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Aviation History
1994
1994 - 2225.PDF
JJ-fJLJ-fJ-Z Chariot of fire Beriev is aiming its first international project, the Betair Be-200, at the international amphibian market. BY DOROTHY DAWSON/IRKUTSK Having already designed efficient utility air craft such as the A-40 Albatros and its Be-42 Mermaid sister, Beriev is now moving towards the production stage of its Betair Be-200, which the Russian manufacturer hopes will capture a sizeable chunk of the amphibian- aircraft market worldwide. It is Beriev's first major international project — the name Betair being an amalgamation of Beriev, Irkutsk (its manufacturing base in cen tral Russia) and ILTA Trade Finance of Geneva, Switzerland, which is responsible for financing the programme. The aircraft is designed to meet US Federal Aviation Admini stration certification standards, but will also undergo Russian production certification at the Irkutsk Aviation Production Association. This process will include certification for use in die West of die Russian-produced materials involved in its manufacture — materials which were researched by the Russian materials insti tutes VILS and VIAM. Firefighting is the main envisaged role for Be-200 Beriev is dividing die potential market into two segments: firefighting and odier. The fire- fighting Be-200 was designed in close consulta tion widi Russian and US forest-firefighting authorities, in association widi the continuing information exchange in this area between die two countries, which started in 1991. This liai son resulted in Russia's first amphibious water- bombers, two converted Be-12 s, undergoing trials in 1993 at the Irkutsk factory airfield, using water scooped from Lake Baikal. On die basis of these experiments, Beriev is now keen to pro mote the firefighting version of the Be-200. FAMILY LIKENESS A close relation of die Albatros/Mermaid fam ily, die Be-200 has inherited many of its prede cessor's aerodynamics, hydrodynamics and construction features. The aerodynamics fea tures include a swept wing — endowed with leading-edge slats, two-segment flaps, winglets, engines attached to the top of the fuselage — and a swept T-tail, while die main Beriev Be-200 landing gear retracts into fairings tucked into die angle between the fuselage and wing. The hydrodynamics of the semi-mono- coque all-metal hull are derived from die Albatros. At die front of die Be-200's specially shaped underside is a pronounced keel, which tapers towards a single step. Although the hull is designed for minimalg- loading at take-off and landing, the fact that the Be-200 in firefighting configuration must transport 12t of water means that the airframe and wing, and especially the wing root, has to be strengdiened. Associated weight penalties are dealt widi by using high-strength alumini um/lithium alloys for die hull, ferric alloys of aluminium for the tanks, and composites for the interior. The 8 x 12m3 water tanks can be fitted or dismounted instantly, say the design ers, for cargo transport. Claimed by die manufacturer to have identi cal proportions to those of die Albatros, the Be-200 is considerably smaller overall, with a wingspan of 32.7m, tailplane span of 10.1 lm, length of 32.05m and overall height of 8.9m. Salient design features include engines mounted above and aft of die wing to avoid water ingestion; availability of ski-landing gear; smoketight cockpit and cargo bay with sealed bulkhead; provision of ten watertight compartments under the floor, to aid buoyan cy; and special water scoops — two forward of the step and two aft, which are deployed only during scooping. The aircraft is powered by two73kN(16,S001b)LotarevD-436turbofans and, in this respect, it is further advanced than the Albatros, giving the aircraft a 25km (13nm) range between die water source and fire. The Be-200 can also be equipped with an avionics suite supplied by ARIA, the joint ven ture between Russian avionics research institute NIIAO and AlliedSignal Aerospace. Known as the ARIA-2000, the system incorporates many features of immense help to firefighters, such as automatic glidescope, water-source/drop ' «ne" 60 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 14 - 20 September
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