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| Beriev Be-200 (Image: Wiki Commons) |
by Vladimir Karnozov
China has signed for two Beriev Be-200 amphibious jets with an option for two more, Russia's minister for industry and trade Denis Manturov told journalists on November 2. He did not provide further details, but added that the Indonesian government is also considering buying two or four such aircraft. So far, the type has been exported only to Azerbaijan.
This announcement comes after the first Be-200ChS assembled at TANTK Beriev performed a 15-minute test flight on September 16, with test-pilots Nikolai Kuleshov and Eugeny Yurasov at the controls. This aircraft made a public appearance at GydroaviaSalon’2016 show at Gelendzhik on the Black Sea Coast held September 20 to 25.
Previously, the type was in production at Irkut Corporation’s IAZ plant in Irkutsk, which assembled a Be-200 prototype in 1998 and eight production-standard aircraft from 2003 through to 2011. The latter came in the Be-200Ch customized version for Russia’s Ministry for Emergencies (Emercom), which specializes in firefighting, search and rescue, medical evacuation and ecological monitoring. Emercom operates six aircraft and Azerbaijan one; the other two remain with the manufacturer, available for payable services.
Read the full story at AINonline