MOSCOW. Dec 2 (Interfax-AVN) - Certification flight tests of the 64-seat IL-114 passenger airliner, powered by new more powerful engines, are to start in early December 2004.
"At the present time the ground tests are being completed, and the IL-114 will make its maiden flight in early December," Nikolai Talikov, Deputy Director General of the Ilyushin Company, told Interfax-Military News Agency.
"These tests are certification tests for the upgraded TV7-117SM engine, mounted on the aircraft," he said.
"The flight tests are expected to be completed in mid-December and to comprise six test flights," he noted.
According to him, the necessary documentation on the IL-114, powered by TV7-117SM, will be worked out right after the certification flight tests are completed."The certification flight tests will see participation of series production aircraft c/n 01-09, built by the Tashkent Aircraft Production Association. The aircraft is fitted with the upgraded more powerful TV7-117SM engines, designed by the St. Petersburg-based Klimov Plant," Talikov clarified.
According to preliminary information, on completing the acceptance tests, the aircraft will be handed over to the Vyborg air carrier to become the third aircraft of this type in service with the company. The air carrier has ordered a total of five aircraft of this type.
"All follow-up IL-114s will be powered by TV7-117SM engine," he said.
"The IL-114s, manufactured earlier, are expected to be retrofitted with upgraded engines by air carriers," Talikov said, noting that the whole process would take only a day.
The TV7-117SM engine differs from the baseline TV7-117S in its increased takeoff power. It has an emergency mode thrust of up to 3,500 hp, a maximum takeoff power of up to 2,800 hp, an MTBF of 6,000 hours, and a service life of 20,000 hours.