MOSCOW. April 4 (Interfax-AVN) - The Yakovlev design bureau has decided to continue the development of the YAK-152 trainer plane, a competent source in the Russian aircraft-building industry told Interfax-Military News Agency on Friday.
"Developers of the YAK-152 have decided to build the plane of their own and promote it on the domestic and global aircraft markets," the source said.
The YAK-152 was submitted for a competition of trainer projects with piston engines that was held by the Russian Air Force. The SU-49 plane of the Sukhoi design bureau was declared the winner of the competition, but Yakovlev decided to continue working on the YAK-152, because experts say that the new aircraft has export prospects. The volume of the market for planes similar to the YAK-152 is estimated at several hundred pieces.
"The R&D program related to the YAK-152 plane is financed out of the Yakovlev design bureau's own and attracted funds. At the same time, the developer has several proposals from potential investors who are ready to finance further R&D related to this trainer," the source said.
The bureau is working on the completion of design documents related to YAK-152, he noted.
The source did not rule out that construction of the first prototype will start already in late 2003. "The deadline for developing the aircraft will largely depend on financial capacities of the developer and the volume of funds it attarcts," he stressed.
The source declined to disclose the cost of the aircraft, saying that "it will vary." "A variety with streamlined on-board equipment and lower cost will be offered for aviation clubs of the Russian Defense Sports and Technical Society. A trainer for advanced training of cadets of Air Force flight colleges will be two to three times more expensive," he said.
According to experts contacted by Interfax-AVN, the new plane will be offered to customers for USD160,000-170,000.
The YAK-152 is being developed on the basis of YAK-54 sport plane. It will be fitted with the M-14Kh engine with a capacity of 360hp. Equipment will be mounted in the same order as on the YAK-130 combat trainer.
The R&D and testing program for the trainer is estimated at USD2m-3m by specialists.
The trainer's take-off weight is 1,320kg, maximum speed 375kmph, and maximum range of flight 1,000km.