Aviavnito 9

The Aviavnito 9 is a light‑training and utility aircraft developed at the National Aerospace University – Kharkiv Aviation Institute (NAU‑KAI) and first flown in the spring of 2014. Conceived as a modern replacement for aging Soviet trainers, the project combined university research facilities with industrial partners from eastern Europe, resulting in a platform that entered limited series production in 2016. The aircraft features a fully composite low‑wing airframe, a 260 hp Rotax 915 iS engine, and a digital glass cockpit that incorporates autopilot, navigation and synthetic‑vision systems normally found on larger jets. Its retractable tricycle landing gear, side‑by‑side seating and modular payload bay allow the Aviavnito 9 to serve as a trainer, sky‑diving carrier, and short‑range cargo hauler. Thanks to a maximum cruise speed of 285 km/h, a range of 1 200 km and a low operating cost, the type quickly gained acceptance among flight schools in Ukraine, Poland and the Baltic states. The Aviavnito 9 is significant because it demonstrates how a university‑led design program can produce a commercially viable aircraft, revitalizing regional aviation training and inspiring a new generation of aerospace engineers in the post‑Soviet space.