AN-140 SUCCESSFULLY FLIGHT-TESTED IN UKRAINE.

The prototype of the AN-140plane was demonstrated in flight yesterday at the Kharkiv aviation plant.Representatives of airlines from Russia and several CIS countries attendedthis first public presentation of the plane. A follow-up presentation is dueshortly in the Russian city of Samara, whose aviation plant is part of ajoint venture to develop and serially produce the plane. The Ukrainianplants involved in the project are: Antonov of Kyiv for the design,Motor-Sich of Zaporizhzhia for the engine and the Kharkiv plant for theassembly work.

The two-engine AN-140 carries fifty-two passengers at a cruising speed of555 kilometers per hour and an altitude of 7,200 meters. It has a range of2,300 kilometers when full to capacity, and it can use short runways anddirt runways.

The new plane is intended to replace the Soviet-era workhorse AN-24. Russiaand Ukraine also hope to export the AN-140 to countries outside the formerSoviet Union. Serial output is scheduled to begin this year. The producershope to receive commercial orders after the expected internationalcertification in the first quarter of next year. (Ukrainian agencies, June11; Eastern Economist Daily, June 9)

AZERBAIJAN IRKED BY CONSORTIUM’S PROCRASTINATION ON EXPORT PIPELINE.