First Kazakhstan-made helicopters to be ready this year

First 6 locally-assembled helicopters are going to be supplied to the customer - the Government of Kazakhstan - in December 2011, Tengrinews.kz reports citing press-service of Kazakhstan Engineering national company. Semi Knock-Down of EC145 helicopters will be made in by a joint Kazakhstan company with Eurocopter, France. The first plant producing EC145 helicopters will start operating in May 2012. The company will be located in Astana close to the airfield and will become the first and only producer of such aircrafts in the CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States). Meanwhile, the joint company will perform technical maintenance of modern helicopters, their adaptation for Kazakhstan’s conditions, training of flight and technical crews for Kazakhstan and Central Asia. Light double-engine EC145 copter fits in 9 passengers. Its length is 13.03 meters and height with tail rotor is 3.96 meters. Its maximum takeoff weight is 3,585 kg, maximum speed is 278 km/h and the flight endurance is almost 4 hours. By Vladimir Prokopenko