HELICOPTER BOOM
Oboronprom subsidiary Helicopters of Russia, which has stakes in major Russian rotorcraft companies, says its plans to produce 165 helicopters this year - up from 120 in 2007 - and more than 200 in 2009. Oboronprom director Dmitry Petrov says the integration process begun in 2004 has helped to boost sales by creating a more effective structure of the helicopter industry in Russia incorporating sales, production, after-sales support and helicopter recycling. Permanent services and customer support centres are being opened in China, India, Latin America and Russia. Oboronprom took the first steps towards a strategic partnership with AgustaWestland in May with plans to provide sales, maintenance and licence production of AgustaWestland types in Russia. The company is also negotiating with Eurocopter on "co-development of new helicopters", Petrov says.
AIR RACE
The 28-29 June Blackpool Aero Grand Prix will see world-class pilots racing eight high-performance sport aircraft in the air at the same time. The air race, part of National Veterans Day, will take place over the sea along Blackpool's North Shore beachfront. The UK event, which is organised in association with UK air racing governing body the British Formula Air Racing Association, will also feature aerobatics and air-to-air combat.
Source: Flight International
