Aircraft

Assembly of the first Sukhoi Superjet 100 is nearing completion, with the all-new twinjet set to be rolled out at a ceremony in Russia's far east on 26 September.

The date for the event, which has not been confirmed by Sukhoi Civil Aircraft, was disclosed by the programme's powerplant supplier PowerJet, which has just delivered the first SaM146 engine to the twinjet's production line at the KnAPPO plant in Komsomolsk-on-Amur. The Franco-Russian joint venture is due to deliver its second engine from its Rybinsk production facility at the end of August. First flight of the Superjet is expected to take place in October.

SCAC says that the roll-out date has not yet been finally confirmed as it needs to be aligned with the schedules of key Russian governmental officials that will attend. The date will be officially announced at next week's MAKS air show by Sukhoi director general Michail Pogosyan.