Why did the Beriev Be-30 not succeed?

Short answer

It never got past a minimal series: only three Be-30s and five Be-32s were built in the late 1960s before the program was cancelled. The aircraft, designed for Aeroflot's local routes on short grass strips, competed with the Antonov An-28 and the Let L-410 Turbolet.

Published: November 5, 2026 · Updated: November 5, 2026 · Edited by Above Ten Thousand · Editorial policy

Curtiss P-40E Warhawk (Kittyhawk IA)

An aircraft tailor-made for Aeroflot

The Beriev Be-30 (NATO reporting name "Cuff") is a regional airliner and utility transport designed by the Beriev design bureau. It was developed specifically for Aeroflot's local service routes, which used short grass airstrips. It was conceived with a flight crew of two and a cabin layout for 14 passengers. The first prototype flew on 3 March 1967 with Shvetsov ASh-21 piston engines. The first production-standard prototype flew on 18 July 1968, now fitted with more powerful Glushenkov TVD-10 turboprops. The first deliveries to Aeroflot took place in mid-1969.

A solution that was left out

The original design had the two engines interconnected, so that if one failed, the engine still running could drive both propellers. That feature was not implemented in the production version.

Rivals and the end of the program

The Be-30 competed with the Antonov An-28 and the Czechoslovak Let L-410 Turbolet. Three Be-30s and five Be-32s were built in the late 1960s before the program was declared over.