The new Ka-226 completes Orenburg flights

Published: 3/16/2000

The new Ka-226 helicopter has now completed a series of test flights at the Strela facility in Orenburg and is expected to go into serial production in the near future. The facility has obviously worked to obtain a new component for the helicopter since only in February it was announced that the test flight had been cancelled 'indefinitely' due to component failure during pre-flight checks. It was thought then that the component was a fairly major assembly although both it and the supplier were unnamed. According to sources within the Kamov bureau the 'test' flights were largely unnecessary and undertaken for internal political reasons at the plant, which was chosen by the designer because of its high standards of production of missiles. A level of quality considered essential if the Ka-226 was to compete internationally. The Ka-226 occupies a niche position in the light and medium helicopter sector, characterised by its small size, its cargo capacity and its multifunctional nature. It has a flight range of 700 km and maximum time in flight of 4.5 hours while the two engines allow the helicopter to safely fly over large built-up areas. The Russian Ministry for Emergency Situations is reported to have already paid for the manufacture of the first five aircraft while Gazprom, the customs services and the Moscow city government have also shown an interest in the helicopter.

Article ID: 1692