The Beriev Be-103 light utility amphibian had its maiden flight on 15 July, four months later than planned. The six-seat aircraft, which is powered by two Teledyne Continental IO-360 engines, had a 12min flight from the Russian manufacturer's airfield in Taganrog.
The Be-103 was produced at the KNAAPO production plant at Komsomolsk-on-Amur. A second prototype is near completion, and is expected to join the flight-test programme soon.
KNAAPO has prepared all manufacturing tooling for series production of the amphibian, and plans to build three more prototypes by the end of the year.
The company has invested about 20 billion roubles ($3.5 million) in the Be-103 programme, and plans to market the aircraft for export to Canada, South-East Asia and the USA.
Source: Flight International