The aircraft made its flight with the Russian PD-8 engines and demonstrated good controllability and stability

Photo: United Aircraft Corporation

The third Superjet prototype has joined the flight test program. Fully import-substituted airplane designed by Yakovlev included in United Aircraft Corporation has made its first flight in Komsomolsk-on-Amur. The flight lasted about 40 minutes at altitudes up to 3,000 m and speeds up to 500 km/h.

The tests confirmed stable operation of all domestically made systems. The aircraft made its flight with the Russian PD-8 engines designed by Rostec’s United Engine Corporation. The aircraft demonstrated good controllability and in-flight stability. 

“More than 40 import systems and components, including the critical component — engines, were replaced in the airplane. The third prototype has already made its first flight today. It is used to test the interaction between the PD-8 power units and domestically made airborne systems. Addition of the third aircraft to the flight tests will accelerate the certification program,” said Vladimir Artyakov, First Deputy General Director of Rostec. 

To speed up the certification program, three airplanes are involved in the flight tests. Testing of the first Superjet prototype equipped with Russian systems and components and Franco-Russian SaM146 engines started last year. The second aircraft with the domestically made PD-8 engines and partly imported systems joined the flight test program in March this year. The third fully Russian airplane with serial No. 97003 is now involved in the flight program.