MOSCOW. Sept 23 (Interfax-AVN) - The 64-seat IL-114 with a more powerful new engine is undergoing tests, Nikolai Talikov, Chief Designer of the Ilyushin Aircraft Corporation, told Interfax-Military News Agency.
"A serial IL-114 with tail number 01-09 (the 9th aircraft of the first series - Interfax-AVN) is being tested after modified and more powerful TV7-117SM engines developed at the St. Petersburg Klimov plant have been installed in it," he said.
"The aircraft also features a modernized flight and navigation system," he added.
According to him, the airliner will complete the six test flights scheduled to check the operation of the modernized propulsion system in the near future. "The tests will result in certification of the TV7-17SM engine for use in aircraft," he said.
Talikov added that after the acceptance tests were over, the aircraft would be handed over to the Vyborg airline company for operation. It will be the third aircraft in the fleet of this air carrier, with the total of five airliners ordered.
He emphasized that the forthcoming series of IL-114 would feature TV7-117SM engines installed. Earlier versions will have their TV7-117 replaced with the newer modifications, too. "It will take no more than one day to reequip the aircraft," Talikov said.
The TV7-117SM engine differs from its TV7-117S predecessor with the increased take-off thrust. Its emergency output power reaches 3,500 hp. The max TO thrust is 2,800 hp; the time between overhauls is 6,000 flight hours, and the service life is 20,000 flight hours.