New Russian Player Now Coming To Light

[Alain Durand]

The Sukhoi SuperJet is now visible in ONE piece, and some may be right to get concerned a little bit ...

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles...erjet-100.html

VIDEO: Sukhoi rolls out first Superjet 100
By Tom Zaitsev

Sukhoi Civil Aircraft (SCAC) has today rolled out the first Sukhoi Superjet 100 regional aircraft at an event at assembly plant KnAAPO, to be followed by the type’s maiden flight shortly and boosting hopes for its increased appeal to domestic and international markets.

The twinjet, fitted with SaM146 engines, represents the baseline Superjet 100 version featuring a 95-seat passenger cabin. It is one of six pre-production examples, of which two are slated for static trials and the rest, including the freshly-built prototype, for flight-test programme.

SCAC president Viktor Subbotin says the type’s maiden flight will take place before the end of this year, “maybe even in October” once the Central Aerohydrodynamics Institute (TsAGI) opens the way for it after completing a series of full-scale checks on the first example, built for ground tests at the institute’s dedicated facility.

“We’re fully on track with the programme funding, logistics and production schedule,” Subbotin tells ATI. “Certification flights should be over within a year so that we begin aircraft deliveries next November.”