A-42 Albatros

Beriev · Soviet Union · first flew 1986 · bomber

The Beriev A-42 is the search-and-rescue and maritime derivative of the A-40 Albatros, the largest jet-powered amphibious flying boat yet built.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	High-mounted, swept
E — Engines	2 × turbofan, wing-mounted
F — Fuselage	43.84 m fuselage
T — Tail	T-tail

WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.

Spot it by:

Large jet amphibious flying boat
Engines high above swept wing roots
T-tail well clear of spray

Identify it by the sheer size, the deep flying-boat hull, the high swept wing carrying two turbofans mounted above and behind the roots, and the tall T-tail kept clear of spray.

Specifications

The A-42 Albatros has a length of 43.84 m (144 ft).
It has a wingspan of 41.62 m (137 ft).
Its maximum speed is 800 km/h (497 mph).
Typical crew: 8.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

Beriev flew the A-40 prototype on 8 December 1986, intending it to replace the Il-38 and Be-12 in the Soviet anti-submarine role, with the A-42 planned as a dedicated SAR variant. The collapse of the USSR halted the programme after only prototypes were completed.

Variants

The family spans the A-40 ASW aircraft, the A-42 SAR and utility version and proposed A-44 patrol models. All share the boat hull, high swept wing and podded D-30 turbofans, some fitted with booster jets for water take-off.

Where you'll see it

Neither the A-40 nor A-42 entered squadron service, and the type never operated in UK colours; interest revived periodically for firefighting and rescue roles without leading to production. It remains a striking record-setting research airframe.

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