ZAPORIZHZHIA. Sept 13 (Interfax-AVN) - The first Be-200 amphibious aircraft assembled in Taganrog is expected to make its maiden fligth in 2010, Director General of the Taganrog-based Beriev Aircraft Scientific Industrial Company (TANTK) Viktor Kobzev told Interfax-AVN.
"The decision on transferring the Be-200 production from Irkutsk to Taganrog has been adopted. We will start producing certain parts as early as this October," Kobzev said.
Almost the whole set of Be-200 technical documentation has already been handed over to TANTK, Kobzev said.
At the same time he noted that the transfer did not mean that Be-200 production would be terminated in Irkutsk altogether. "We will try to preserve cooperation and close contacts. Irkut is expected to manufacture Be-200 wings, and provide assistance in producing other parts and elements at the initial stage," Kobzev said.
The Be-200 amphibian has a maximum flight weight of 41,000 kg, a crusing altitude of 8,000 m, a maximum flight speed of 710 km/h, a range of 3,850 km, and two D-436TP engines, produced by Motor Sich. The aircraft is capable of airlifting 72 passengers or up to 7.5 tons of cargo.