Published: 6/19/1998

The certification trials on the Tu-214 first prototype began in summer 1996, but, according to Tupolev, their completion requires $7m to the expenses made earlier, which the company does not have. Meantime, KAPO has mastered the Tu-214 production. The factory is finalising work on four airplanes. In 1998 and 1999, KAPO plans to complete four and eight-nine airframes, respectively. The Tu-214, priced at $27m, is a higher-weight version of the Tu- 204, both types having two Perm Motors PS-90 engines. It can accommodate 212 passengers in an all-economy layout. With a maximum commercial load of 25 tonnes, it has a range of 6250km at a cruise speed of 810-850kph. Vasili Aleksandrov, a new Tupolev general director appointed on 8 April, claims the Tu-204s built by the Aviastar factory of Ulianovsk routinely amass 200 hours a month. They are in commercial service with Vnukovo Airlines, flying from Moscow Vnukovo airport to MinVody, Murmansk, Krasnoyarsk and Tumen. According to Aleksandrov, the Tu-204 remains the top priority for Tupolev.(IN698.7) (VK)  

Article ID: 194