Russians Decided to Install VK-800 Engine on Baikal Aircraft. The Third Aircraft is Already Being Assembled

Russia has conducted tests with the VK-800 engine designed for the Baikal aircraft on the basis of the Yak-40 airplane.

The Ural Civil Aviation Plant is developing the Russian VK-800 turboprop engine under a contract with the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade.

“According to the results of the first test, the VK-800 engine demonstrated stable operation, all systems worked normally,” test engineers stated.

The test time was 934 seconds (15 minutes and 34 seconds) at an altitude of 700 meters.

The VK-800 engine is planned to be used to power the LMS-901 (Baikal) aircraft, which are to replace the outdated Soviet An-2.

The aircraft is designed to carry up to nine passengers over a distance of 1500 km with a cruising speed of up to 300 km/h. In cargo configuration, it can transport up to 2000 kg of cargo over the same distance.

The first five Baikal aircraft may be delivered by the end of 2026.

The VK-800 is also planned to be installed on the UTS-800 and LMS-192 Osway trainer aircraft of Russian-Belarusian design.

The third LMS-901 Baikal flight prototype is already being assembled at the Ural Civil Aviation Plant.

The company manufactures various components of the Baikal airframe, including wing consoles, tailplanes, ailerons, flaps with deflectors, and other elements. Overall, 80% of the airframe parts are manufactured at this plant.

“The Baikal has already flown with the Czech-American H80-200 engine and is now awaiting the installation of the Russian VK-800 to continue testing. The first flight of the Osway is scheduled for 2026. According to Russia’s aviation industry development program, 139 Baikal and 158 Osway aircraft are to be produced by 2030.

At the same time, some officials have previously stated that the industry may struggle to cope with the project due to difficulties in replacing Western components.