A new Tupolev Tu-214PU aircraft (RA-64520), ordered by the Russian President Administrative Office, first flew from the airfield of the Kazan Aircraft Production Association (KAPO) on 25 November 2010. A crew led by KAPO test pilot Alexey Ryabov flew it. It was the second aircraft of the type to be delivered to the Rossiya special flight detachment and used for travel by top governmental officials – the Russian President and Premier – on their official visits and routine trips throughout the country along with Ilyushin Il-96-300PU and Dassault Falcon 7X planes.

The first ‘VIP wagon’, the 40-seat Tu-214PU (RA-64517) was built by KAPO earlier in 2010 and completed its first flight on 12 May. In October, the aircraft was fielded with the Rossiya special flight detachment, and President Dmitry Medvedev tried the new presidential plane late in the same month, having used it for his trip to Kazan.

The new Tu-214PU is the fourth special aircraft derived from the Tu-214 airliner and manufactured by KAPO over the past several years under a contract awarded by the Russian President Administrative Office. Two Tu-214SR relay aircraft (RA-64515 and RA-64516) were accepted by the Rossiya special flight detachment on 1 July 2009. KAPO is to make two more aircraft under the contract before year-end, both being Tu-214SUS airborne communications centres.

In addition, the governmental procurement website (www.zakupki.gov.ru) reported last November that the Russian President Administrative Office had launched an open competition for a governmental contract for another Tu-214, with the aircraft to be delivered not later than December 2013. The plane is to be in the passenger version with a two-class 150-seat layout (12-seat business class and 138-seat economy class).