https://cast.pudmed.ir/videos/watch/dc69fae9-e0bb-45f0-b80b-940b226aa3cc The Soviet Union has the longest coastline in the world. And for decades, it had no aircraft carriers. The answer was amphibian planes – flying boats that could land on water, operate from any bay or river, and hunt submarines across the Arctic and the Pacific. These were not fragile seaplanes. They were steel albatrosses – tough, ugly, and utterly reliable. This episode traces the Soviet obsession with amphibious aviation. In this full-length episode: 🦢 The Early Years – Be-2 and Be-4 – The first Soviet flying boats of the 1930s. Wooden hulls, radial engines, and limited range. We see rare footage of these pre-war birds patrolling the Black Sea. ⚓ The Workhorse – Be-6 Madge (1949) – The first Soviet post-war flying boat. Twin engines, a gull wing, and a magnetic anomaly detector (MAD) boom for submarine hunting. We examine its service in the Pacific Fleet, its ability to carry depth charges and torpedoes, and its surprising longevity – the Be-6 flew for over 30 years. ✈️ The Jet Experiment – Be-10 Mallow (1956) – The world's first jet-powered flying boat. Two turbojets mounted above the wing. It could hit Mach 0.85, but the saltwater spray destroyed the engines. Only a handful were built. We reveal why this beautiful but flawed design was a dead end – and why one survives in a Russian museum. 🐦 The Masterpiece – Be-12 Chaika (Seagull) (1960) – Still in service today. We break down its gull wing (to keep engines clear of spray), its turboprop engines, and its unique hull design. The Be-12 has flown continuously for over 60 years – hunting submarines, performing search and rescue, and even fighting fires. Why the Russian Navy refuses to retire it. 🌊 The Giant – A-40 Albatross (1986) – The largest amphibian ever built. Twin jets, 40-meter wingspan, and the ability to carry 6,500 kg of weapons. We cover its test flights, its cancellation after the USSR collapsed, and why one prototype remains in storage – waiting for a revival that may never come. 🚁 The Modern Era – Be-200 Altair (1998) – The post-Soviet success story. A jet-powered amphibian designed for firefighting, search and rescue, and transport. We analyze its two rear-mounted engines, its 12-ton water tank, and its export success – including sales to the US and Azerbaijan. The Be-200 is the steel albatross reborn. Sat, 13 Jun 2026 14:55:01 GMT https://validator.w3.org/feed/docs/rss2.html PeerTube - https://cast.pudmed.ir https://cast.pudmed.ir/lazy-static/avatars/eed1cb33-d04c-4158-b000-2f2fb9545c13.png https://cast.pudmed.ir/videos/watch/dc69fae9-e0bb-45f0-b80b-940b226aa3cc All rights reserved, unless otherwise specified in the terms specified at https://cast.pudmed.ir/about and potential licenses granted by each content's rightholder.