Russian Helicopters' Kazan factory is building a third prototype of a new model, the Mil Mi-38, which fits between the 36-passenger Mi-17 and the 82-passenger heavylift Mi-26.
The aircraft is designed to carry up to 40 passengers with a maximum take-off weight of 15.6t and payload of 6t carried internally or by sling.
Development has been held up by delays to a new Klimov engine, though this will be powering the third prototype, with Pratt & Whitney power having got the first two aircraft flying for evaluation by Russian Helicopters' Mil design bureau in Moscow.
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Kazan plant manager Vadim Ligay says the aircraft is now on schedule to enter serial production "soon", and he expects Moscow to have the aircraft certified, with Klimov TV7-117V engines, in 2015.
The Kazan plant's main product is the Mi-17.
Source: Flight International
