MOSCOW. July 12 (Interfax-AVN) - The Antonov ANTK Company suggests fitting upgraded An-2 aircraft with MS-14 aircraft engine, manufactured by the Zaporizhzhia-based Motor Sich Company.
"The MS-14 engines will both improve flight characteristics of the An-2, and reduce their modernization costs considerably," ANTK Deputy Designer General Oleg Bogdanov told Interfax-Military News Agency.
He pointed out that at the present time An-2s, being upgraded into An-3s at the Omsk-based Polyot Enterprise, were being equipped with TVD-20 engines. However, the number of contracts is rather low due to the high cost of the engines.
According to Bogdanov, various foreign states operate several thousand An-2 aircraft, most of which may be upgraded.
Bogdanov pointed out that MS-14 engines would be mounted on An-2s at the Vinnytsya aircraft plant. The engine for the first prototype, expected to make its maiden flight in late 2006 or in early 2007, will be sent to Vinnytsya in the near future.