Chyetverikov MDR-6

MDR-6
Role	Reconnaissance flying-boat
Manufacturer	Chyetverikov
First flight	July 1937
Introduction	1941
Retired	1942
Primary user	Soviet Naval Aviation
Produced	1939–1945
Number built	27

The Chyetverikov MDR-6 was a 1930s Soviet Union reconnaissance flying-boat aircraft, and the only successful aircraft designed by the design bureau led by Igor Chyetverikov.

Development

First flying in July 1937, the MDR-6 was a two-engined high-wing monoplane of all-metal stressed skin construction. The prototype was powered by two M-25 radial engines. A production run of 20 units powered by M-63 engines were produced in 1940 and 1941. All the aircraft were withdrawn from service in 1942 due to structural problems.^[1]

Several progressively advanced prototypes were built from 1939 to 1945, but no further production ensued.

Variants

MDR-6: Initial prototype. One built.
Chye-2: Production version powered by M-63 radial engine. 20 built.
MDR-6A: Redesign with smaller wing and two Klimov M-105 V-12 engines.
MDR-6B-1 to B-3: Refined developments of MDR-6A. Three prototypes built.
MDR-6B-4 to B5: New, much larger hull, powered by Klimov VK-107 engines. Two prototypes built.

Operators

Soviet Union

Soviet Naval Aviation

Specifications (MDR-6A)

Data from Donald, 1997, pg 258.

General characteristics

Crew: 3
Capacity: 3
Length: 15.73 m (51 ft 7.25 in)
Wingspan: 19.4 m (63 ft 7.75 in)
Wing area: 52.3 m² (562.97 sq ft)
Empty weight: 4,100 kg (9,039 lb)
Gross weight: 7,200 kg (15,873 lb)
Powerplant: 2 × Shvetsov M-63 radial piston , 821 kW (1,100 hp) each

Performance

Maximum speed: 360 km/h (224 mph, 195 kn)
Cruise speed: 220 km/h (137 mph, 119 kn)
Range: 2,650 km (1,647 mi, 1,431 nmi)
Service ceiling: 9,000 m (29,530 ft)

Armament

1 × 7.62-mm (0.3-in) ShKAS machine gun in bow turret
1 × 12.7-mm (0.5-in) UBT machine gun in dorsal turret
1,000-kg (2205-lb) bombload

References

^ Gunston 1995

Bibliography

Donald, David, ed. (1997). The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. Prospero Books. p. 258. ISBN 1-85605-375-X.
Gunston, Bill (1995). The Osprey Encyclopedia of Russian Aircraft from 1875 – 1995. London: Osprey Aerospace. pp. 73–74. ISBN 1-85532-405-9.
Maslov, Mihail (September 2000). "Un grand hydravion de reconnaissance maritime: le Chetverikov Che-2 (MDR-6A)" [The Chetverikov Che-2 (MDR-6A): A Large Maritime Reconnaissance Seaplane]. Avions: Toute l'Aéronautique et son histoire (in French) (90): 48–51. ISSN 1243-8650.
Maslov, Mihail (November 2000). "Un grand hydravion de reconnaissance maritime: le Chetverikov Che-2 (MDR-6A)". Avions: Toute l'Aéronautique et son histoire (in French) (92): 49–55. ISSN 1243-8650.

External links

Chetverikov MDR-6

[Gunston-1] Gunston 1995

[1]