English name: Seagull
NATO reporting name: Mail

TYPE: Twin-turboprop anti-submarine and maritime patrol amphibian.

PROGRAMME: First flew 1960; displayed publicly at 1961 Aviation Day Display, Tushino Airport, Moscow; production of estimated 100 began 1964 to replace Be-6s on anti-submarine and surveillance duties out to some 200 nm (370 km; 230 miles) from shore bases.

CUSTOMERS: Soviet Naval Aviation has an estimated 75 in 1991, with Northern and Black Sea Fleets; no exports, although Be-12 seen in temporary Egyptian insignia in early 1970s.

DESIGN FEATURES: General configuration inherited from piston-engined Be-6, with sharply cranked wing to raise propellers clear of water; single-step hull of high length to beam ratio, with spray dams on sides of nose.

FLYING CONTROLS: Mechanically actuated; hydraulically boosted ailerons, each with two electrically operated tabs; elevators and horn-balanced rudders hydraulically boosted; electrically operated trim tab in each elevator and rudder; hydraulically actuated trailing-edge flaps in two sections on each wing, passing under engine nacelle to wingroot.

STRUCTURE: Conventional all-metal; two-spar wings with considerable centre-section dihedral, slight anhedral on outer panels; semi-monocoque hull with conventional planing bottom; dihedral tailplane with endplate fins and rudders.

LANDING GEAR: Hydraulically retractable tailwheel type, comprising single-wheel main units which retract upward through 180° to lie flush within sides of hull, and a rearward retracting steerable tailwheel. Oleo-pneumatic mainwheel shock absorbers. Except for top of each mainwheel, all units are fully enclosed by doors when retracted. Non-retractable wingtip floats.

POWER PLANT: Two Ivchenko AI-20M turboprops, each rated at 3,124 kW (4,190 ehp) and driving an AV-68I four-blade variable-pitch propeller. Metal cowlings open downward in halves, permitting their use as servicing platforms. Fuel tanks, between spars in wings and in fuselage, with total capacity of approx 11,000 litres (2,905 US gallons; 2,420 Imp gallons).

ACCOMMODATION: Not pressurised. Crew of five on flight deck. Glazed navigation and observation station in nose. Astrodome observation station in top of rear fuselage. Side hatches in rear fuselage permit loading while afloat.

SYSTEMS: Hydraulic system actuates flaps and landing gear. Two engine driven generators power 28V DC electrical system.

AVIONICS: No details available of com/nav systems or IFF. Radome above nose glazing. MAD (magnetic anomaly detection) sting extends rearward from tail.

EQUIPMENT: APU exhausts through aperture in port side of rear fuselage.

ARMAMENT: Internal weapons bay in bottom of hull aft of step. One large and one smaller external stores pylon under each outer wing panel, for torpedoes, depth charges, mines and other stores.

DIMENSIONS, EXTERNAL:

• Wing span: 29.71 m (97 ft 5¾ in)
• Wing aspect ratio: 8.4
• Length overall: 30.17 m (99 ft 0 in)
• Height overall: 7.00 m (22 ft 11½ in)
• Propeller diameter: 4.85 m (16 ft 0 in)

AREAS:

• Wings, gross: 105 m² (1,130 sq ft)

WEIGHTS AND LOADINGS:

• Max operational load: 10,000 kg (22,045 lb)
• Max T-O weight: 31,000 kg (68,345 lb)
• Max wing loading: 295.2 kg/m² (60.5 lb/sq ft)
• Max power loading: 4.96 kg/kW (8.16 lb/ehp)

PERFORMANCE:

• Max level speed: 328 knots (608 km/h; 378 mph)
• Normal operating speed: 172 knots (320 km/h; 199 mph)
• Rate of climb at S/L: 912 m (2,990 ft)/min
• Service ceiling: 11,280 m (37,000 ft)
• Range with max fuel: 4,050 nm (7,500 km; 4,660 miles)

The article appears in the following publication:
Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1991-92. Jane's Information Group Ltd. 1991. ISBN: 0-7106-0965-5