MAPO-MIG: WE BUILD NOT ONLY FIGHTERS

Interview with the MAPO-MIG Domestic Market Director Anatoly Rodionov
 

- The difficult financial and economic situation in which Russian industries, especially the defense sector, have found themselves and their natural desire to preserve their creative and production potentials have prompted the management of our association to switch over to the production of civil aircraft. The most prominent place among these aircraft is held by the Aviatika super light multi-mission plane. We have made it in three versions: the Aviatika-890 single-seater; Aviatika-890U two-seater trainer; and Aviatika-890SKh agricultural plane.

This aircraft is easy to control and capable of performing all aerobatic maneuvers and taking off from unpaved ground. The aircraft's aerodynamic stability makes it possible to rectify young pilots' mistakes in flight.

The plane is made according to standard aviation technologies, which makes it very attractive to foreign specialists. "Your aircraft is stable, its strength and professional design are evident," I often hear foreign colleagues say.

The agricultural version of the aircraft is particularly attractive. Its dusting capacity is much higher than that of the well-known Antonov An-2 aircraft. The Aviatika-890SKh can start working right from a field's edge where chemicals and fuel must be stored. Motor gasoline can be used as fuel, too.

Aviatika is perfect for the small-scale dusting of agricultural crops.

The plane, which has a 100-liter tank for chemicals, can fly at an altitude of three meters. It can also fly when the cross wind reaches four meters per second.

Aviatika is now used in more than 22 countries. Specifically, more than 20 aircraft have been sold to Brazil, and over 30 to South Africa. The plane has evoked interest in Germany, France, India and Indonesia. Negotiations are also underway for its sale to Moldova.

Currently we are working on a closed cabin for the aircraft to make it more comfortable (warm and less noisy). We also plan to equip the aircraft with ski and floatation landing gear to meet Russian customers' requirements and to widen the market for it.

- What other aircraft can your association offer to customers?

- Apart from the series-produced Aviatika, we are planning to launch the production of a two-seater sporting plane and an eight-seater passenger plane which we have named Finist, as well as the production of a power plant on the basis of aircraft engines jointly with the Lyulka-Saturn company. There are also some other projects about which it is too early to speak.

- Mr. Rodionov, what you have mentioned thus far are the traditional lines of your association's work. What else does it produce?

- The broad experience of our specialists has enabled them to launch the production of KON-5 thermal chambers and their modernized version, KON-10, for smoking meat products. The design, performance and quality of smoked products make the chambers as good as their foreign counterparts, and in some parameters our chambers even beat foreign ones. What attracts buyers is the chambers' small size, low electricity consumption, acceptable prices and quick return on investment.

The two-section KON-10 is particularly popular. It is highly reliable due to its state-of-the-art electronic control panel which ensures a high level of automation of all production processes. The chamber is easy to operate. Users can easily rearrange the door and control panel the way it suits them best.

Since the first thermal chambers were produced in 1989, we have sold more than 1,500 of them. Before the end of this year we are planning to sell another 100 KON-10 chambers for 77,000 rubles a piece.

Together with the KON Ltd., we are working on design and production papers for the production of new three- and four-section thermal chambers, KON-15 and KON-20, intended for use at large meat packing factories. The chambers will replace imported equipment that no longer meets present-day requirements. Their characteristics and price will make them competitive on the world market. We are now working with customers from Belarus, Ukraine, Lithuania and Latvia, but we are ready to cooperate with customers in other countries, as well.

Our association also fulfills individual orders. Way back in 1936, our specialists made ruby stars for the Moscow Kremlin's towers. For the recently built Christ the Savior Cathedral in Moscow we made and installed 14 gates. In their production we used modern materials and technologies, which will let them last for hundreds of years.

In conclusion I'd like to emphasize: we are ready to cooperate with Russian and foreign partners in the production of civil aircraft and to offer our products on international markets.