Tupolev's new Tu-204SM twin-jet has today carried out its maiden flight, staying airborne for about 50min after taking off from the Aviastar plant's aerodrome at Ulyanovsk.
The aircraft took off at 13:23 and landed at 14:15.
http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2010/12/29/351388/picture-tu-204sm-conducts-maiden-flight.html
The correct english designation of the new Tupolev's aircraft is Tu-204CM.
No, it is not! The correct designation of the aircraft is Tu-204SM (The letter 'С' in Cyrillic is the letter 'S' in Latin).
Yes, but to refer to modifications of the Tu-204's uses the letters with the same spelling in Russian and English. For example, the Tu-204CE in Russian sounds like the Tu-204SE (CE - Cargo with English cockpit, but C in Russian sounds like S). Or Tu-204-100B = Tu-204-100V in Russian transcription.
Most western Aviation news uses the TU-204SM designation but on the Russian “Atlant-Soyuz” website (english version) they have the following news release:
Pursuant to the document 30 regional passenger AN-148 and 15 middle-range passenger TU-204CM aircraft will be delivered for operation to the Air Company “Atlant-Soyuz” from 2010 till 2012.
Gravity always wins!