Russia: Beriev Be-200 shows firefighting capability at MAKS-2015

The Beriev Be-200 impressed the MAKS-2015 audience with its display of firefighting abilities, by dropping coloured powder at the air show, at the Zhukovsky Airfield, Saturday. The Beriev Be-200 is a multipurpose amphibious aircraft. Areas of operation include maritime surveillance, environmental protection, fire inserts, passenger or cargo transport. The Beriev Be-200, which usually has an Ivchenko-Progress engine, is offered with a Rolls-Royce or Allison engines for export. The aircraft has a capacity of 12 tonnes (12,000 litres) of water and was approved for use as a fire fighting aircraft on 29 December, 2003. Fire extinguishing operations were carried out in August 2004 and July-September, 2005 in Italy, 2006 in Portugal and Sumatra, in 2007 in Portugal and 2010 in the Russian wildfires. MAKS-2015 is one of the largest air shows in the world with over 400,000 people expected to attend the event. Organised by the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Russia and Rostec, it showcases Russia's aircraft manufacturing capabilities. A number of foreign investors and companies are registered to attend MAKS-2015 including Boeing and Rolls-Royce. The event runs from August 25 until August 30.