Valentin Klimov, general director of Tupolev, says that the prototype of the much-delayed Tu-334 regional airliner will be flown for the first time in late May or June, following project funding from the Ukrainian Government.
The proposed 100-seat twinjet, which is intended to replace the CIS' ageing fleet of Tupolev Tu-134s, was rolled out in August 1995 during the Zhukovsky air show in Moscow, but a lack of finance has delayed the first flight.
The Ukrainian Government has now provided 90% of the sum required to put the aircraft into production at the Aviant manufacturing plant in Kiev. The first five aircraft are under construction.
Static testing of the second Tu-334 prototype has been carried out by Russia's Central Aero-and-Hydrodynamics Institute. Klimov says that nothing untoward was found during the tests.
Igore Kalygin, Tu-334 chief designer, says that Ukrainian and Russian airlines are interested in operating the aircraft.
Aviacor in Samara, another production centre for the Tu-334, has almost completed the first four stretched variants. Previously the Tu-334-200, this 126-seat version is now designated the Tu-354.
Source: Flight International
