러시아의 실력을 만방에 알린 세계 최대의 현용 수륙양용기 A-40 ALBATROSS입니다.

"Beriev A-40 & Be-42 Albatross
Country of origin. Russia
Type: Maritime patrol & ASW (A-40) and SAR (Be-42) amphibian
Powerplants. A-40 - Two 11 7.7kN (26,455lb) Aviadvigatel D-30KPV turbofans and two 24.5kN (5510lb) RKBM (formerly Klimov) RD-60K booster turbojets.
Performance.- A-40 - Max level speed 760km/h (410kt), max cruising speed 720km/h (388kt). Max initial rate of climb on one engine 5900ft/min. Service ceiling 31,825ft. Range with max payload 4100km (2210nm), range with max fuel 5500km (2965nm).
Weights: A-40 - Max payload 6500kg (14,330lb), max takeoff 86,000kg (189,595lb).
Dimensions. A-40 - Wing span 41.62m (136ft 7in), length overall including nose probe 43.84m (143ft 10in), fuselage length 38.92m (1 27ft 8in), height 1 1.07m (36ft 4in). Wing area 200 OM2 (2153sq ft). Accommodation. A-40 - Grew complement of eight consisting of pilot, copilot, flight engineer, radio operator, navigator/observer and three observers. Be-42 - Flightcrew of five, plus three medical attendants, and accommodation for 54 rescued survivors.
Armament. A-40 - Internal weapons bay could carry a range of weapons maritime such as torpedoes, mines and depth charges. Be-42 - None.
Operators. Russia*

History. The Beriev Albatross is the world's largest amphibious aircraft and was designed, initially at least, to replace the Be-12 and Il-38 in maritime patrol and ASW roles.
Design work on the Albatross (NATO identification name 'Mermaid') began in 1983, but it was not until 1988 that the type was made publicly known in the west when the US announced it had taken satellite photographs of a jet powered amphibian under development in Russia. The Albatross made its first flight in December 1986, while its first public appearance was a fly-by at the 1989 Soviet Aviation Day Display at Tushino, Moscow.

The exact future of the Albatross is in some doubt. As many as 20 A-40 Albatrosses have been ordered for CIS naval service, but the status of this order is unclear, with construction believed to be delayed due to funding difficulties. Other versions of the aircraft include the Be-42, which is optimized for search and rescue and the proposed twin propfan powered A-45, Be-40P 105 seat airliner and Be-40PT combo airliner/freighter. The aircraft also forms the basis of the slightly smaller civil Be-200, which is being promoted for various missions including firefighting.

Design features of the Albatross include its unique 'variable rise' single step hull, which is designed to improve stability and controllability in the water, and a unique powerplant combination of two D-30KPV turbofans with a booster turbojet in each of the engine pylons.

The Be-42 SAR aircraft would be able to take 54 survivors of a marine accident and would be equipped with liferafts, powerboats and a range of specialized medical equipment including a transfusion machine, defibrillator and ECG. It would also be equipped with various infrared sensors and a searchlight