MOSCOW. Nov 10 (Interfax-AVN) - The static tests of the TU- 44 light cargo-passenger plane are expected to begin before mid- 2004, executive director of the Aviatsionnye Tekhnologii i Kompositi (ATIK) special design bureau Vadim Salimov told Interfax-Military News Agency Monday.
"Currently a TU-44 plane for static tests is being built. The tests are to begin in the first half of 2004," he said.
He recalled that the design bureau had a general agreement with the Tupolev JSO for R&D on a number of topics, including the TU-44 and all its derivatives.
He said that the TU-44 is designed on the basis of state-of- the-art technology and materials. The airframe is mainly designed and built by ATIK.
"The first plane for flight tests is expected in summer 2004, and he following makes of the experimental batch will come each two to three months. All in all six TU-44s will be made in 2004," Salimov said.
Up to 90 percent of the elements will be made of composites, but the bearing elements, for example, the bearing bulkheads of the fuselage, will be metal, he also said.
"To increase the operational range, the aircraft will have 120 liters of fuel in two additional suspended fuel tanks," Salimov added.
He admitted that armed authorities, including the Defense Ministry, were on the list of potential customers, and that special options have been designed, but declined to disclose any other information to that effect.
Salimov added that a floater-based version of the aircraft was also under development. "The water base of the Central Aero- hydrodynamics Institute is testing the floating base and the floater s themselves," he said.
The TU-44, a double-engine high-wing monoplane, is powered by Czech-made 250-hp M337C piston engines. The maximal takeoff weight of the aircraft is 2,100kg, the commercial load is up to 600kg. The maximal speed is 360kmph, the ceiling is 6km, the operational range at an altitude of 3,000m at a speed of 310kmph with five passengers onboard is 1,200km, and the ferry range without fuel tanks is 2,200km.