The duration of Tu-214OS’s first flight was 1 hour 22 minutes. The first test flight has been performed by the pilots of Tupolev’s Zhukovsky flight-test and development center, press-service of Kazan Aviation Production Association named after S.P.Gorbunov reports. AEX.ru

The production of Tu-214OS is being carried out by Kazan Aviation Production Association named after S.P.Gorbunov in accordance with the order of "Radiostructure concern Vega". This modification of Tu-214 was designed by Tupolev design bureau.

Tu-214OS is intended for executing inspection flights in the network of "Open sky" agreement. This airplane is outfitted with aerophotographic equipment which allows checking of the military infrastructure of other countries and tracking the changes for the purposes of peace-keeping.

The "Open sky" agreement was accepted on March 24th 1992 by 27 OSCE countries in Helsinki. In May, 2001 this agreement was ratified in Russia. Now, there are 34 member-countries in this treaty. Tu214OS aircrafts will replace Tu-154 and An-30 liners which nowadays solve important government missions executing the inspectional flights.

The flight development and certification tests are still lying ahead for Tu-214OS. The on-board aerial reconnaissance complex will also be tested in the nearest future. After passing all the factory tests this aircraft will be handed over for state testing.

The delivery of the aircraft to a customer is planned for late 2011.

In addition, KAPA is assembling another Tu-214ON aircraft which will be used for the governmental needs within the framework of "Open sky" agreement.