KYIV, July 27 – Ukraine’s leading producer of aviation engines Motor Sich said on Thursday it planned to design and construct a light passenger helicopter, to be called the K-228, within the next two or three years.
Yuri Basov, Motor Sich’s chief-designer told Reuters by telephone from the company’s headquarter in Zaporizhya in central Ukraine that the new helicopter would be able to carry up to six passengers.
“We hope to launch serial output of the helicopter in Zaporizhya within two or three years and expect the helicopter will be much cheaper than the average price tag of $1.2 million for western-built machines of this class,” Basov said.
Basov also said the helicopter would be equipped with a modern engine, made by Motor Sich, but gave no more details.
Although Ukraine has a relatively well-developed airplane manufacturing industry, is does not currently produce helicopters.
