Roy's Russian Aircraft Resource

Date Posted 03 December 2010

An-140-100 Airplane Winner of "100 Best Commodities of Russia"

The An-140-100 airplane, manufactured by the Samara Aviakor aircraft plant, has been acknowledged as the winner of the all-Russian competition "100 Best Commodities of Russia" for 2010. The permanent organizers of the competition are the federal agency for technical regulation and metrology, the interregional public organization the Academy of Problems of Quality and the editors of the magazine Standards and Quality, they reported at Aviakor.

The An-140-100 airplane was created and proposed to replace the most widely manufactured Soviet airplane, the An-24, and also the Yak-40. The first flight of an An-140 assembled in Russia took place in August 2005.

The Samara Aviakor aircraft plant has been producing An-140-100 in series since 2006. Four such airplanes are being used successfully by the Yakutia airline. At the present time construction of the next batch of An-140 airplanes is underway.

The An-140-100 airplane manufactured by the Aviakor plant has made a good showing of itself while making regional trips, including in severe weather conditions and during service at remote airfields with unprepared surfaces.

Source: 03.12.10, Aviation Explorer

Date Posted 02 December 2010

Tests of Second Prototype Mi-38 Helicopter Begin

The second prototype of the new Mi-38 helicopter OP-2 ((prototype-2)) manufactured by the Moscow M.L. Mil' Helicopter Plant Joint Stock Company and the Kazan' Helicopter Plant Joint Stock Company (OAO KVZ) which are included in the Vertolety Rossii ((Helicopters of Russia)) holding company has made its first flight. The starting tests, in the opinion of OAO KVZ specialists, are going well: 26 ground runs and 7 flights in hover regimes and moving at slow speed over the runway already have been performed in the helicopter.

The aircraft being tested has been modified structurally owing to the results of tests of the first Mi-38 prototype OP-1. The hydraulic and fuel systems have been improved and changes were introduced into the design of the main rotor blades. Standard construction spring loading mechanisms have been installed in the helicopter's control system. As a result, the aircraft is maximally close to the requirements of the Russian AP-29 flight worthiness standards, the counterpart to the FAR-29 foreign standards and its control and stability have been improved. The helicopter is equipped with PW 127/TS turboshaft engines manufactured by the Pratt & Whitney Canada ((in English)) company, and also a modern IBKV-38 avionics complex manufactured by the Tranzas company, in which the "glass cockpit" principle has been implemented. The helicopter also can be equipped with Russian TV7-117V engines. It is planned to transfer Mi-38 OP-2 to Moscow Mil' plant for a full cycle of flight tests.

Moscow M.L. Mil Helicopter Plant Joint Stock Company plans a demonstration of Mi-38 OP-2 in 2011 and the start of the helicopter into series production at OAO KVZ is planned in 2013. A third Mi-38 prototype helicopter is in the OAO KVZ assembly shop.

The medium Mi-38 transport and passenger helicopter is intended to carry passengers (including VIP trips), carry cargoes inside the cabin and on external suspension, perform search and rescue operations, aviation supply of off-shore developments and also can be equipped as a flying hospital. The Mi-38 helicopter is supposed to have increased payload capability and develop a high speed in the developers' plans. The Mi-38 is being created with a capacious cargo and passenger cabin and possesses highly economical engines. Servicing man-hours can be lowered owing to the built-in automatic test system for the aircraft equipment and engines.

The Mi-38 is a new generation helicopter which can assure the highest level of standards for safety and comfort among helicopters of its class.

Source: 02.12.10, Aviation Explorer

Date Posted 01 December 2010

Russia's Air Force Reinforced with Upgraded Su-27SM and Su-25SM Airplanes

Russia's air force has been reinforced with new and upgraded Su-27SM and Su-25SM airplanes, and also Mi-24PM and "Ansat-U" helicopters, BFM.RU reports official representative of the Russian Federation defense ministry's directorate of the press service and information for the air force, Colonel Vladimir Drik, said.

He emphasized that a massive influx of new examples of weapons and military equipment (VVT) for the air force's air defense missile troops is planned from 2011 and bringing its share in the combat composition up to 100 percent is envisioned by 2020.

"On the whole, the effectiveness of air defense missile units is greater than 85 percent," Drik reported. According to him, the air and space defense (VKO) formations will execute training fire on targets at the main air force ranges in 2011. Combat duty and aerial patrol missions over the neutral waters of the oceans by long-range aviation crews will not be left out.

Source: 01.12.10, Avia.RU

Date Posted 30 November 2010

Ukraine Plans to Create An-178 Military Transport Airplane Jointly with Russia

Ukraine plans to implement a program for the creation of the An-178 military transport airplane jointly with Russia, ARMS-TASS reports, the first vice president of the Antonov State Corporation, Vladimir Shmyrev, announced at a meeting of the inter-parliamentary commission for cooperation of Russia's Federal Assembly of Russia and Ukraine's Supreme Council.

"The concept design is in progress right now, after which preparation of the working documentation will begin," he said.

The new airplane is intended to carry 15 - 20 tonnes of freight. It will occupy a niche between the An-74 and An-70, and will replace the An-12. It is planned that the An-178 wing, engines and cockpit will be adopted from the An-148.

"The ideology of the airplanes is close, but the An-178 can be considered a new airplane: it has another fuselage and there will be a ramp," Shmyrev said.

According to him, a search for customers is underway. We are proposing the Russian military support this project, too, the representative of the state enterprise emphasized.

The airplane's specification for the An-70 project have been coordinated with Russia's defense ministry repeatedly, Shmyrev said. At the present time work is being carried out on upgrading the aircraft.

"In 2012, we are supposed to conclude state joint tests with the Russian Federation," the Antonov first vice president recalled. According to him, there already are real proposals about organization of An-70 assembly in Russia.

Source: 29.11.10, Avia.RU

Date Posted 26 November 2010

India Delays Acceptance of "Admiral Gorshkov"

India's defense ministry has put off adopting the upgraded "Admiral Gorshkov" aircraft carrier into the inventory until December 2012, Lenta.RU reports referring to Defense Aerospace.

((Title says the rest. Not further translated.))

Source: 26.11.10, Avia.RU

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