Wednesday, June 13, 2012 -
Uzbek state-controlled plane factory Chkalov Tashkent Aircraft Production Corporation (TAPO) said Wednesday it is ending 70 years of airplane production to try its hand at making household items and engineering components.
TAPO will conclude its final deal in June with the sale of an Ilyushin Il-114 turboprop airliner to Uzbekistan airways this month, a company official said.
Demand dropped in recent years over the firm’s inability to deliver on orders. It finally went bankrupt in 2010.
"Production lines and assembly halls for plane-building are now being dismantled. Machine parts and equipment will be sold to interested clients," he told Prime news agency, RIA Novosti reported.
The factory will turn to making car components, household products, building structures, and spare parts for farm machinery.