Russia and China are negotiating deliveries of Il-103 aircraft

Russia and China are negotiating possible deliveries of light Il-103 aircraft (“air taxi”). However, the process is very slow, General Designer of Ilyushin Company Nikolai Talikov told RIA Novosti at MAKS-2015 airshow.

Il-103 is the five-seat (pilot plus four passengers) single-engine piston passenger aircraft or an air taxi, which is used as a trainer aircraft. “We are in talks with the Chinese party; they want to purchase documentation for Il-103, but the process is rather slow,” Talikov said and added that Ilyushin Company has no joint projects with China, but the company is interested in them.

Talikov reminded that 27 Il-103 aircraft were delivered to South Korea; the vehicles are operated by a flight school. However, Seoul is not going to place any new orders: “The aircraft is good, they have been in operation for many years. So far they are satisfied; they operate 27 vehicles of the type and don’t need more,” Talikov explained. Moreover, six Il-103 aircraft were sold to Belarus and Peru, but a possibility of upgrading the aircraft has not been considered yet.