Air TransportRussia completes first flight of first new domestically built Tu-214 at Kazan
United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) has conducted the maiden flight of a newly built Tupolev Tu-214 from its manufacturing site in Kazan. The flight marks the restart of the assembly entirely with domestic components, as part of ongoing efforts to replace foreign suppliers.
The maiden flight lasted 1 hour and 10 minutes. The aircraft, which subsequently flew from Kazan to Minsk on 17 December, supports the Russian government’s import-substitution policy for the aviation sector.
This Tu-214 was initially reported as intended for Tatarstan-based UVT-Aero. However, UVT-Aero has stated it will focus on other aircraft types in coordination with the federal air transport regulator Rosaviatsia.
UVT-Aero’s chief, Pyotr Trubaev, has said the carrier is examining the Ilyushin Il-114-300 and the Yakovlev SJ-100, both featuring significant domestic content. Aeroflot Group previously considered adding Tu-214s but is reportedly prioritizing MC-21s instead, said Flight Global.
State lessor GTLK committed to over 40 Tu-214s last year, reflecting broader fleet modernization efforts. Red Wings has recently taken delivery of Tu-214s, but these were older aircraft refurbished from storage rather than newly manufactured.
The Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade launched a restoration and airworthiness program for the Tu-204/214, Il-96, and An-124 in October 2022, initially targeting 12 aircraft for return to service by 2024.
The program has been extended to 2027 to accommodate delivery delays and modernization needs, underlining the Tu-214’s role in sustaining Russian domestic air transport.
The Tu-214, developed as a variant of the Tu-204 and first flown in 1996, features higher gross weight and additional fuel capacity compared to its predecessor. It is produced at the Kazan Aviation Plant, while the Tu-204 is assembled in Ulyanovsk with a different door configuration.
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