Russia’s largest aircraft lessor, Ilyushin Finance Company (IFC) is negotiating with four Chinese airlines on a total of 20 passenger jetliners built in Russia and Ukraine, mostly the An-148 family twinjets.

A new round of talks and presentations took place during Airshow China 2010 last month. IFC took advantage of the Antonov state enterprise exhibiting an An-148-100B aircraft on static display at the airshow.

The aircraft, registration UR-NTC, operates with Ukraine’s AeroSvit airline. On Airshow China opening day, the crew of Antonov test-pilots Sergei Troshin and Vladimir Mosin executed breath-taking performance by making sharp turns with the bank exceeding 80 degrees, and pitch up to 60 degrees.

Speaking to the test-pilots, IFC general director Aleksandr Roubtov thanked them for the outstanding performance and their high aircraft handing skills. He said: “By showing the aircraft to airshow visitors in such a way, performing up to the limits, you help us a great deal in our sales campaigns”.

Although China has regional aircraft projects of its own, the An-148 represents the best solution for the Chinese carriers operating from undeveloped regions, such as those in the north and west of the country.

The An-148 can operate from unpaved runways and from hot-and-high aerodromes. As part of a larger dealing with China, Antonov and IFC are talking to local manufacturers on parts production and, possibly, a final assembly line.