At Farnborough Air Show 2010 Sukhoi Civil Aircraft is showcasing Sukhoi Superjet 100 aircraft 95005, the fourth prototype that is currently involved in system evaluation testing. The aircraft is demonstrated at the both static and flight display being fully equipped with the cabin and flight deck interior to be offered to SSJ100 customers.

As for today all three prototypes that are involved in certification flight tests have accumulated over 1800 flying hours in 710 flights, which is about 70% of the overall certification program. With the engine EASA type certification obtained on June 23, the aircraft campaign is on track to get AR IAC Type certificate and start the deliveries to Aeroflot and Armavia by the end of 2010.

The 70% of the program completed include the most critical programs of testing to confirm the flight envelope of the aircraft and to prove that no additional changes to the airplane in basic configuration are required.

SSJ 100 has completed the full scope of testing required to prove the performance as well as take-off and landing capabilities. It has successfully passed a series of testing in extreme weather conditions (Yakutsk, Arkhangelsk) and high elevation program in Gumri (Armenia). These tests were conducted with extensive involvement of the aircraft maintenance team which checked the validity of the required maintenance procedures for marginal environment conditions.

At the flight test centre in Zhukovsky the aircraft has accomplished the program validating its operation on the water-filled runaway, demonstrating the perfect performance of the APU and engines at the full range of required modes, including low speed, takeoff and maximum thrust reverser.

The system evaluation and failure safety programs are under way on prototypes 95004 and 95005. The tests of the fuel system are completed. The air conditioning system failure testing is in progress. The aircraft has done a series of reduced visibility testing, which check the aircraft performance in conditions of restricted visibility with the use of flight deck instruments. The same prototypes are involved in navigation, autopilot and thrust reverser testing, which includes flights on such routes as Moscow- St.Petersburg – Moscow, Moscow-Kazan-Moscow, Moscow – Murmansk-Moscow without refueling and landing at mid point and with instrumental landings at destination. These flights excessively confirm the range capability of the aircraft (over 4000km). The fourth prototype demonstrated at Farnborough is also involved in on-ground EMI testing, evaluating electromagnetic interference from different electrical sources in the aircraft.

Now there are 18 serial aircraft in production at different stages of completion, 6 of which are at the final assembly shop. The first production airplane No95007 is under power-on testing in Komsomolsk. At the earliest, on arrival of the serial engines and podding the aircraft will take to the skies.

Today it’s already proven in flight that Sukhoi Superjet 100 is a revenue generating product that offers our customers a perfect combination of regional aircraft efficiency with the mainline level of comfort for passengers and the crew, and state-of-the art technologies such as uniquely smart electrical fly-by-wire system with multiple redundancy features already tested, environmentally friendly engine and hydraulic system, fully preventing hydraulic fluids leakage to service zones, open architecture avionics based on A380 technologies, a brake temperature monitoring system with automated current temperature analysis and many others. The efficiency of the aircraft is brought by perfect aerodynamics of the aircraft developed by the engineering team of Sukhoi in collaboration with aerodynamic experts from the world-known TsAGI and SaM146 engine.

The design and maintainability of the aircraft itself and its major systems is driven by high dispatch reliability. This makes the SSJ100 extremely quick at the most high-frequency airports. The mainline comfort comes not only through the increased life space for a passenger but owing to the architecture of the air conditioning system which is less noisy, and moreover it offers the option of two independent temperature zones with selectable temperatures range providing additional comfort in-flight both for the crew and passengers.

The aircraft is a product for ongoing growth of capabilities even after the certification is over. Today we’ve already launched the Operational Excellence Program that will increase the fuel efficiency and enhance the operational capabilities providing features like steep approach, IIIA landing category and others. And by 2012 the Program will result in the LR modification with 150km increase in range which will excessively cover our customers’ needs.

Source: Sukhoi SuperJet