United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), the parent company of major Russian aerospace manufacturers, announced the first flight of the second prototype of the Il-114-300 regional turboprop on March 31.
The 68-seat aircraft is one of the domestic projects aimed at supplying the country’s airlines, which are prohibited from ordering Western products.
Based on the Il-114 turboprop, the new aircraft has been improved with the use of composite materials and digital systems such as the cockpit. The aircraft is powered by a Klimov TV7-117ST-01 engine with six-blade propellers.
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It was precisely the Klimov engine that caused a major delay in the program. In August 2021, the only prototype of the Il-112V military freighter, also equipped with a TV7 engine, suffered a fatal accident near Moscow.
Il-112V crash
The UAC suspended both programs pending corrections to the project. According to the company, the engine “has undergone a series of modifications. A new TA 14-114 auxiliary power unit has also been installed.”
The maiden flight of the second Il-114-300 prototype lasted about 40 minutes from the Lukhovitsy plant on the outskirts of Moscow. The aircraft reached an altitude of 900 meters and a speed of 230 km/h, according to the UAC.
Despite the success, the company foresees a long development and certification process as the Il-114-300 will have the mission of replacing the An-24 on regional flights to airports with asphalt or dirt runways.
