Putin, Schroeder examine new Russian amphibian aircraft in Vnukovo-2

Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder examined the BE-200 amphibian aircraft at Vnukovo-2 airport, Moscow.

It was the idea of Vladimir Putin, who welcomed the chancellor at the airport.

Emergencies Minister Sergei Shoigu told the two leaders about the plane.

"The flight range, takeoff weight, and diversion capacity of our jet are two times as better as these parameters of its Canadian analogues," Mr. Shoigu said. "And the price is the same," he added.

The Russian President and German Chancellor boarded the aircraft, examined the pilot's cockpit and cabin.

According to Sergei Shoigu, BE-200 can be used to localize oil spills on the water. In this connection Vladimir Putin recollected a similar emergency in Hamburg.

The BE-200 did not perform a demo flight and the leaders could judge its work by the photos hanging in the cabin. The Russian President signed one of them.

After that, the two leaders took Vladimir Putin's car and headed for the Kremlin.

Seeing off the leader, the Russian Emergencies Minister told journalists that Gerhard Schroeder liked the Russian amphibian.

In his words, Russia considers possibilities to supply BE-200s to other countries.