Beriev Be-6
| Industry | Aerospace, defense |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1949 |
| Headquarters | Taganrog , Soviet Union |
| Products | Be-6 flying boat |
The Beriev Be-6 (known by the USAF/DoD as "Type 34" and by NATO as "Madge") is a Soviet-era flying boat developed by the Beriev Design Bureau. It fulfilled multiple functions such as extended maritime surveillance, coastal defense patrols, torpedo and bombing missions, mine deployment, and logistical transport.
Design and development
The Be-6 was characterized by its gull-wing configuration and featured dual oval-shaped vertical stabilizers positioned atop a deep fuselage. Its structure was predominantly metal, with rudders and ailerons covered in fabric. The engines were installed within the wing’s gull bends, while the floats were secured beneath the wings on cantilevered supports. Each float was subdivided into four watertight sections.
Operational history
Manufactured between 1949 and 1957 at Beriev’s facility in Taganrog, the Be-6 was produced in 19 different versions, with a total output of 123 aircraft. Its sturdy construction enabled operational use into the late 1960s; subsequently, several units were converted into unarmed civilian transports for Arctic service. One example is currently exhibited at the Ukraine State Aviation Museum located in Kyiv.
The Be-6 fleet operated by China’s People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force (PLANAF) played a vital role in monitoring China’s vast shoreline and territorial waters. During the 1970s, as the original Shvetsov radial engines became obsolete and replacements were unavailable, some aircraft were retrofitted with WoJiang WJ-6 turboprop engines and redesignated as Qing-6.
Operators
Variants
- LL-143: The prototype model of the Be-6 equipped with Shvetsov ASh-72 radial engines; armed with six 12.7mm UBT machine guns positioned in nose, beam, ventral, and tail locations. Its first flight occurred in March 1945.
- Be-6: The primary production variant powered by Shvetsov ASh-73 radial piston engines.
- Qing-6: PLANAF’s version of the Be-6 fitted with Dongan WJ-5 turboprop engines.
References
- Gunston, Bill. “The Osprey Encyclopaedia of Russian Aircraft 1875–1995”. London, Osprey. 1995.
- Gordon, Yefim & Komissarov, Dmitry. Chinese Aircraft. Hikoki Publications. Manchester. 2008.