The Soviet aircraft industry was one of the most developed areas of the domestic industry. She could well compete with the world's leading manufacturers, including those from the USA, France and Great Britain. During its long history, the Soviet Union has presented the world with many curious aircraft. Among them, however, were frankly strange (but no less interesting). The most striking example is the almost forgotten today VVA-14, created in 1972.
Before you is a Soviet experimental aircraft - a vertically taking off amphibian, which the idea of domestic designers was to become a bomber, torpedo bomber and seaplane. The machine was designed by the well-known aeronautical engineer Robert Bartini - Italian, a communist by conviction, who in the middle of the century emigrated to the USSR from the fascist (at that time) Italy. VVA-14 made its first flight on September 4, 1972. In 1976, the 14M1P modification appeared, which was already an ekranoplan.
The idea of creating a machine similar to the BBA came from Bartini back in 1955. Then he wanted to design a supersonic flying bomber boat. As a result, the A-55 aircraft appeared, which later became the basis for several more interesting projects. Many of the ideas implemented in the VVA-14 were previously tested by the engineer on the MBA-62 seaplane project. When VVA finally saw the light, it turned out that the aircraft had certain problems with vertical takeoff due to imperfect engines, and it was decided to convert it into the already mentioned ekranoplan.
The entire structure of the amphibian was made of aluminum alloys using an anti-corrosion coating and elements of cadmium steel. The machine had a combined power plant, consisting of two D-30M for 6800 kgf and 12 turbojet engine RD-36-35PR for 440 kgf (each). The engines were powered by 14 tanks with a total volume of 15,500 liters. A floating refueling system was also envisaged. The control system and navigation equipment of the 14th was no different from conventional aircraft.
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The empty weight of the aircraft was 35 356 kg. Machine dimensions - 25.97x6.79 meters. The wingspan was 28.5 meters, and the wing area was 217.7 square meters. The aircraft developed a maximum speed of 760 km / h and had a cruising speed of 640 km / h. On water VVA-14 could move at speeds up to 360 km / h. With fully filled tanks, VVA could fly 2,450 km. The practical ceiling of the amphibian is 10 thousand meters. The crew of the aircraft consisted of only 3 people.
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If you want to know even more interesting things, you should definitely read about why the Su-25 was nicknamed "rook", and for what the mujahideen were afraid of him.
A source: https://novate.ru/blogs/050320/53670/