Beriev Be-30

Be-30 / Be-32

Picture - Aeroflot Beriev Be-32

Role: Airliner
Manufacturer: Beriev
First flight: 1967-03-03
Primary user: Aeroflot
Produced: 1968-1976
Number built: 8

The Beriev Be-30 (NATO reporting name "Cuff") is a Russian regional airliner and utility transport aircraft designed by the Beriev Design Bureau. It was developed specifically for Aeroflot local service routes using short, grass airstrips. It was also designed to be used in the light transport, aerial survey and air ambulance roles.

It competed against the Antonov An-28 and the Czechoslovakian LET-410, and claims were made that it didn't become the standard plane in this size due to political reasons within the COMECON trading bloc.

The original design featured interconnected engines, so that in case of one engine failing, the remaining engine could drive both propellers, though this was not implemented in the production version.

The first prototype flew on 3 March 1967, fitted with Shvetsov ASh-21 piston engines, while the first production prototype flew on 18 July 1968, using more powerful Glushenkov TVD-10 turboprop engines. The first deliveries to Aeroflot were in mid-1969.

Variants

3 Be-30s and 5 Be-32s were built in the late 1960s before program terminated. One of the original Be-32s was converted to Be-32K demonstrator.

Be-30: Production model
Be-30A: With 'high-density' seating for 21-23 passengers
Be-32: Upgraded model first displayed in 1993

Picture - Beriev 32

Be-32K: 'Westernized' version with Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6 turboprop aircraft engines

Powerplants

Be-30 Prototype first flew on March 3 1967, powered by two 550kW (740hp) ASh-21 piston radial engines.
Be-30 - Two 708kW (950shp) Glushenkov TVD-10 turboprops, driving three blade constant speed propellers. Fuel capacity 1000kg (2204lb).
Be-32 - Two 754kW (1011shp) Glushenkov (Omsk) TVD-10B turboprops driving three blade constant speed propellers.
Be-32K - Two 820kW (1100shp) Pratt & Whitney PT6A-65B turboprops driving three blade Hartzell reversible pitch propellers. Fuel capacity 2250ltr (594USg)

Capacity

The Be-30 was designed for a flightcrew of two with passenger arrangements for 14 (Be-30) to max 17 (Be-32) at two abreast. Corporate shuttle configuration seated seven. The Ambulance configuration could accommodate nine stretcher patients, six seated patients and one medical attendant.

Baggage hold volume Be-30 forward 0.3 + 0.3m3 (10.6 + 10.6cuft), aft 1.6m3 (56.5cuft), Be-32 1.33m3 (47cuft).

Production

Three Be-30s and five Be-32s were built in the late 1960s before program terminated. In the early 1990's one of the original Be-32s was converted to Be-32K demonstrator and presented at the 1993 Paris and Dubai air shows. It was painted in the colors of the now defunct Moscow Airways which had ordered 50 aircraft but ceased operations before any could be built or delivered.

In September 1996 it was announced that the Be-32 would be produced by IAR in Romania, but these plans were later denied. In 1998 it was stated that the Be-32K would be built by Taganrog Aviation, but flight testing was reportedly still under way in 1999. Apparently there has not been much progress in recent years, and as far as is known, no new aircraft have been built since the mid seventies.

Operators

Soviet Union

Aeroflot.

Specifications (Be-30)

General characteristics

Crew: 2
Capacity: 14-16 passengers
Length: 15.7 m (51 ft 6 in)
Wingspan: 17.0 m (55 ft 9 in)
Height: 5.52 m (18 ft 2 in)
Wing area: 32 m² (340 ft²)
Empty weight: 3,607 kg (7,937 lb)
Useful load: 1,500 kg (3,300 lb)
Max takeoff weight: 5,860 kg (12,920 lb)
Powerplant: 2x— Glushenkov TVD-10 turboprop engines, 708 kW (950 shp) each

Performance

Maximum speed: 480 km/h (260 kn, 300 mph) at 2,000 m (6,500 ft)
Cruise speed: 460 km/h (250 kn, 290 mph) at 2,000 m
Range: 1,300 km (700 nmi, 810 mi)

Lundgren, Johan (1996-2006). Beriev Be-30/32. Airliners.net. AirNav Systems LLC. URL accessed on 2006-08-18.

Beriev Be-30 Pictures

More aircraft.

Source: WikiPedia