Russia's United Aircraft continues to explore the option of developing a new widebody passenger airliner, for which it may partner with Chinese airframer Comac.
Speaking at the MAKS air show, the airframer's president Mikhail Pogosyan says design capabilities go beyond narrowbody aircraft types: "We're looking at this prospect down the road - probably after 2020."
He adds that a new widebody product would need to be superior from a technical standpoint. To this end, UAC has been in consultations with the Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute (TsAGI) and other institutes focused on aviation systems and materials.
UAC is also searching for a foreign partner to jointly carry out such a project. "In particular, we discuss these issues through a dialogue with our Chinese counterpart Comac," says Pogosyan.
During his visit to Beijing in 2011, Russian president Vladimir Putin pointed to great potential for co-operation with China and proposed mounting concerted efforts to develop a new widebody to give impetus to both countries' aviation industries.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
