MOSCOW, July 26 (AVN) - The SU-38L light agricultural plane will take off for the first time on July 31 or August 1, a spokesman for the Sukhoi corporation said on Thursday.
The new plane will be exhibited at the MAKS-2001 international aerospace show that is to take place in the Moscow region from August 14 to 19, the spokesman told the Military News Agency. The aircraft's serial production will be launched in October 2002.
A team of constructors led by Boris Rakitin designed SU-38L due to the ageing of agricultural aircraft and their mass write-off in Russia and other CIS nations. SU-38L allows to use the technology of low-volume small-atomised spraying of chemical substances, which provides high quality of works and allows to save on the cost of fertilisers.
The plane allows to apply modern chemicals to agricultural fields, using an environment-friendly high-productive method of spraying with the norm of five to 30 litres per hectare. It can also spread granular fertilisers. SU-38L can be used in other agricultural activities.
The Sukhoi corporation is implementing the project in close co-operation with the Delta agricultural aviation company that has a certificate for operating this kind of planes. Delta has elaborated and implemented the programme of technological tests of super-light aircraft used in crops protection from pests, diseases and drawks. The programme was tried in the Volgograd region.
SU-38L has the take-off weight of 1,200kg, its M337A engine develops 210hp, the regular flight speed is 150km/h to 180km/h and flight altitude one to 15km. The volume of the chemicals tank is 500m. The plane's service life is 10 years.