MOSCOW. Jan 22 (Interfax-AVN) - The first batch of mass- produced T-411 light planes will be manufactured in 2004, Maxim Glazkov, director of aviation programs in the Khrunichev aerospace research and production center, said on Thursday.
"The MIG aircraft corporation is assembling airframes of T- 411 five-seater planes designed by the Khrunichev aerospace research and production center. The first two planes have been shipped to the customer, and the other 13 planes will be obtained from the MIG corporation later this year," Glazkov told Interfax- Military News Agency.
The Khrunichev center's aircraft production facility is fitting the planes with engines and equipment, he noted.
According to Glazkov, there are enough M-14H engines made by the Voronezh mechanical plant and developing 360hp for all the 15 planes.
"We have enough requests, mainly from foreign customers, for the supplies of the T-411," he said.
Glazkov noted that the plane's certification tests will resume in three to five months. "It is planned that the certification will take at least eight months. One of the two T- 411s handed over to the Khrunichev center will be submitted for the certification tests," he said.
The price of the plane's baseline variety will amount to at least USD180,000, Glazkov went on.
"As a rule, customers very seldom order the baseline variety, they always require additional equipment or system or higher comfort, which brings up the price immediately," he said.
According to experts, aircraft production at the Khrunichev center is developing steadily thanks to the policy of its leaders aimed at boosting involvement in the spheres close to the center's traditional specialization. The center has invested over USD10m in its aircraft projects.
The T-411 has fixed landing gear with a tailwheel and cowling on main gear leg wheels. Its maximal take off weight amounts to 1,650kg, payload to 320kg, maximal speed to 200kmph, and flight range to 1,200km.