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Superjet 100 regular flights shifted to next year
Published: 01 April, 2009, 17:46
The first commercial flights of the Russian civilian mid-range aircraft Superjet 100 are scheduled for the beginning of 2010. The two existing jets have traveled to a testing range near Moscow on Tuesday.
The airliner, developed by Sukhoi Civil Aircraft Company, is now undergoing extensive testing before it is cleared for series production.
According to the head of the aviation holding Mikhail Pogosyan, the company has 100 jets contracted, which will keep the production line busy at least through to 2011. He said the Superjet-100 has a stable market position which will not be affected by the global financial crisis.
“In November 2009 we plan to finish international certification of the new plane. Early next year Superjet-100 will take first passengers on board,” said Pogosyan, according to Ria Novosti news agency.
Earlier plans were to deliver the first airliners to Russia’s Aeroflot by December 2009.
To date, two Superjet 100s have been built at the plant in Komsomolsk-on-Amur in Russia’s Far East. Both aircraft were flown on Tuesday to a test range in Zhukovsky near Moscow for further testing.
They were escorted by two Su-30 combat jets and a civilian Yak-40, which videotaped the Superjet in flight.
The Sukhoi Superjet 100 is a modern civil plane for regional flights meant to replace aging Tu-134s and Tu-154s in Russia. It will also be marketed internationally.
The aircraft’s maiden flight took place in May 2008 after it was presented to the public.
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