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Hello everyone :), what I would like to introduce today is the Be-10 jet bomber.
History:
In the early autumn of 1953, when the military refused to proceed further with the P-1 project, the navy developed a new seaplane. The aircraft is designed for naval reconnaissance purposes, using bombs and torpedoes to attack enemy coastal ships, installing mines, etc. It is named Be-10. Its requirements are significantly higher than the previously manufactured P-1, with a maximum speed expected to be 950-1000 kilometers per hour and a flight range of at least 3000 kilometers The first prototype of the Be-10 seaplane will be tested in November 1955. Later, it planned to build a second prototype with landing gear installed, allowing it to take off from both water and land airports. In May 1954, the general design of the aircraft was ready. Shortly thereafter, the construction of the first prototype began, and despite some issues, the first prototype of the Be-10 seaplane was completed in October 1955. However, at the end of November or early December, the bay used for testing was covered with ice, so some tests were suspended until March to April of the following year.
Be-10 is an all metal airship with high swept wings. The fuselage length of this seaplane is 31,45 meters. The overall approach in the cockpit design of the Be-10 aircraft draws inspiration from the P-1 aircraft. Therefore, pilots and navigators are placed in two bow cabins, gunners and radio operators are located in the aft cabin, and the aircraft has its own side doors. Inside the fuselage, there is a cargo hold used to load weapons for mounting. As a seaplane, the Be-10 can independently perform some ship specific operations. For this purpose, it is equipped with a bottom and two floating anchors, anchor windlass, anchor, water pump, etc. In addition, there is a rescue inflatable boat on board. Therefore, crew members can fix their aircraft in the water for minor repairs and other maintenance work. The prototype is equipped with two doors at the front of the fuselage HC. There are two AM-23 automatic guns in a forward fixed position. The other two guns were placed on a rear turret and remote controlled by the gunner.
The normal payload for Be-10 is 1500 kilograms. In case of overload, he can carry up to 3300 kilograms of bombs, torpedoes, or mines. The Be-10 can use up to 20 100kg bombs, up to two BRAB-1500 bombs, two or three RAT-52 torpedoes, or the same number of AMD-2M mines, or up to four PMI-500M mines. In order to aim in the navigator’s cabin during the bombing, there is an OPB-11 С Sight. In order to search for targets on the water surface, this aircraft is equipped with Kurs-M radar. In addition, it is equipped with an ARK-5 radio compass, radio altimeter, radio station, silicon-2 recognition equipment, and other flight and navigation systems.
The new seaplane is much larger and heavier than the previous one. Its normal takeoff weight reaches 45 tons, with a maximum takeoff weight of 48.5 tons. The mass of an empty aircraft is 27,64 tons. The new aircraft began flying on June 20, 1956. Be-10 took off for the first time under the control of test pilots. The 20 minute flight went smoothly. Until mid December 1958, experienced pilots flew the Be-10 76 times, with a total duration of over 83 hours. On July 20, 1959, two Be-10 seaplanes underwent national testing. In just a few months, the two planes flew a total of nearly 230 hours. According to national test results, the Be-10 seaplane is recommended for use in naval aviation. However, the performance of the AL-7 series engines is insufficient and falls below the specified design requirements.
From the end of December 1959 to the end of April 1960, tests were conducted on modified aircraft. The slender air intake effectively protects the engine from the influence of water, allowing it to take off and land at wind speeds of up to 16 meters per second. The testing of the Be-10 aircraft continued until the early 1960s, and several special modifications were planned based on the Be-10. In 1961, the aircraft series with the number 0600505 lost its tail gun mount and was replaced by a fairing. Several flights were conducted in August and September, and the crew set 12 world records, including the speed of a seaplane (912 kilometers per hour).
For several years, the Be-10 was the only jet aircraft in the Soviet Navy. Nevertheless, the fleet headquarters quickly became disappointed with him. The engine power of this aircraft is insufficient, and its design is prone to corrosion. The airworthiness characteristics seriously affect its flexibility in use. Therefore, starting from 1964, the Naval Aviation Command recommended the cessation of existing research on the Be-10. Over time, the navy abandoned this technology and the aircraft remained idle on the coast. It was not until 1968 that Admiral Gorshkov approved the proposal of the Aviation Command. All built Be-10 aircraft have been destroyed and recycled, marking the end of the history of the Be-10
.
Although it did not appear for a long time and did not achieve special success, the Be-10 seaplane held an important position in the history of Soviet and world aviation. It was the world’s first seaplane to use a turbojet engine. Meanwhile, the 12 world records created by this aircraft have not been broken for a long time. This aircraft is a unique exploration of aviation.
In game:
The Be-10 is a very distinctive seaplane. Its engine is very powerful, with a top speed of 912km/h. Its bomb mounting is also very rich, and it can also mount torpedoes to attack enemy ships. In terms of self-defense firepower, there are also many 23 guns used to protect oneself, with very strong firepower, making it a distinctive jet bomber. Unfortunately, it only had two prototypes manufactured. Therefore, it is recommended to include it as an activity/combat pass in the game.
Specifications:
- Crew：4
- Engine：2 x Lyul’ka AL-7PB turbojets
- Max speed：912 km/h
- Maximum range：3150km
- Service ceiling: 12,000 meters
- Bomb mounts：20x100kg、2xBRAB-1500、2~3xRAT-52 torpedos、2~3xAMD-2M mines、
4xPMI-500M mines - Wingspan: 27.6 meters (90.5 feet)
- Length: 29.8 meters (97.8 feet)
- Height: 8.6 meters (28.2 feet)
