In addition to writing for Aviation Week Network, Maxim holds a key position at Russia's Air Transport Observer magazine (www.ato.ru). In the past he was in charge of several ATO sister aerospace publications and earlier worked for the Moscow-based CAST defense think-tank.
Maxim has a degree on international relations from MGIMO University, Moscow, Russia, and for several years worked at the Russian Foreign Ministry.
MOSCOW – Sukhoi has begun flight trials of the first production Su-35S, the latest version of the Su-27 fighter. The flight took place on May 3 at the Komsomolsk-on-Amur assembly site in Russia’s Far East. Sukhoi reports that the first flight took 1.5 hr., and after completion of the factory trials the aircraft will be handed over to the Russian air force. In 2009 the military placed an initial order for 48 fighters, with deliveries to be completed by 2015.
The Sukhoi Superjet 100 regional jet program is entering a new era now that commercial operators will start testing the robustness of the in-service support network and the Russian manufacturer's ability to ramp up output. After many delays, Sukhoi achieved a major milestone on April 19 with the first Superjet 100 delivery to launch customer Armavia. The Armenian airline quickly put the aircraft into revenue service with a flight carrying 90 passengers from here to Sheremetyevo Moscow International Airport April 21.
MOSCOW — Helicopter orders from the Russian military are up and commitments for new types are on the horizon, marking a stark turnaround from the days when military orders were unable to sustain Russia’s domestic manufacturing industry.
