Huge Russian Amphib May Fly US Skies

Versatile Heavy Hauler Ideal for Firebombing, Remote-Area, Seaside Transport

From Paris, Liberty Group International showed their pleasure at the completion of a feasibility study by three major aerospace companies, that indicates there will be a way to fill a vast global demand for a version of the Russian-built Be-200 multipurpose amphibious jet aircraft -- they are now to be fitted with Rolls-Royce engines.

LGI, which conceived the idea more than four years ago for a version of the Be-200 that would be more-suitable for western markets, and initiated discussions between the manufacturers, has exclusive marketing rights for the Be-200 in the United States and the Caribbean.

Dean Breest, president and CEO of LGI, said that Irkut, EADS,and Rolls-Royce Deutschland completed their feasibility study on the Russian-made amphibious aircraft Be-200 and plan to offer a version of the Be-200 with BR715 engines in August 2003 during MAKS 2003 Air Show in Moscow.

The study identified a market potential for 320 aircraft in 25 countries over the next 20 years. Built initially as a fire-fighting aircraft with the capability of scooping 3,000 gallons of water in just a few seconds and delivering it quickly and accurately to a blazing area, the aircraft also can be configured to handle up to 70 passengers, deliver cargo, operate in air-sea rescue scenarios and many other uses.

"We first saw its potential as a means of providing additional passenger service to areas near waterways where there are no land-based airports or where existing airports have no room for growth," said Breest. "But the tragic fires in the western United States last summer and those that already are in the news this year re-enforced our belief that the Be-200 can be an important addition to the U.S. fire-fighting aviation fleet."

The version of the Be-200 that will be available at the Moscow show will be built in the fire-fighting configuration. The manufacturing and marketing partners are preparing for the introduction of the aircraft mainly in North America, Europe and Australia -- all of which have significant needs in fighting wildfires in forests and grasslands.

"The big hang-up has been getting the aircraft certified for U.S. operations," said Breest. "We're delighted that Rolls-Royce announced it will supply engines for the aircraft and that EADS will be involved in the certification. This is a major step forward."

Jan Zesewitz, senior vice president of marketing for EADS, said the agreement signed in 2001 between EADS and the Russian aerospace agency Rosaviakosmos in Moscow, includes Western certification and provisioning of a full product and customer support.

Stefan Zimmermann, head of business development for Rolls-Royce Deutschland, said the feasibility study confirmed LGI's early assertion that the addition of two modern Rolls-Royce BR715 engines to the splendid Be-200 construction would be an ideal configuration for the Western market.

The Be-200 can take off and land on water or a conventional airport. In the fire-fighting configuration for which it was originally built, it can either transport and dump chemical fire retardants that can be quickly pumped into tanks at a ground base, or scoop 12 tons of water in 17 seconds from any suitable body of water. Two prototypes are already flying, and the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations has ordered seven for immediate fire-fighting needs.

I was told the other day that people are starting to fly out of municipal airports that have private little airlines just for that reason.

The one in our small Central Oregon Coast airport will take folks to Reno and I believe the bay area in Cali. I am not sure how far North they fly.

Boy that sounds great since our PDX is a three to four hour drive depending on traffic. I am a little leary about flying in a timy plane though. Not that I would ever get a holiday to go flying around but still it is a thought for others to do it.

BTW I do not know squat about planes other than I have flew in big and little in the past. Whenever a plane crash is on the news it seems to be a tiny one. My son was life flighted once and the crew told me that even though he was in respirtory distress he had a big smile on his face the whole trip. They had a blast.

I have one a little weider.

A few years ago I left a conferance it was govt. grants for Respite care turned out to be liberals grabbing at funds that would never make it down to the actual programs anyway I walked out two days early and spent the rest of my time since my hotel room was paid for down the road watching planes take off at the PDX on a back road.

Right next to and feeling almost under the run ways. I was so turned on I fell in love with it.

I have always wanted to return and have had time in between appts. to do it but with the security probably not a good idea. Other people where there just watching to kinda freaky though I was the only woman out there at the time.

My son has been invited quite a few times to visit the Coast Guards chopper have to take them up on that.

They do exersices on the bay here which just so happens to be my back yard. I did not know that the basket they lowered was charged I asked the gal explaining it to us to e mail the info so not to take up her time she never did. Does anyone know how they get the charge out of the basket before it gets down to the boat to pick people up?

BTW I do not know squat about planes other than I have flew in big and little in the past. Whenever a plane crash is on the news it seems to be a tiny one.

Just a guess, but probably because there are a lot more small planes in the country than airliners. There's a lot of other reasons (lack of a co-pilot, flying into remote locations that even under the best weather conditions are difficult, etc.).

Hey how come I had to put in a name and password to enter this thread? That has never happen in the five years I have been at FR.
They made some changes this weekend at aero-news.net. I suspect it was a big mistake on their part, and have emailed a friend who is one of the editors there. sorry for the confusion, -it is not your system, and happended to me exactly as you this morning.

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