Anigrand 4044 Bartini-Beriev VVA-14M1P Sea Monster 1:144

Bartini-Beriev VVA-14M1P Soviet coastlines sea monster. Includes BONUS kits of the IL-28 Beagle, Yak-25RV Mandrake and Mi-4 Hound. In late 1950s, the U.S. Navy started the Polaris program which was to arm the submarines with ballistic missiles. The USSR quickly issued requirement to industries for the Anti-Submarine-Warfare system. A vehicle was initially seen as urgently needed to destroy Polaris-missile submarines. The Minister of Defense selected Bartini's floatplane design, and ordered Beriev OKB to build three prototypes. It was to be developed in three phases. The VVA-14M1 was to be a technology test-bed with inflatable pontoons. The VVA-14M2 was to be more advanced with fly-by-wire flight controls. The third stage would be the VTOL vehicle ful ly equipped with armament. In 1972, the first prototype made its maiden flight as as aeroplane. In 1974, the inflatable pontoons were installed but its expansion and retraction caused many problems. So later it was replaced by rigid pontoons, the fuselage was lengthened and a pair of starting engines were added. The program continued in 1974 but the engine resonance caused breakage of landing gears and rear control flaps. It never flew again and eventually drew to a close as Beriev was given higher-priority work with the A-40 and Ilyushin Il-78.