had a wingspan of about 14 meters, a length of eight meters, reached a maximum speed of 90 kilometers per hour, was controlled by two crew members and could fly up to 100 kilometers.

The M-1 was in service until December 2, 1914 - on that day it was destroyed by Lieutenant Tuchkov. Grigorovich improved his brainchild and created the M-2, M-4, and then the M-5, which brought fame to the designer. This flying boat had good flight characteristics and seaworthiness, and was quickly adopted. By the way, using Grigorovich’s planes as models, the Americans organized their own serial production of seaplanes.

The first jet seaplane in the USSR R-1

Model R-1 is a naval reconnaissance aircraft, the first experimental jet flying boat in the USSR. His fate is difficult. Work on creating a jet seaplane with turbojet engines began in 1947 at Beriev's OKB-49. According to the design specifications, the flying boat was supposed to become a reconnaissance aircraft and, at the same time, a bomber, and also have a speed that would be comparable to US sea-based fighters.

The R-1 was designed as an all-metal monoplane, with a straight gull-type wing and two floats at the end, and a single-fin tail. The seaplane was divided into six watertight compartments with doors that were sealed when closed. The power plant consisted of two turbojet engines with a takeoff thrust of 2,700 kilograms. The aircraft's maximum speed was close to 800 kilometers per hour, and its armament included four 23-mm cannons and 1,000 kilograms of depth charges and torpedoes. Flight and navigation equipment made it possible to carry out flights day and night, as well as in difficult weather conditions: in addition, the seaplane was equipped with photographic equipment.

Factory tests of the R-1 began in November 1951. But the first flights showed that the seaplane had insufficient longitudinal stability. Testing, which continued in May 1952, revealed difficulties with gliding and shaking in flight. Factory improvements took another year. In 1953, it was decided not to build a second copy, but to issue the designer Beriev a new task for a flying boat with two jet engines.

Be-12 anti-submarine amphibious aircraft

The Be-12 Chaika flying boat first took to the air in 1960, and in 1968 it began entering service with the Navy. The amphibian was equipped with a set of target equipment, which made it possible to search for and fight enemy submarines. During its entire operation, the Be-12 set 46 world records.

The Be-12 is an all-metal cantilever monoplane with a top-mounted wing and a double-finned tail. The amphibian could be based on land airfields - for this purpose the seaplane was equipped with a fully retractable landing gear. The Be-12 was equipped with AI-20D turboprop engines, the power of which was 5180 horsepower. The amphibian used an original scheme for sealing the emergency hatch, thanks to which the issue of emergency escape of the vehicle by crew members was resolved: the navigator got out through the bow hatch, the radio operator through the rear entrance door, and both pilots ejected.

The combat load included depth charges, homing torpedoes, mines, and radio-acoustic buoys.

The first prototype of the Be-12 crashed and sank during a flight over the Sea of Azov in 1961. The cause was a mistake by one of the crew members. During the disaster, the co-pilot was able to leave the amphibian, and the commander, navigator and leading engineer on board were killed.

In the second prototype, all the shortcomings of the first car were taken into account. State tests ended in 1965. With a flight weight of 35 tons, the Be-12 showed a maximum speed of 550 kilometers per hour, reached a service ceiling of 12.1 kilometers and a flight range of 4,000 kilometers.

The amphibian was mass-produced at the Taganrog Aviation Plant No. 86 named after Dimitrov. There are several modifications of this seaplane: Be-12PS (search and rescue), Be-12N (anti-submarine), Be-12P (firefighting), Be-12NX (transport), Be-12P-200 (firefighting, flying laboratory), Be- 12SK (anti-submarine, nuclear depth charge carrier).

Multi-role amphibious aircraft A-40

The A-40 Albatross, as of 2012, was the largest amphibious jet aircraft in the world. It set 148 world records. The A-40 first flew from land in December 1986, and a year later it took off from the water for the first time.

The flying boat was designed according to the high-wing design (in this case, the wing passes through the upper half of the fuselage section, located on it or above it). The amphibian's airframe used honeycomb glued structures and non-metallic materials. The A-40 crew included up to eight people. The maximum take-off weight of the A-40 is 90 tons, cruising speed is 720 kilometers per hour, practical range: 4000 kilometers. The amphibian's combat load was 6.5 tons of various weapons, including sonar buoys, depth charges, mines, torpedoes, and anti-submarine missiles.

They planned to replace the Be-12 with the A-40 seaplane. But the project was stopped after the collapse of the USSR. It was stated more than once that production of the amphibian would be resumed, but in 2012 the Ministry of Defense finally abandoned aircraft of this type.

Be-200 amphibious aircraft

The Be-200 amphibian has no analogues in the world today in terms of a number of technical characteristics. It is called one of the most unusual and multi-purpose aircraft.

The Be-200 was developed on the basis and using the ideas that were incorporated into its predecessor, the A-40. This is a civil aircraft: its purpose is to extinguish fires, transport cargo and passengers, environmental missions, patrolling, and so on.

The first flight of the amphibian prototype, developed at the Taganrog Aviation Scientific and Technical Complex named after Beriev and built in Irkutsk, took place on September 24, 1998. The airframe of the aircraft was made of aluminum alloys with increased corrosion resistance, and composite materials were used in the design of a number of its parts. The components of a special fire extinguishing system were placed under the cabin floor, and the cabin itself, for the first time in the practice of domestic seaplane construction, became sealed along the entire length of the boat.

At the third international exhibition "Gidroaviasalon-2000" in 2000, the Be-200 made a splash and set 24 world records in classes C-2 (seaplanes) and C-3 (amphibious aircraft), for climb times of 3000, 6000 and 9000 meters without cargo and with a commercial load of 1000, 2000 and 5000 kilograms.

In addition to the basic version, a number of different modifications of the Be-200 have been developed - transport, passenger (for transporting 72 people), patrol, search and rescue aircraft.

The amphibian has its own name - "Altair".

The shipborne ejection reconnaissance aircraft Ro.43 was a float version of the land reconnaissance aircraft Ro.37bis. The seaplane was put into service in 1937, and gradually most of the adapted ships and battleships were equipped with these machines. The seaplane IMAM Ro.43 had fairly good flight data, but had low performance characteristics. Thus, the design of the seaplane was too fragile and often damaged, metal components quickly corroded in the marine environment, and the plywood skin of the ventral float also showed poor water resistance. On some cruisers, the catapults did not ensure the launch of the Ro.43 with maximum weight, so it was necessary to remove some of the equipment and weapons, which, of course, did not lead to an increase in the combat capabilities of naval aviation. The seaworthiness of these seaplanes was low; landing on the water at sea level 2 was considered very risky. But since there was virtually no choice, the Ro.43 remained the only type of Italian naval reconnaissance aircraft throughout the Second World War.