The Chyetverikov MDR-6 was a 1930s

Soviet Union The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR), commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 until Dissolution of the Soviet ...

reconnaissance In military operations, military reconnaissance () or scouting is the exploration of an area by military forces to obtain information about enemy forces, the terrain, and civil activities in the area of operations. In military jargon, reconnai ...

flying-boat A flying boat is a type of seaplane with a hull (watercraft), hull, allowing it to land on water. It differs from a floatplane in having a fuselage that is purpose-designed for flotation, while floatplanes rely on fuselage-mounted floats for b ...

aircraft An aircraft ( aircraft) is a vehicle that is able to flight, fly by gaining support from the Atmosphere of Earth, air. It counters the force of gravity by using either Buoyancy, static lift or the Lift (force), dynamic lift of an airfoil, or, i ...

, and the only successful aircraft designed by the

design bureau OKB () is a transliteration of the Russian initials for "" (), which translates to "Experimental Design Bureau." It could also mean or "Special Design Bureau" in english. During the Soviet era, OKBs were closed institutions working on design and ...

led by Igor Chyetverikov.

Development

First flying in July 1937, the MDR-6 was a two-engined high-wing

monoplane A monoplane is a fixed-wing aircraft configuration with a single mainplane, in contrast to a biplane or other types of multiplanes, which have multiple wings. A monoplane has inherently the highest efficiency and lowest drag of any wing con ...

of all-metal

stressed skin In mechanical engineering, stressed skin is a rigid construction in which the skin or covering takes a portion of the structural load, intermediate between monocoque, in which the skin assumes all or most of the load, and a rigid frame, which has ...

construction. The

prototype A prototype is an early sample, model, or release of a product built to test a concept or process. It is a term used in a variety of contexts, including semantics, design, electronics, and Software prototyping, software programming. A prototype ...

was powered by two M-25

radial engine The radial engine is a reciprocating engine, reciprocating type internal combustion engine, internal combustion engine configuration in which the cylinder (engine), cylinders "radiate" outward from a central crankcase like the spokes of a wheel. ...

s. 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.Gunston 1995 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 The Klimov M-105 was a V12 liquid-cooled piston aircraft engine used by Soviet aircraft during World War II.Gunston 1989, p. 90 Development The M-105, designed in 1940, drew heavily on Klimov's experience with the Hispano-Suiza 12Y ( license ...

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 The Klimov VK-107 was a V-12 liquid-cooled piston aircraft engine used by Soviet Union, Soviet aircraft during World War II. Development The VK-107 was developed from the Klimov M-105, M-105 and Klimov VK-106, VK-106. To achieve a greater power ...

engines. Two prototypes built.

Operators

; *

Soviet Naval Aviation Soviet Naval Aviation (AV-MF, ) was the naval aviation arm of the Soviet Navy. Origins The first naval aviation units in Russia were formed in 1912–1914 as a part of the Baltic Fleet and the Black Sea Fleet. During World War I, the hydro ...

Specifications (MDR-6A)

References

Bibliography

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External links

Chetverikov MDR-6
{{Soviet scout designations MDR-6 1930s Soviet patrol aircraft Aircraft first flown in 1937 Flying boats High-wing aircraft Gull-wing aircraft Twin piston-engined tractor aircraft Twin-tail aircraft