MOSCOW. Jan 16 (Interfax-AVN) - An AW139 helicopter assembled in Russia has had a successful maiden flight, Russian Helicopters told Interfax-AVN on Tuesday.
"Pursuant to the ground test program, the first AW139 assembled in Russia, side number 60001, rolled out on December 18 for ground tests. The tests of the helicopter with the side number 60001 continued on December 19 with the maiden flight. The AW139 helicopter stayed in the air for 37 minutes and successfully past tests by methods approved by Russian aviation authorities," the report said.
The second AW139 helicopter (side number 60002) assembled by HeliVert will be ready for testing in February 2013.
The HeliVert plant is located on the premises of the national helicopter center in Tomilino near Moscow.
Assembly of AW139 helicopters in Russia started on schedule, in 2012. The plant may produce up to 15-20 choppers per year.
A provisional agreement on the establishment of the HeliVert Russian-Italian joint venture in Russia for building AW139 civilian helicopters was signed between AgustaWestland and Russian Helicopters at the Farnborough air show in July 2008. The joint venture deal was concluded on November 6, 2008, in the presence of then Prime Ministers Vladimir Putin and Silvio Berlusconi. Main documents regulating HeliVert activity were signed in France in summer 2011 and HeliVert specialists were trained at the AgustaWestland training center in Italy in January-March 2012.