Beriev R-1

Beriev · Soviet Union · first flew 1952 · fighter

The Beriev R-1 was the first Soviet jet-powered flying boat, a twin-engine swept-wing maritime patrol seaplane first flown in 1952. It demonstrated Beriev's ability to apply jet propulsion to the flying-boat configuration.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Mid-mounted, swept
E — Engines	2 × turbojet, wing-mounted
F — Fuselage	19.9 m fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

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Spot it by:

First Soviet jet-powered flying boat
Swept-wing twin-jet maritime patrol seaplane
Boat hull with jet engines in underwing nacelles

Identified by its mid-mounted swept wing, twin jet engine nacelles below the wings, and a deep flying-boat hull with no undercarriage. The swept wing marks a clear break from Beriev's earlier straight-wing seaplanes.

Specifications

The Beriev R-1 has a length of 19.9 m (65 ft).
It has a wingspan of 20 m (66 ft).
Its maximum speed is 800 km/h (497 mph).
Typical crew: 2.

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

History

Developed in the early post-war period as the Soviet Union sought to modernise its maritime patrol aircraft with jet propulsion, the R-1 first flew in 1952. It used twin turbojet engines in underwing nacelles combined with a swept wing and a conventional flying-boat hull. The type was experimental in nature and contributed to the development of the more capable Be-10.

Variants

The R-1 was essentially a research and development prototype; its lessons fed directly into the Beriev Be-10 jet flying boat.

Where you'll see it

Operated as an experimental aircraft by Soviet Naval Aviation; did not enter operational service.

Related aircraft

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