AVIASTAR IS nearing completion of the first "Westernised" Antonov An-124 at its Ulyanovsk factory, although the Russian manufacturer's claims that the aircraft is being fitted with General Electric CF6-80 engines are being disputed by GE and Antonov.
"The aircraft, line number 08-03 and designated An-124-130, will be powered by CF6-80s and fitted with Western avionics", according to Aviastar. First deliveries of the -130 are scheduled for mid-1997.
Aviastar's commercial director, Nikolai Katchalov, claims that a "shipset" of CF6-80s has been delivered to the Ulyanovsk factory for a seven-month flight-test and certification programme. An eyewitness has recently reported seeing large packing cases, with the words "GE Aircraft Engines" stamped on the outsides, stored in the factory.
GE, however, says that it has not delivered any engines to Aviastar, but confirms that feasibility studies are being carried out. Antonov, which is itself studying a "Westernised" version of the aircraft, says that it is not involved in the An-124-130 project, although Aviastar is thought to have assembled its own design team capable of achieving such an upgrade.
"Aviastar is doing a feasibility study into the use of our engines on the An-124 and we're awaiting the results of its evaluation," says the US engine manufacturer. "They're looking at used CF6-50s and new CF6-80C2s, although the former is obviously the cheaper option."
GE continues: "We'll provide them with technical support as appropriate, although they haven't come back to us with anything yet. We have not supplied any engines to date."
An-124 operators, exasperated by the poor reliability and short life of Zaporozhye Progress D-18T engines, have been pushing for the aircraft to be re-equipped with Western engines. The D-18T production rate is understood to have fallen so low that engines are being "auctioned" to the highest bidder upon completion.
Oleg Bogdanov, Antonov deputy general designer for research, development and marketing, says that the bureau's own studies, initiated following a request from Volga-Dnepr, determined that re-engineing with used CF6-50s offered by GE would not be economically feasible.
Used CF6-80s, says Bogdanov, "-could be an attractive choice. The problem is how to find a profitable leasing scheme acceptable to all participants - Volga-Dnepr, GE and Antonov".
The An-124-130 at Aviastar will have a four-man flightdeck crew, instead of the usual six, with a Rockwell-Collins traffic-alert and collision-avoidance system, global-positioning system, satellite communications and ACARS airline-datalink system.
Litton confirms that it has signed a contract with Aviastar to supply a LTN-101 "Flagship" inertial-navigation system. The company adds that the system has been provided for "certification purposes only" at the moment.
Source: Flight International
