This is a multi-purpose, amphibious aircraft. Two of its most interesting features are retractable floats, and a large, rear-facing cargo door.
I created it as the Chief Designer of the Accord design bureau.
The craft has been flown extensively, both from standard airstrips and rough fields. It was exhibited at the Moscow Air Shows of '91, '93, and '95, and is included in all recent editions of «Jane's All the World's Aircraft». Our test pilot, Michael Nickiforov, made successful, near-aerobatic flights with it.
However, many problems were encountered with the Russian-made powerplants. These engines did not prove reliable, and produced substantially less power than their rated output. The prototype, therefore, did not have sufficient power to fly from water. Since customers were requesting more payload capacity, the design was re-engineered to become the Accord-201.
