NEWS (October, 2005)

20-TH ANNIVERSARY OF ULYANOVSK MANUFACTURED AN-124 FIRST FLIGHT

    Twenty years ago, on October 30, 1985, a sensational event happened in Ulyanovsk. Majestic An-124 jumbo took off. The ramp freighter outstripped its time by decades. Unique performances of the new civil aircraft modification contributed to the emergence of rapidly developing international air cargo market.
At UAIC (later renamed Aviastar-SP Company) the giant to be went under a modest name of “article-400”. Nobody could even imagine what the flow of numerous parts destined for assembly would turn into. That flow was sourced by thousands of domestic enterprises. The plant was still being erected when Ruslan performed its first flight.
    The name to the “giant” was given by O. Antonov, its General Designer. The aircraft is considered to be named after Pushkin’s epic hero Ruslan, who chopped the magic beard off malicious wizard Chernomor. According to another point of view, Antonov ciphered in airliner’s name the abbreviation of “Russian Liner of Antonov”.
    Within 20 years Aviastar-SP launched 54 examples of the An-124s and its An-124-100 modification. Two of them were delivered to “Volga-Dnepr” and “Polet” airlines last year. Owing to some objective reasons Aviastar aircraft serial production was ceased.
    Proceeding from the prognosis of cargo market’s development and rising demand for such freighters, Volga-Dnepr and Polet airlines entered into Russian-Ukrainian Interstate Agreement for “Top-priority measures to revive An-124-100 serial production and modernization at Russian and Ukrainian enterprises” and established an Interstate Council.
    Aviastar-SP specialists analyzed the enterprise status and developed a project for stage-by-stage resumption of different lines of production expected to run for 33 months (from the commencement of the financing) with simultaneous aircraft manufacture for customers.
    Interstate Council approved a business-plan providing aircraft modernization, namely reduced crew of 4 members, increased payload of up to 150 t and upgraded equipment meeting perspective ICAO requirements. The new modification will be designated An-124-100M-150.
    The launch of the initial after-resumption example is scheduled for 2008. The top-priority measures are generation of initial order package for 10 liners and project state backing including signing the Interstate Agreement between Russia and Ukraine.

FROM VLADIVOSTOK TO EKATERINBURG WITH VLADIVOSTOK AIR AIRLINE

On October 27 Tu-204-300 aircraft owned by Vladivostok Air airline started its scheduled service on Vladivostok-Ekaterinburg-Vladivostok route. Vladivostok Air airline supports the policy of new lanes development and Tu-204-300 aircraft operation. In order to improve passenger services the company starts new regular flights on Vladivostok-Ekaterinburg and Vladivostok-Saint-Petersburg routes. A press-conference with the participation of Ekaterinburg airport administration representatives, Vladivostok Air airline, Primorie and Ekaterinburg journalists was held at Koltsovo airport. The conference was followed by an excursion where Tu-204-300 aircraft was demonstrated to mass-media and the airport administration representatives. The airline, the only middle- and long-haul Tu-204-300 aircraft operator, owns the fleet of three such airliners and intends to acquire the forth one at the end of the year. The Tu-204-300s coped successfully with peak summer traffic on Vladivostok-Moscow and Vladivostok-Seoul routes. New airliners are appreciated both by passengers and personnel. The Tu-204-300 regular flights from Vladivostok to Saint-Petersburgh start on the 2nd of November.

TU-204-300 MAXIMUM TAKEOFF WEIGHT IS INCREASED BY 2 TONS

    Aviastar-SP Company has completed Tu-204-300 modification to augment the takeoff weight from 105 to 107 tons. The modification was scheduled and performed in compliance with the demands of the operator – Vladivostok Air airline. The performed modification resulted in increased passenger and fuel capacity, which in its turn allowed to extend range.
    At the painting workshop the surfaces subjected to the modification were coated. That procedure was followed by scheduled maintenance, performed, according to technical requirements, every other 600 flight hours and it included visual checks, component greasing and adjustment. Check flight proved the aircraft to be ready for the further operation. Finally it was flown back to the Far East base.
    At the end of October Aviastar-SP is due to release one more Tu-204-300, this year the fourth one, also intended for Vladivostok Air.

CSC 'Aviastar-SP' PR Department. Tel.: 29-17-18, 29-28-07, 29-09-22 e-mail:d483@aviastar-sp.ru