Beriev Be-200

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beriev_Be-200

The Beriev Be-200 Altair (Russian: ?????? ??-200) is a multipurpose amphibious
aircraft designed by the Beriev Aircraft Company and manufactured by Irkut.
Marketed as being designed for fire fighting, search and rescue, maritime
patrol, cargo, and passenger transportation, it has a capacity of 12,000 litres
(3,170 US gallons) of water, or up to 72 passengers.

The name Altair was chosen after a competition amongst Beriev and Irkut staff in
2002/2003, as a reference to the name of the alpha star in the Eagle
constellation and because: "Al" is the first part of the name of the Beriev A-40
Albatross amphibious aircraft, whose layout was the development basis for the
creation of the Be-200; "ta" stands for Taganrog; and "ir" stands for Irkutsk.

Beriev developed unique fire-fighting equipment for the Be-200, allowing it to
scoop water while skimming the water surface at 90-95% of takeoff speed. This
system was developed using a specially modified Be-12P, coded '12 Yellow'. After
installation of the fire-fighting system, the aircraft was registered RA-00046
and given the designation Be-12P-200. This modified Be-12 was used to develop
both the fire-fighting system and methods of operation.

The Be-200's first flight from land was scheduled for 1997, but was eventually
achieved by the first prototype aircraft on 24 September 1998. The aircraft was
then transferred from Irkutsk to Taganrog after 26.5 flying hours, and the first
take off from water was conducted on 10 September 1999 in Taganrog. The second
Be-200 flew on August 27, 2002. This aircraft was built as a Be-200ES, being
fitted to the specifications of the launch customer, EMERCOM, the Russian
Ministry of Emergency Situations.

The Be-200 is a high-wing T-tail monoplane. The hull is of single step design
with a high length-to-beam ratio, which contributes to stability and
controllability in water. The Be-200 airframe is constructed of aluminium alloys
with corrosion-protection treatments. Selective use is made of titanium,
composites and other corrosion-free materials. The wings are fitted with
underwing stabiliser floats. The hydraulically operated retractable landing gear
units all retract rearward, and each unit is twin-wheeled. A water rudder
provides steering when in the water. It can operate from either a 1,800 m long
runway or an area of open water not less than 2,300 m long and 2.5 m deep, with
waves of up to 1.3 m high.

The multirole Be-200 can be configured as an amphibious water drop fire-fighting
aircraft, a freighter, or as a passenger aircraft—the pressurised and air
conditioned cabin allowing transportation of up to 72 passengers. The Be-200 can
also be equipped for special missions. When configured as an air ambulance, the
aircraft can carry up to 30 stretcher patients and seven seated patients or
medical crew. In the search and rescue role, the aircraft can be equipped with
searchlights and sensors, an inflatable boat, thermal and optical surveillance
systems, and medical equipment. The search and rescue variant can accommodate up
to 45 people. The aircraft is also capable of being configured for
anti-submarine warfare duties.

The Be-200 in amphibious water drop fire-fighter configuration suppresses fires
by dropping water contained in eight ferric aluminium alloy water tanks, located
under the cabin floor in the centre fuselage section. Four retractable water
scoops, two forward and two aft of the fuselage step, can be used to scoop a
total of 12 tonnes of water in 14 seconds. Alternatively, the tanks can be
filled from a hydrant or a water cistern on the ground. The water tanks can be
removed quickly for carrying cargo. Water can be dropped in a single salvo, or
in up to eight consecutive drops. The aircraft also carries six auxiliary tanks
for fire-retarding chemical agents, with a total capacity of 1.2 m³. The
aircraft can empty its water tanks over the site of a fire in 0.8 to 1.0 seconds
when flying above the minimum drop speed of 220 km/h (135 mph, 120 kn)


Role
Multirole amphibian

National origin
Russia

Manufacturer
Irkut

Designer
Beriev

First flight
24 September 1998

Introduction
31 July 2003

Status
Operational / In production

Primary user
EMERCOM

Number built
14

Developed from
Beriev A-40

The first documented operational use of the Be-200 was from 20 August till 30
September 2004. For this period a Be-200ES was operated from Sardinia (Italy) by
SOREM, the official operator of fire-fighting equipment of Italian Civil Defense
Department (Protezione Civile). The aircraft, flown by joint Russian-Italian
flight crew performed more than 100 flights with about 90 hours flown. During
seven hours of operational flights, the aircraft participated in the
extinguishing of four forest fires and dropped 324 tons of water.

In early December 2010, two Be-200ES aircraft were used to fight the 2010 Mount
Carmel forest fire near Haifa, Israel.

In Serbia one Be-200 belonging to Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations is
stationed in summer on Niš Constantine the Great Airport. Aircraft has already
operational history in 2012 and 2013.

A Be-200 was dispatched by Russia in January 2015 to assist in search and
recovery operations following the loss of Indonesia AirAsia Flight 8501 in the
Java Sea. On October 20, 2015, two Be-200s were used by the Indonesian
government to fight a forest fire in Sumatra.

In August 2016 two Be-200 aircraft were sent to Portugal after being asked for
help in extinguishing forest fires. Four days later it was reported that thanks
to the work of the Russian Emergencies Ministry Be-200 pilots, the fire was
prevented from spreading in the direction of two settlements: Castro Laboreiro
with a population of 1,000 people, and Viaden de Baixo, where 15 farms were
saved from fire, and Peneda-Gerês National Park.

China bought 4 (2 plus 2) Be-200 during Zhuhai Airshow 2016. The contract was
signed in June 2017

Specifications (Be-200)

General characteristics
Crew: 2
Length: 32.0 m (105 ft 0 in)
Wingspan: 32.8 m (107 ft 7 in)
Height: 8.9 m (29 ft 2 in)
Wing area: 117.4 m² (1,264 ft²)
Empty weight: 27,600 kg (60,850 lb)
Max Take Off Weight (Land): 41,000 kg (90,390 lb)
Max Take Off Weight (Water): 37,900 kg (83,550 lb)
Max Capacity (Water or Retardant): 12,000 kg (26,450 lb)
Max Capacity (Cargo): 7,500 kg (16,530 lb)
Max Capacity (Passengers): 44 (Be-200ES) 72 (Be-210)
Powerplant: 2 × Progress D-436TP turbofans, 7,500 kgf (16,534 lbf) each

Performance
Maximum speed: 700 km/h (435 mph)
Cruise speed: 560 km/h (348 mph)
Economy speed: 550 km/h (342 mph)
Landing speed: 200 km/h (124 mph)
Takeoff speed: 220 km/h (137 mph)
Minimum speed (Flaps 38°): 157 km/h (98 mph)
Range: 2,100 km (1,305 mi)
Ferry range (One Hour Reserve): 3,300 km (2,051 mi)
Service ceiling: 8,000 m (26,246 ft)
Rate of climb: 13 m/s (2,600 ft/min) (At Sea Level and MTOW—Flaps 20°)
Rate of climb: 17 m/s (3,350 ft/min) (At Sea Level and MTOW—Flaps 0°)

Avionics

ARIA 200-M integrated avionics system.





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