Moscow, April 25 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Russia's Sokol aircraft manufacturer has said it will develop a light aircraft for training air force pilots.
The order for the development of a new training aircraft came from Air Force commander Lt. Gen. Viktor Bondarev earlier this year.
The new aircraft will be a modernised two-seat version of the M-101T Gzhel utility turboprop aircraft, the company said.
The M-101T Gzhel was Russia's first high-speed multirole turboprop able to use unpaved airfields.
The original Gzhel has a seating capacity of six and a maximum speed of 430 km per hour.
Sokol manufactured Gzhel planes from 2003-2009, but halted production due to a lack of commercial demand. Just 15 of the planes were built.
The aircraft manufacturer, based in Nizhny Novgorod city, previously said the modernised Gzhel will have twin engines, a longer range and higher altitude.
--IANS/RIA Novosti
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