420036 Kazan, Dementyev St., 1 Phone: +7 (8432) 542442, 542432 Fax: +7 (8432) 543693
The Tupolev Joint Stock Company Aircraft Science and Technology Complex (AO ANTK) and the Gorbunov Kazan Aircraft Production Association (KAPO) are recognised as leaders in the international aircraft building industry. The projects and programmes of these two organisations have a long and illustrious history. Garbunov enterprise dates back to 1927, when the first batch of ANT-3 reconnaissance planes were built. These were soon followed by the ANT-5, ANT-4, ANT-7, ANT-22, ANT-35 and Tu-2.
In 1945, the Kazan aircraft-building enterprise launched mass production of the Tu-4 heavy long-range bomber, which continued to be manufactured until 1952. From 1953 to 1962, the plant produced one of the world's best subsonic bombers - the Tu-16. Also at that time, the Kazan branch of the Tupolev ANTK had designed and built variants of the original bomber - the Tu-16R reconnaissance aircraft, the Tu -16M target aircraft and the Tu-16S aircraft that featured a suspended lifeboat for SAR operations.
In July 1955, the world's first jet airliner, the Tu-104, with a passenger capacity of 50 people took to the air. In subsequent years, the Kazan plant manufactured modifications to this aircraft in the form of the 70-passenger Tu-104A, the 100-passenger Tu-104B and the Tu-104B-TS medical air evacuation plane.
The the Tu-22 bomber, which was developed from 1958 to 1967, aircraft was also made in a number of versions: Tu-22 bomber, Tu-22K missile carrier, Tu-22U trainer, Tu-22PP ECM plane, and Tu-22R reconnaissance aircraft. By the beginning of 1969, the prototype of the Tu-22M BACKFIRE had been completed; in the summer of the same year, it made its maiden flight. Simultaneously, the plant started preparations for serial production of a new modification the Tu-22M2, which was adopted for service in 1976.
In March 1992 Gorbunov KAPO began series production of the Tu-204-200 passenger aircraft, intended for transportation of 211 passengers, baggage and other cargoes on medium-range routes.
The Tu-214 slightly differs from the Tu-204 in production at Ulyanovsk. The major difference is that the Tu-214 has a take-off weight of 110t instead of 103t. Production of the up-to-date TU-214 C3 medium-range passenger, cargo and cargo-passenger aircraft aims to renew the outdated and obsolete aircraft fleet in the airlines of the Republic of Tatarstan and the Russian Federation. Project product Convertible medium-range aircraft TU-214 C3 is designed for passenger, cargo-passenger and cargo transportation with the use of LD3-46 type containers along the routes up to 7000 km. The aircraft has a capability to be transformed from passenger version to cargo or cargo-passenger versions within 4-5 hours. In September 1997 Russian International Airlines awarded Gorbunov KAPO a firm order for 4 Tu-214C3s. Several Russian companies have shown an interest in leasing Kazan's TU-214 aircraft.
In April 1994, the Government of the Russian Federation adopted a decree to develop the Tu-330 medium transport aircraft. The multipurpose middle-class wide-body cargo TU-330 aircraft is designed for transportation of virtually whole range of cargo containers, various automotive transport, wheeled or caterpillar-mounted vehicles up to 35 tons in weight, as well as for transportation and landing of descent and cargo. Maximum degree of unification with TU-214 simplifies its operation and maintenance.
The project of the TU-324 aircraft came into being after studying the demands of the air companies in mass aircraft which would replace such planes as Tu- 134, An-24, Yak-40 on regional flights. Upon mastering production of the aircraft TU-324 at KAPO n/a Gorbunov, the national aviation would restore its lost for the past ten years position in this class of planes. On 28 March 1996 the Russian Government issued Decree 208 giving the Gorbunov's Aircraft Production Association exclusive rights on oil export as a means of funding the program of the Tupolev Tu-324 50-seat regional twin powered with either the GE CF-34 or Motor SICh D-436.
Tatarstan is one of the most economically developed republics within the Russian Federation. Tatarstan is situated in the centre of the Russian Federation on the East-European Plain at the confluence of the two greatest rivers - the Volga and the Kama. The overall territory of the Republic is 67,836.2 sq. km. The capital of the Republic is Kazan. The aircraft industry came to Tatarstan over 60 years ago and is currently represented by aircraft, helicopter, aircraft engine and instrument-making associations with the biggest Russian companies. AO "Kazan Helicopter Plant" is the Republic’s leading exporter supplying helicopters to tens of foreign countries. Kazan Aircraft Production Association n.a. Gorbunov mastered production of the medium-range aircraft Tu-214, a modern civil aircraft featuring high performance and operating characteristics comparing well with those of Boeing 767, Boeing 777 or A-320. In March, 2000 the certificate of flight availability for the aircraft Tu-214, which verify its full adequacy to American and Europe standards. The company is mastering the production of a wide-body medium cargo aircraft Tu-330 (35 tonnes of maximum commercial payload) and the executive and regional versions of Tu-324 for 46, 40 or 10 passengers (in executive version).