New LMS-901 "Baikal" aircraft are being developed in Russia to replace the Soviet An-2, but the turboprop machines still haven't taken to the skies.
The problems encountered by engineers at the Ural Civil Aviation Plant (UZGA) in the development of the aircraft have become known.
Billions have been spent, but there is no aircraft, and therefore it is now being refined. There are very many shortcomings with the aerodynamics of the wing and with the design of the aircraft.
In total, more than nine billion rubles have been spent from the federal budget over the past 12 years on the development of small aviation in Russia. This includes the modernization of old vessels and the launch of production of new ones, as well as the training of pilots.
However, the basis of the country's aircraft fleet is still the Soviet legacy - An-2 or An-24, released several decades ago. Maintaining them in airworthy condition is an expensive task.
LMS-901 "Baikal" — a light nine-seat multi-purpose aircraft for local airlines to replace the An-2 and An-3. UZGA has already found someone to sell the first 50 aircraft of this series to.
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