RUSSIA- The inaugural flight of the SJ-100, the all-Russian Superjet 100, signifies a significant stride for Russia in its pursuit of domestically producing a widespread narrow-body aircraft within the country.
As reported by the Russian news agency TASS, engineered by Yakovlev, the United Aircraft Corporation subsidiary (UAC) subsidiary, the SJ-100 accomplished its debut flight in Komsomolsk-on-Amur, Russia, on August 29, 2023.
Russia Superjet 100 Maiden Flight
The TASS report further detailed, “During the testing phase, the aircraft demonstrated the smooth functioning of all indigenous systems, along with its controllability and stability in flight,” referencing a statement from the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade.
During its inaugural flight, two test pilots commanded the aircraft and a test engineer was also on board.
The flight lasted for 54 minutes and saw the aircraft achieve a maximum altitude of 3,000 meters (9,842 feet).
Denis Manturov, Deputy Prime Minister and head of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, highlighted the significance of the Superjet’s maiden flight in the context of the import substitution program.
He emphasized the collaborative efforts of numerous enterprises in the aviation and radio-electronic sectors affiliated with the Rostec state corporation.
Manturov further elaborated that Russian companies successfully engineered their technological solutions, leading to the replacement of Western-made equipment on aircraft. This transformation encompassed various aspects, such as avionics, landing gear, an integrated control system, power supply systems, air conditioning, fire protection, and more.
However, it’s important to note that the test aircraft still utilized the PowerJet SaM146 engine, a collaborative creation by France’s Safran and Russia’s NPO Saturn. This engine is in operation on the active fleet of Sukhoi Superjet 100 aircraft in Russia.
Second SJ-100 to be Powered by Russian Engine
The second test aircraft is anticipated to be equipped with Russian PD-8 engines, as mentioned by TASS.
Yuri Slyusar, the general director of UAC, underscored that the inaugural flight of the SJ-100 showcased Russia’s capability to advance its aerospace industry independently without relying on assistance from Western nations.
He emphasized that Russia has the potential to develop and manufacture modern civil aircraft autonomously, eliminating the need for imported technologies.
Slyusar continued by outlining the forthcoming objective of certifying the aircraft with a wholly Russian configuration and initiating regular deliveries to airlines.
Russia’s circumstances necessitated the development of the SJ-100, as Western countries progressively imposed sanctions following Russia’s annexation of Crimea and involvement in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine through local proxies.
Subsequent to Russia’s complete invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the international community isolated Russia’s aerospace sector, imposing restrictions on the export of components to Russia and local airlines, among other measures.
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