SUPERJET 100 WILL MAKE RUSSIA’S AIRCRAFT INDUSTRY RELEVANT AGAIN
By Dave Demerjian May
Wired News
rst-t.html
May 22 2008
Russian aerospace company Sukhoi has successfully tested its Superjet
100, a mid-sized airliner that could make Russia a player in the
commercial aviation business.
The Superjet program marks a major step forward for Russia’s civilian
aircraft programs, which until now have shown the sophistication of
a Piper Cub and have the sales figures to prove it. If this plane
comes together the way Sukhoi and its partner, Finmeccanica SpA –
Italy’s biggest military company – hope, it could compete alongside
regional jet biggies like Bombardier and Embraer and revitalize
Russia’s lagging aircraft industry. The two companies have invested
more than $1.5 billion in the project.
"All hope for Russia’s commercial aviation future hangs on this
plane," Richard Aboulafia, vice president of the Teal Group aerospace
consulting firm, told Bloomberg. "With Finmeccanica involved, there
could be a third regional aircraft force emerging."
Sukhoi’s still got a long way to go before that happens.
The SuperJet can carry 70 to 95 passengers and is designed to replace
creaking Russian planes like the ancient Tupolev 134 and Yakovlev
42. It’s 100 feet long, has a wingspan of 90 feet and can cruise at
41,000 feet and 515 miles per hour. It made its first test flight
earlier this week, five months behind schedule because of problems
integrating components from more than 40 suppliers.
"The first flight is a challenging task, as the Sukhoi Superjet
100 is a new super product with excellent technical and flight
characteristics," Mikhail Pogosyan, the company’s CEO said after the
test flight, which saw the plane cruise at 4,000 feet during a flight
that lasted 65 minutes. "This aircraft is unique for Russia. Every
minute of the first flight was both an exciting expectation and an
impressive experience."
Translation: "We had high expectations for this maiden flight and we
were not disappointed. We know we’ve got a plane that doesn’t suck,
and our competitors should be nervous."
Sukhoi conducted the test in secret, with Pogosyn telling the
Moscow Times, "The Superjet is our child, and its birth is sacred. A
pregnant woman would never invite the press and guests to watch how
she delivers her child." Test pilot Alexander Yablontsev said the
plane feels a lot like the Boeing jets he’s flown and told the Times,
"I’m so happy that I am speechless. I’ve finally done something manly
after all these years."
They broke out the champagne after the test flight, but it’s a bit
early for celebrations. The company’s got 600 more test flights
scheduled, and it concedes
Russia isn’t the only country jumping into the commercial plane
business. China recently launched a new company to develop a mid-sized
jet capable of carrying as many as 150 people, and Toyota Motor Co. is
investing Mitsubishi Heavy Industries confirmed in March that it would
proceed with a project to develop Japan’s first home-grown passenger
jet aircraft.
So far Sukhoi has racked up 98 orders for the new plane, which will
cost $29 million apiece. most from little known airlines like Dalavia,
Transaero, and Armavia (Armenia rocks!). As part of its fleet renewal
program, Russian flag carrier Aeroflot has also placed an order for
45 of the planes.
"Our target markets are the U.S. and Western Europe," Valerio Bonelli,
a spokesman for Alenia Auronautica, the subsidiary of Finmeccanica
responsible for the Superjet, told Moscow Times. "The Superjet has
now showed that it can fly, so interest will be growing with every
passing day."
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
