Russia to test-fly jetliner Superjet 100 in May 2008

The plane that can kick-start Russian aviation!

2 May, 2008: The test flight of Russia’s first all-new airliner - the Superjet 100 - since the collapse of the Soviet Union, which has been delayed for long, will take place in the first half of May 2008.

Russians returning to selling planes soon!

Superjet 100, developed after about a decade of efforts by Sukhoi, Russia’s biggest manufacturer of warplanes, is Moscow’s biggest hope for returning to the global market for jetliners.

The first flight of Superjet 100 was initially planned for late 2007 but was later put off to the first months of 2008.

The regional Superjet, according to Guardian, “is a part of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s efforts to revive the country’s once mighty aviation industry, which collapsed after the fall of the Soviet Union.”

Sukhoi is developing the Superjet 100 jet plane in collaboration with Boeing Company of the United States.

The Superjet 100 has a catalogue price of $29 million. Reports say that Sukhoi hopes to sell at least 800 Superjets, with production of 60 to 70 planes a year, by 2010.

President Putin has set up a giant, new state aircraft holding company, named the United Aviation Corporation (UAC), to lead the revival of Russia’s aviation industry. Sukhoi is a part of the United Aviation Corporation.

Aeroflot, Russia’s state-controlled flagship carrier, has already ordered 30 of the Superjet 100 planes, with first deliveries planned for the end of 2008.

Other major buyers of Superjet 100 planes include Russia’s Air Union, with an order of 15 planes, and Russia’s Finance Leasing Company, with an order of 10 planes, Sukhoi said in a statement.

The Superjet will have to make about 100 flights to get certification after its first test flight.

According to reports, Sukhoi has also prepared ambitious export targets together with Italian partner Alenia Aeronautica, which holds 25% of Sukhoi’s civil division.

Sukhoi’s new venture poses a challenge to companies competing to invest in regional jet transport, according to analysts. At present, the market for regional jets is dominated by Embraer of Brazil and Bombardier of Canada, though their spending is rather small compared with the $60-billion spent annually on big jets made by Boeing and Airbus.