MOSCOW. Oct 12 (Interfax-AVN) - Factory tests of the YAK-130-01 prototype combat trainer are nearing their end at the Nizhny Novgorod-based Sokol plant.
"The aircraft has proved all flight and take-off/landing specifications declared. It has reached an altitude of 12 km, which is almost 2 km higher than the service ceiling put forward in performance specifications, and the speed of 800 kmph," a source in the Russian defense industry told Interfax-Military News Agency on Tuesday.
According to him, ground stationary tests are underway now at the benches of the Yakovlev design bureau. "As soon as they are over, and prove the specifications announced, the max speed tests will be held, and g-load tests, too," the source said.
He added that the ground tests would be over next month. "We are planning to hand over the plane for official tests in November of December this year," he said.
The second experimental aircraft, the YAK-130-02, will be built for tests in November. The time when the YAK-130-03 will be ready for experiments depends only on funding from the Russian Air Force, he added.
According to the source, the Sokol plant is ready to put the aircraft in series, to say nothing of its readiness to build the third prototype.