On February 22, 2026, the second flight model with a domestic VK-800SM engine and an AV-901 propeller joined the test program of the Russian light multipurpose aircraft LMS-901 Baikal. The aircraft with the tail number "535" with a number of improvements successfully completed its first flight at the airfield of the Ural Civil Aviation Plant.
There are now 3 aircraft participating in the Baikal flight test program: two of them with Russian engines and propellers, and one with a foreign one (the very first one to fly). Two more vehicles were also built earlier for ground testing. In December 2025, we talked about the start of flights of the fully Russian LMS-901 with the tail number "532", now it has been joined by the modified board "535".
In terms of the changes made, it is reported that they affected the nose of the cockpit, the design of the main landing gear supports and the angle of the wing installation. All this is a normal process when creating a new car, which should become reliable and convenient to operate away from large airports and civilization.
Work on Baikal continues in 2026. Certification of the VK-800 engine and AV-901 propeller is scheduled for this year, and a type certificate for the machine is expected by the end of 2026. Representatives of the Ural Civil Aviation Plant told about this back in November of the previous year.
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| The second copy of the LMS-901 with a Russian VK-800SM engine and an AV-901 propeller, February 22, 2026. |
| Source: Footage from the official UZGA video |
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| The second copy of the LMS-901 with a Russian VK-800SM engine and an AV-901 propeller, February 22, 2026. |
| Source: Footage from the official UZGA video |
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| The second copy of the LMS-901 with a Russian VK-800SM engine and an AV-901 propeller, February 22, 2026. |
| Source: Footage from the official UZGA video |
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| The second copy of the LMS-901 with a Russian VK-800SM engine and an AV-901 propeller, February 22, 2026. |
| Source: Footage from the official UZGA video |
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| The second copy of the LMS-901 with a Russian VK-800SM engine and an AV-901 propeller, February 22, 2026. |
| Source: Footage from the official UZGA video |
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| The second copy of the LMS-901 with a Russian VK-800SM engine and an AV-901 propeller, February 22, 2026. |
| Source: Footage from the official UZGA video |
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| The second copy of the LMS-901 with a Russian VK-800SM engine and an AV-901 propeller, February 22, 2026. |
| Source: Footage from the official UZGA video |
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| The second copy of the LMS-901 with a Russian VK-800SM engine and an AV-901 propeller, February 22, 2026. |
| Source: Footage from the official UZGA video |
