Beriev Be-12 Tchaika
The Beriev Be-12 Chayka is an amphibious anti-submarine aircraft designed to operate from both water and runways. Its gull wing keeps the turboprop engines high above spray, while a boat hull allows naval patrols from coastal bases. The type served with the Soviet Navy for decades carrying sonar buoys, depth charges, and torpedoes. Its combination of a seaplane hull, gull wing, and twin turboprops produces one of the most distinctive silhouettes in maritime aviation.
Did you know?
The Be-12 Chayka combines a boat hull and a high gull wing, letting it operate as an anti-submarine patroller from both water and runways.
Specifications
| Length | 30.1 m (99 ft) |
|---|---|
| Wingspan | 29.8 m (98 ft) |
| Height | 7.4 m (24 ft) |
| Persons on board | 5 |
| Crew | 4 |
| Maximum take-off weight | 31 t |
| Range | 1,900 NM (3,519 km) |
| Maximum speed | 320 kt (593 km/h) |
| Service ceiling | 40,000 ft (12,192 m) |
| Optimum ceiling | 33,000 ft (10,058 m) |
| Rate of climb | 3,000 ft/min (15.2 m/s) |
| Take-off distance | 2,300 m (7,546 ft) |
| Landing distance | 1,750 m (5,741 ft) |
| Fuel capacity | 11,000 l |
| Engines | 2x Ivchenko AI-20D |
| Units built | 143 |
Curated by CatchFlights from manufacturer documents, ICAO Doc 8643 and reference works; values are left out where no source could confirm them. Sources are listed on our credits page.
In CatchFlights
In CatchFlights the Beriev Be-12 Tchaika starts as a Legendary catch. The tier is an editorial judgement of how special a sighting of this type is. The more often you catch it, the closer it moves to Common for you. The first catch of a legendary type pays a bonus of its own.
A catch counts for the manufacturer Beriev, the Be-12 Tchaika family and the model in your collection, and the daily Type Rating quiz asks about the types of each family.
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