Bartini Beriev VVA-14

__NOTOC__ Infobox Aircraft
name=VVA-14


caption=VVA-14M1P without wings or engines at the Monino museum, Russia
type=Amphibious ASW aircraft
national origin=Soviet Union
manufacturer=Beriev
designer=Robert Bartini
first flight=1972
introduced=
retired=
status=Retired
primary user=
more users=
produced=
number built=2 Prototypes
variants with their own articles=

The Bartini Beriev VVA-14 Vertikal`no-Vzletayuschaya Amphibia (vertical take-off amphibious aircraft) was developed in the Soviet Union during the 1970s. Designed to be able to take-off from the water and fly at high speed over long distances, It was to make true flights at high altitude, but also have the capability of 'flying' efficiently just above the sea surface, using ground effect. The VVA-14 was designed by Robert Bartini in answer to a perceived requirement to destroy US Navy Polaris missile submarines.

Development

Bartini, in collaboration with the Beriev Design Bureau intended to develop the prototype VVA-14 in three phases. The VVA-14M1 was to be an aerodynamics and technology test-bed, initially with rigid pontoons on the ends of the central wing section, and later with these replaced by inflatable pontoons. The VVA-14M2 was to be more advanced, with two starting engines to blast into the cavity under the wing to give lift and later with a battery of lift engines to give VTOL capability, and with fly-by-wire flight controls. The VVA-14M3 would see the VTOL vehicle fully equipped with armament and with the Burevestnik computerised ASW (anti-submarine warfare) system, Bor-1 MAD (magnetic anomaly detector) and other operational equipment.

History

After extensive research, including the development of the small prototype Be-1 wing in ground effect aircraft, the first VVA-14 prototype was completed in 1972. Its first flight was from a conventional runway on 4th September 1972.

In 1974 the inflatable pontoons were installed, though their operation caused many problems. Flotation and water taxi tests followed, culminating in the start of flight testing of the amphibious aircraft on 11th June 1975.

The inflatable pontoons were later replaced by rigid pontoons, whilst the fuselage was lengthened and the starting engines added. This incarnation was given the designation VVA-14M1P. However, the bureau tasked with supplying the intended battery of 12 RD-36-35PR lift engines did not deliver, and this made VTOL testing impossible.

After Bartini's death in 1974, the project slowed and eventually drew to a close, the aircraft having conducted 107 flights, with a total flight time of 103 hours. The only remaining VVA-14, No. 19172, was retired to the Russian Federation Central Air Force Museum, Monino in 1987. The aircraft still resides at the museum in a dismantled state, where it carries the number '10687' and 'Aeroflot'.

pecifications (VVA-14M1)

aerospecs
ref=
met or eng?=met
crew=3
capacity=
length m=25.97
length ft=85
length in=2
span m=30
span ft=98
span in=5
swept m=
swept ft=
swept in=
rot number=
rot dia m=
rot dia ft=
rot dia in=
dia m=
dia ft=
dia in=
width m=
width ft=
width in=
height m=6.79
height ft=22
height in=3
wing area sqm=217.79
wing area sqft=2344
swept area sqm=
swept area sqft=
rot area sqm=
rot area sqft=
volume m3=
volume ft3=
aspect ratio=
empty weight kg=23236
empty weight lb=51119
gross weight kg=52000
gross weight lb=114400
lift kg=
lift lb=
eng1 number= (Cruise) 2
eng1 type=D-30M turbofans
eng1 kw=
eng1 hp=
eng1 kn=67
eng1 lbf=15062
eng1 kn-ab=
eng1 lbf-ab=
eng2 number= (VTOL - not fitted) 12
eng2 type=12 RD-36-35 PR lift turbofan engines
eng2 kw=
eng2 hp=
eng2 kn=43
eng2 lbf=9666
eng2 kn-ab=
eng2 lbf-ab=
max speed kmh=760
max speed mph=472
max speed mach=
cruise speed kmh=640
cruise speed mph=398
range km=2450
range miles=1522
endurance h=
endurance min=
ceiling m=8000-10000
ceiling ft=26000-33000
climb rate ms=
climb rate ftmin=
armament1=
armament2=
armament3=
armament4=
armament5=
armament6=

ee also

aircontent
see also=
related=
*Beriev Be-1
similar aircraft=
lists=

References

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