The Molniya-1 (Lightning-1) multi-purpose transport aircraft was developed in the early 1990s. It was designed to carry 5 passengers. It was developed as an aircraft “for businessmen”, but it was also planned to be used for transport purposes (cargo-aircraft, etc.). Molniya-1 was equipped with the M-14PM-1 engine. It was planned to launch it into mass production at the Samara Aviation Plant of Aviakor JSC.
Despite the fact that the car was created almost immediately after the collapse of the Soviet Union, it had good prospects. Before mass production, the creators received an order for the supply of more than 300 copies. This option was also interested in the border services, who wanted to order about 250 Molniya-1 aircraft to perform patrol flights along state borders.
The aircraft was made according to a two-beam scheme with three bearing surfaces. In other words – “triplane”. Its main feature is the rear engine with a pusher propeller.
In the following years after the tests, the project had serious difficulties. As many of the readers may remember, domestic aviation in the middle and late 90s ceased to develop properly. Of the planned 500 aircraft, the designers could only assemble 20, but in practice only 4 were produced.
Over time, the position of Aviakor JSC only got worse. There were financial delays, problems with the assembly of new aircraft. As a result, the project remained unfinished.
Made in Russia
First flight: 18/02/1992
Capacity: 5 passengers + 1 pilote / 505 kg of cargo
Powerplant: M14PM-1 (AI-14)
Power: 360 HP
Max speed: 310 km/h
Range: 850 km
Ceiling: 3000 m
Weight: 1240 kg
Photos made in Zhukovsky.
OJSC Aviakor is an aviation plant located in Samara, Russia. It is part of the Russian Machines holding under control of the financial industrial group Basic Element owned by Oleg Deripaska. Aviakor constructs, repairs, maintenances, and supplies spare parts for passenger aircraft the Antonov An-140 and Tupolev Tu-154.
Launch of An-140 serial production on Aviakor reinforced the creation of the “International Aircraft project-140″(Russian: Международный авиационный проект-140) in collaboration with Kharkiv State Aircraft Manufacturing Company (KSAMC). The joint enterprise was founded on 15 September 2003 upon mutual agreement of Konstantin Titov, Governor of Samara region, and Pavlo Naumenko, General Director of KSAMC.
The company owns Bezymyanka Airport.
