Atlant-Soyuz adds Il-96-400Ts

www.flightglobal.com ^ | 06/05/07 | N/A

[Freeport]

Atlant-Soyuz has agreed a deal with lessor Ilyushin Finance to take four more Ilyushin Il-96-400T freighters, to add to the pair of aircraft to which it committed in 2005. The first two are being prepared by the VASO plant in Voronezh for delivery later this year. Atlant-Soyuz general manager Vladimir Davydov says the first Il-96-400T is due to make its maiden flight on 20 July. Aeroflot signed a memorandum of understanding in March for six Il-96-400Ts, but has yet to make a prepayment to firm up the order. Meanwhile, VASO is completing production of the short-fuselage Il-96-300 with the planned delivery of one aircraft to President Vladimir Putin's flight detachment next year, and another one to GTK Rossiya.

[Freeport]

Ya know, the Russians have always had great technical people, they've just not had the tools. Now that they have access to the tools, these guys are looking like contenders. I think Airbus should be worried, Boeing to in the long run.

[JRios1968]

Boeing-ski?