First flight of the Russian commercial aircraft Sukhoi Superjet with domestic engines
The test aircraft reached a speed of 500 km/h (270 knots) and an altitude of up to 3,000 meters (10,000 feet).
The Russian regional aircraft Sukhoi Superjet SSJ-100 successfully completed its first flight equipped with domestic PD-8 engines, marking the start of the flight testing phase for this new propulsion system.
The flight took place in Komsomolsk-on-Amur and represents a significant step for Russian aviation by replacing imported components with homegrown technology.
The test aircraft, now named SJ-100—dropping the first "S" for Sukhoi—has the serial number 95157 and was manufactured in 2018. It remained airborne for about 40 minutes, reaching a speed of 500 km/h (270 knots) and an altitude of up to 3,000 meters (10,000 feet).
The crew responsible for the flight included test pilots Dmitry Demenev and Igor Grevtsev, as well as onboard operator Maxim Gryukanov. After landing, the captain reported that all flight objectives had been met and that the engines demonstrated stable performance, being evaluated under various operational conditions, according to our partner publication Aeroin.
The SJ-100 was originally certified with PowerJet SaM146 engines, developed by a joint venture between the French company Snecma (Safran) and the Russian company Saturn. The initial plan called for a version with Western engines to facilitate sales outside of Russia's sphere of influence, alongside the development of a local engine to reduce costs, boost the domestic industry, and offer an alternative for Russian airlines. However, with the second invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Western sanctions prevented Safran from continuing its partnership with Saturn, which was already facing difficulties due to low demand.
Since then, the Russian government has expedited the certification of the PD-8 engine, manufactured by Aviadvigatel, which also produces the PD-14 engines for the Irkut MC-21 jet (which also offers the option of a Western Pratt & Whitney PW1400G engine). The goal is to offer a domestic engine that will ensure the continued production and delivery of the SJ-100.
The PD-8 is a modernized version of the Aviadvigatel PS-90 engines, which originally powered the Ilyushin Il-76 military aircraft, as well as the Ilyushin Il-96 and Tupolev Tu-204/Tu-214 commercial planes.
Vadim Badeha, CEO of United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), which brings together all Russian aircraft manufacturers, highlighted the significance of the achievement: “The first flight of the Superjet with PD-8 engines is the result of extensive joint work with our colleagues at UEC (United Engine Corporation). It also marks the beginning of a new phase in the aircraft's engine testing. We are taking a gradual approach to increase the complexity of the tests, ensure an efficient certification process, and enable future reengineering of the current Superjet fleet,” he said.
With flight testing underway, the expectation is that the new engine will be certified and integrated into commercial aircraft in the near future, although no specific date has been confirmed.
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