Krafty Kamovs
Definitely tested there, an anonymous Ka-50 could be find - although for a limited period - hidden by the local topography far away, at the end of the static line. This particular machine flew actual combat operations, photographs published in Russian magazines proving it. Derivatives of the Ka-50 included the side-by-side twin-seater battlefield command and control Ka-52 and a mockup of the tandem twin-seater Ka-50-2 Erdogan, which was originally designed in cooperation with Israel for Turkey. The possible Russian development of that version will be known as the Ka-54. The unavoidable Ka-31A1 of the Moscow fire department was back again, but a new prominent fire hose was mounted under its nose. This equipment is designed to combat fires in such buildings as towers and this is obviously a consequence of the Ostankino TV tower fire, two years ago. The Ministry of emergency situations (MChS) is interested in a huge number of search and rescue variants of the Ka-226, but only five exemplars have been ordered to date. New options have been taken for the sale of 50 helicopters to Gazprom. The Ka-226 displayed during MAKS was nevertheless adorned with a military colour scheme, representing a transport variant able to carry eight commandos and their equipment in the pod cabin. Kamov had put on static display the possible future successor of the Mi-8, the Ka-60 (production should start this year at Lukhovitsy), but Kazan Helicopter Plant (KVZ) and Ulan-Ude Aircraft Plant (UUAZ) in collaboration with the Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant (MVZ, named after Mil) had brought their own interpretation of the Hip replacement, i.e. new and/or upgraded Mi-8! The Mi-8MTV-5/Mi-17MD (KVZ) is an improved day/night combat version of the Mi-8MTV, able to shoot ATGM missiles and equipped with a rear-loading ramp for light vehicles or artillery pieces, whereas the Mi-8AMTSh/Mi-171Sh is the same interpretation - although without rear loading ramp - by MVZ. Besides the dedicated (night) attack helicopter Mi-28NE (NE is just the export designation of the unique Mi-28N), no less than three upgraded variants of the Mi-24V and P were on display. Two versions were equipped with a GOES turret, whereas the most elaborated model, designated as Mi-24PN (a modified Mi-24P) and featuring a Zarevo electro-optical turret (Zenith-built) in the nose had also been modified with the same main and tail rotors as the Mi-28. Some Russian Army Aviation Mi-24P and V will be upgraded to the same level. Kazan Helicopters had bring their Ansat design at Moscow. The Ansat is the first helicopter to have been developed at Kazan since the break up of Soviet Union. It is motorised by Pratt & Whitney Canada PW-206 engines, license-built by Klimov.
Test & research
As always, some local test, research or support aircraft of the LII could be find on static display. Two of their aircraft, a Tu-154M and a Su-27LL had received a new customized colour scheme. The latter aircraft, which has been equipped with a side stick several years ago, is at the present time used to test in-flight reprogrammable digital fly-by-wire controls as well as in-flight reprogrammable head-down and head-up displays. A Su-24M was shown with a particular ventral pod. This aircraft is used to check the impact of jet engines on the troposphere. A handful of Il-76SKIP telemetry aircraft are based in Zhukovskiy but some of them have not been flown for several years now as they are still wearing Soviet era codes. Older aircraft can be found in different areas of the vast airbase, like the last Tu-16 engine tested, which is not flying anymore. More conventional aircraft are also based at Zhukovskiy, like the three Tupolev type bombers on strength with the Long-Range Aviation. Tu-22M3, Tu-95MS and Tu-160 used to take part in the flying display until 1995. Unfortunately, it has never been repeated since then and except the Backfire, they had even disappeared from the static display area. They were at least back on the ground for MAKS 2001. The Tu-160 was belonging to its designer. Six 'Blackjack' are based in Zhukovskiy, including the prototypes. Unfortunately, only two of them are currently airworthy, comprising the third prototype, which always used to take part in the flying display in the past. More heavyweights included traditional Russian and now Ukrainian transport aircraft. The giant An-226 flew one time together with the An-70. The An-226 is now involved in commercial cargo flights and the second exemplar of the Mriya could be completed if the current operations prove to be viable. The An-70 program seems now to go better after the crash of the last remaining prototype at Omsk on 21 February 2001. The aircraft was repaired on location, and serial production is now scheduled to take place at Omsk. Preliminary agreements for serial production of the An-70 at the Polet (pronounce Palyot, flight) factory have been signed in December 2001. New engines will however be fitted to the aircraft as the experimental D-27 currently mounted do not satisfy the military. Around 150 An-70 will be built between 2007 and 2009 to replace An-26, An-12 and some Il-76 of the VVS. Around 60 aircraft should be built also for the Ukrainian VPS. Other transport and airliner aircraft ranged from the An-3T biplane to the Tu-334 as well as the Tu-204, the Il-114, the An-140 or the rejuvenated An-30. The three current Beriev amphibious designs, Be-103, Be-200 and Be-12P firefighter took part in the flying program. The latter was the most impressive as it used to collect water in the Moskova, just behind the control tower! Other participants in the flying display included the traditional Swift team and their MiG-29 (two MiG-29 model 9-13 'Fulcrum-C' have joined the 'Fulcrum-A and B' of the team - they wear a red spine instead of a blue one) and the Russian Knights with their Su-27. A new civilian team, composed of former military L-29 had the honour to close the last day show. The Knights of the Sky, as they are called, are based at nearby Myachikovo, where many other colourful L-29 can be found among other types. A recently rebuilt Po-2, also from Myachikovo, flew daily. The most interesting historic aircraft present at Zhukovskiy was however a Polikarpov I-15bis or I-152. Now flying with an An-2 engine and propeller, this original aircraft was recovered in Karelia in 1997. Rebuilt at Novosibirsk, it made its maiden flight on 11 July 2001 a few weeks before the show and it has been bough by an American collector. Other vintage or historic aircraft included a Yak-12, a Shavrov Sh-2 replica and a Il-14M, which used to be the personal aircraft of Marshal and ace A. Pokryshkin when he was Chairman of the Central Committee of DOSAAF paramilitary organisation. So, once again, the MAKS lived up to realistic expectation, presenting a thorough image of the CIS aerospace industry, ranging from well-known designers to small workshops.