Beriev Be-103

The Beriev Be-103, sometimes called Snipe in English, is a light amphibious seaplane designed by Beriev and built by the Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aircraft Production Association in Russia. It was intended for autonomous operation in the unmarked areas of Russia's far north and Siberia, on short-haul routes through regions where rivers, lakes and streams are the only way in. A mid-wing monoplane, it uses its modified wing roots as water-displacing sponsons and has an all-moving slab tail, retractable tricycle landing gear and a blended wing swept at 22 degrees with fixed leading edge slats; the airframe is aluminium-lithium alloy with titanium in high-stress areas. The FAA type certificate was handed over on 21 July 2003 at Oshkosh, and the aircraft is also certified in Brazil, China, the European Union and Russia. It seats one pilot and five passengers and is powered by two 157 kW Continental IO-360 engines. China signed for 20 aircraft in 2004, and a licensed-production contract followed in 2016.