The Bartini Beriev VVA-14: A Soviet Wonder of Aviation
Have you ever heard of the Bartini Beriev VVA-14? If not, you are not alone. This aircraft is one of the most obscure and fascinating projects in the history of aviation. It was a Soviet attempt to create a versatile and powerful weapon that could fly over the sea, take off and land vertically, and hunt down enemy submarines. Sounds impressive, right? Well, it was, but it also faced many challenges and never reached its full potential. Let’s take a closer look at this remarkable aircraft and its story.
The Vision of Robert Bartini
The Bartini Beriev VVA-14 was named in honor of its creator, Robert Bartini, a Hungarian-born designer who worked in the Soviet Union, nicknamed the “Red Baron”. He served in the Austro-Hungarian Army during the First World War, until he was captured by the Russians and sent to a prisoner of war camp in June 1916. After the war, he joined the Communist Party and moved to the Soviet Union, where he became a prominent aircraft designer and engineer.
Bartini was inspired by the need to destroy the United States Navy Polaris missile submarines, which could launch nuclear weapons from underwater. He envisioned a wing-in-ground-effect aircraft that could take off from the water and fly at high speed over long distances, using the aerodynamic lift generated by flying close to the sea surface. He also wanted the aircraft to be able to make true flights at high altitude, and have the capability of vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL). This way, the aircraft could operate from any water surface, avoid radar detection, and quickly reach the target area.
Bartini collaborated with the Beriev Design Bureau, a leading Soviet manufacturer of seaplanes and amphibious aircraft, to develop his idea. He planned to build the prototype VVA-14 in three phases: the VVA-14M1, the VVA-14M2, and the VVA-14M3. The VVA-14M1 was a basic testbed, with rigid or inflatable pontoons on the ends of the wings. The VVA-14M2 was more advanced, with two starting engines to blast air into the cavity under the wing to create lift, and later with a battery of lift engines to enable VTOL. The VVA-14M3 was the final version, fully equipped with armament and anti-submarine warfare (ASW) systems.
The Challenges and the Fate of the VVA-14
The first VVA-14 prototype was completed in 1972, and made its first flight from a conventional runway on September 4, 1972. In 1974, inflatable pontoons were installed, though their operation caused many problems. Flotation and water taxi tests followed, culminating in the start of flight testing of the amphibious aircraft on June 11, 1975. The inflatable pontoons were later replaced by rigid pontoons, while the fuselage was lengthened and the starting engines added. This incarnation was given the designation 14M1P.
However, the project faced many technical and logistical challenges, and after Bartini’s death in 1974, it lost momentum and support2. The VVA-14 never achieved VTOL capability, as the lift engines were not delivered by the supplier. The project was eventually cancelled in 1987, after only two prototypes were built and 107 flights were conducted.
The only surviving VVA-14, №19172, was retired to the Soviet Central Air Force Museum in Moscow, where it is still on display, although in a dismantled and dilapidated state. It is one of the most unusual and intriguing aircraft ever designed, and a testament to Bartini’s vision and creativity.
Conclusion
The Bartini Beriev VVA-14 was a Soviet wonder of aviation, a unique and ambitious project that aimed to create a versatile and powerful weapon that could fly over the sea, take off and land vertically, and hunt down enemy submarines. It was a visionary idea, but also a challenging one, that faced many obstacles and never reached its full potential. It remains a fascinating and obscure piece of aviation history, and a reminder of the human ingenuity and imagination.
I hope you enjoyed this blog post and learned something new. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to share them below. Thank you for reading! 😊
