Warplanes of Russia: Beriev R-1

Beriev R-1

(Soviet Air Force Photo)

The Beriev R-1 the first jet-propelled flying boat built in the USSR. The R-1 was first flown May 30 1952 by I M Sukhomlin. It was powered by two 6,041 lb (2,740 kg) VK-1 turbojets.The pilot was seated in a fighter-type cockpit on left side of hull, the navigator/bomb-aimer was seated in the nose, while the rear gunner was seated in the blister-fitted stern compartment.The armament consisted of two fixed 0.9 in (23 mm) NR-23 guns in the nose, two NR-23s in a barbette in the tail (operated by the rear gunner), while a 2,205 lb (1,000 kg) bomb load could be carried on wing racks. Only one prototype built.

Extensive testing continued to 1956, however, the development of land-based long-range reconnaissance aircraft put the project into jeopardy. After another crash in February 1956, the R-1 was never repaired and subsequently scrapped. The R designation is believed to have stood for Reaktivnyy (jet-propelled).^[1] Experience gained during the test programme with the R-1 was used in the development of the Beriev Be-10.^[(Wikipedia)