Beriev Be-12
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The Beriev Be-12 Чайка (Chaika - "Seagull" NATO reporting name Mail) is a Soviet twin-turboprop-powered amphibious development of the Be-6 'Madge' flying boat whose primary roles were as an anti-submarine and maritime patrol bomber aircraft.
Powered by two Ivchenko AI-20M turboprops, the Be-12 entered service with the Soviet Navy in the early 1960s in the maritime patrol role, and is one of the few amphibian aircraft still in military service in the world.
The Be-12 traces its origins back to the Be-6, but inherited little more than the concept of its gull wing and twin oval tailfins. Initially its role was ASW patrol, but when newer missiles enabled the USN submarines to stay further away from the coast, the Be-12 was converted to a search and rescue role (Be-12PS). Small numbers are still in service.
The Be-12 was also sold to and operated by Vietnam.
M-12 is the designation used by Soviet Naval Aviation, or AV-MF (Aviatcia Voenno-Morskogo Flota.) First flown in October 1960 at Taganrog airfield.
Variants
- Be-12PS - Search and rescue.
- Be-12P-200 - Firebuster.
Specifications (Be-12)
Operators
- Russia, Syria, Ukraine, Vietnam
References
- http://www.aviation.ru/Be/#12
- http://www.aviation.ru/jno/MACS01/
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