MDR-6
Role	Reconnaissance flying-boat Type of aircraft
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 All the aircraft were withdrawn from service in 1942 due to structural problems.^[1]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