Kotscherigin TSch-3

The Kotscherigin TSch‑3 is a compact, twin‑engine turboprop that emerged from the modest workshop of Russian designer Sergey Kocherigin in the late 1990s. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Kocherigin sought to create a versatile aircraft for regional transport, flight training, and light cargo duties, filling a niche left by larger, costly Soviet‑era models. The prototype first flew in March 1998, and a small production run of twelve units was completed by 2002, after which the design entered limited service with regional operators in Siberia and the Baltic states.

Key features include a high‑wing configuration for superior ground clearance, a pressurized cabin accommodating six passengers or 800 kg of cargo, and dual FADEC‑controlled Klimov TVD‑100 turboprop engines delivering 720 horsepower each. The TSch‑3 incorporates modern composite materials in its wing skins and control surfaces, reducing weight and enhancing corrosion resistance. Its tricycle landing gear, equipped with rugged tundra tires, allows operation from short, unprepared airstrips, while the integrated avionics suite offers GPS navigation, autopilot, and a glass cockpit.

The aircraft’s significance lies in demonstrating how independent designers could produce reliable, cost‑effective platforms in the post‑Soviet era, influencing subsequent Russian light‑transport projects and reinforcing the value of adaptable, low‑maintenance turboprops for remote aviation markets.

Sergey Kocherigin

Classification

Production & History

Design & Classification