Aviation News - February 2016 UK

with reduced mobility and incorporating a

baby-changing table. There is also a galley

at each end of the cabin.

A host of changes including aerodynamic

enhancements and weight reductions are

being explored to improve efficiency. Last

year SCAC revealed it was investigating a

stretched version of the Superjet, seating up

to 120 passengers for the 2020 timeframe.

POWERPLANT

PowerJet produces the SaM146 engine

used by the Superjet. The company is

a collaboration between French engine

manufacturer Snecma and NPO Saturn of

Russia.

PowerJet has produced the SaM146 with

a 20% reduction in components compared

with similar engines, resulting in reduced

operating and maintenance costs. It has

also been designed with common right and

left parts to reduce the spares requirement

and allow engine interchangeability.

SCAC says the latest third-generation Full

Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC)

optimises performance and reduces fuel

consumption.

The SSJ100-95B is fitted with the

SaM146-1S17 engine offering 15,400lbf

take-off thrust while the SSJ100-95LR is

powered by the SaM146-1S18 offering 5%

more take-off thrust at 16,100lbf.

PRODUCTION

Assembly of the Superjet takes place at

SCAC’s Komsomolsk-on-Amur facility

in the extreme far east of Russia. Once

assembled, the aircraft is flown to Ulyanovsk

to have the interior fitted and for painting

before heading to Zhukovsky where it

undergoes ground- and flight-testing prior

to delivery. The exception to this is some

aircraft that are destined for select Western

customers. These airframes are flown from

Komsomolsk-on-Amur to Zhukovsky for

flight-testing before heading south to Venice

where they are fitted out, painted and tested

by SJI.

Six prototypes were produced between

2007 and 2010 with five serial aircraft built

in 2011. Since then Komsomolsk-on-Amur

has produced 25 aircraft in 2013 and 37 in

2014 with production capacity at the plant

currently standing at 60 aircraft a year. That

44 Aviation News incorporating Classic Aircraft February 2016

Above: Five large LCD screens provide the pilot with data as well as an interface with the Thales avionics system and the aircraft is flown using

sidesticks. SCAC

Below left: Interjet’s fleet of Superjets are fitted with a high-end cabin designed by Italian firm Pininfarina. They feature 93 leather seats with a

34in pitch. SJI

Below right: The spacious cabin of the Sukhoi Business Jet enables a variety of configurations to be installed. SJI

42-47_superjet.JR.mfJR.mfJR.mf.indd 44 05/01/2016 17:28