For all you seaplane pilots out there

ZLIN 142C · Post by **ZLIN 142C** » Thu May 19, 2005 6:13 pm

I just came across a very interesting new Russian seaplane and thought I'd share it.

Check it out:

http://www.beriev-usa.com

The videos in particular are worth watching.

If you want to explore further, there's an icon on the homepage that links you to the company's main Russian homepage (luckily available in English). The link for this is:

http://www.beriev.com

I wouldn't mind flying one of these. Enjoy!

Yoyoma · Post by **Yoyoma** » Thu May 19, 2005 6:22 pm

Cool, looks like a Navaho with a facelift! I love Russian planes...

is the stated fuel consumption per engine??

ZLIN 142C · Post by **ZLIN 142C** » Thu May 19, 2005 6:40 pm

Well, they state the fuel capacity and endurance, so I calculated it out and it appears that fuel consumption is for both engines. That's pretty impressive, actually. It is fairly clean though, with a pretty big wing. Maybe that's not too unbelievable.

JigglyBus · Post by **JigglyBus** » Thu May 19, 2005 8:26 pm

Looks neat, but I wonder why a twin with retracts only does ~120kts??

. ._ · Post by **. ._** » Thu May 19, 2005 8:29 pm

How the hell would you land it in a crosswind?

-istp

Howitzer · Post by **Howitzer** » Thu May 19, 2005 8:35 pm

i'm not a float driver, but that doesn't look like it would take too much rough water to make for an interesting take off or landing.

Fork-Tailed Devil · Post by **Fork-Tailed Devil** » Thu May 19, 2005 8:56 pm

And the best part is if you're approaching the dock a little fast, just drop some flap!

ZLIN 142C · Post by **ZLIN 142C** » Thu May 19, 2005 9:00 pm

It's supposedly good for 1/2 m waves. To be honest, I don't know how that compares to other seaplanes. Any input from float/amphib drivers?

costermonger · Post by **costermonger** » Thu May 19, 2005 9:02 pm

What is it with Russians and curtains in the windows?

It does look sort of like a revamped Navaho.

SkyKing · Post by **SkyKing** » Thu May 19, 2005 9:14 pm

Indeed costermonger, what is with the curtains? Now all they need to be real Russians is the fans in the cockpit, maybe an antiquated GPS on the glare shield and a hat like this!...

ZLIN 142C · Post by **ZLIN 142C** » Thu May 19, 2005 9:22 pm

And a Dmitri Clarkski headset.

I want that hat!

costermonger · Post by **costermonger** » Thu May 19, 2005 9:24 pm

Skyking - It's not Russian unless half the navigation instruments are above the glaresheild.

SkyKing · Post by **SkyKing** » Thu May 19, 2005 9:28 pm

Oops, you're right. I forgot a cardinal rule. I did remember the GPS though!

SkyKing · Post by **SkyKing** » Thu May 19, 2005 9:36 pm

See it on top there? Not a GNS480! Yet in the biggest A/C in the world!
But who wouldn't fly it in a heart beat!?!?!?! I love Russian planes!

Driving Rain · Post by **Driving Rain** » Fri May 20, 2005 5:22 am

That aircraft has been at Oshkosh the last 2 years. I saw it both times at Vets seaplane base. Last year there was a contingent of Russians there with it handing out pamphlets from Beriev. It's a dog off the water even though it has the ground effect thing going for it. A US citizen bought 3 of them and is trying to sell 2 to pay for his... good luck. It carries about the same load as a beaver only it's 4 times as hard to load and it needs a small army to dock safely. I sat at the controls and the one feature I liked was the stick instead of a control wheel and column. It's steam gauges were very old and clunky... ok, so maybe I'm spoiled by the aircon, Honeywell EFIS and AHARS in the diesel duck.

I'm waiting for the BE200 Beriev water bomber. A friend of mine has flown it and was very impressed buy the power and flying qualities. It carries 2 times the load of a 415 and has the same BFL as a 215 cruising 3 times as fast.

talkinghead · Post by **talkinghead** » Fri May 20, 2005 6:47 am

That thing is kinda cool BUT it would never work in NWO.
For starters if there is no ramp HOW DO you load the thing.

justplanecrazy · Post by **justplanecrazy** » Fri May 20, 2005 1:14 pm

Wow... radical design. I've held a wing tip 30" off the water but that was in a 30 degree banking take-off, not straight and level. My guess is the curtains are to hide your face in shame after crumpling a wing into the dock.