Be-6: Combat Flying Boat

Flying boats have never been a priority for air forces, but many nations still designed and produced aircraft capable of landing on water. The Soviet Union was no exception: its engineers had made a few successful models, including some that served with the Navy. However, the Second World War showed that the country needed something special. There was a need for an aircraft that could perform the roles of a transport, a bomber, and a patrol plane — a need for a heavy flying boat like the American Catalina.