Sukhoi has performed taxi trials and the first high-speed ground runs with the Superjet 100 regional aircraft ahead of the commencement of flight testing.

Test runs involved taking the aircraft to a speed of around 87kt (162km/h) which, says the Russian airframer, is close to the lift-off speed of the nose-gear.

 SSJ-ground-run-tests
 © SCAC
Sukhoi's Superjet undergoes high speed ground run tests

The trials of the 95-seat twin-jet are being conducted at Sukhoi’s flight-test centre at Komsomolsk-on-Amur.

“This aircraft is remarkable,” claims Sukhoi chief test pilot Alexander Yablontsev. “It’s pleasant to see how smoothly it runs.”

Yablontsev, whose flight experience includes operation of Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 aircraft, says the aircraft is easily controllable and claims it to be “every bit as good” as Western rivals.

Sukhoi states that the ground trials of the Superjet 100, which is fitted with PowerJet SaM146 engines, will be extended to landing-gear shimmy tests and nose-gear unstick runs.

First flights of the aircraft are expected to be carried out later this month.

Source: Air Transport Intelligence news

Aircraft Profile: Sukhoi Superjet

AirSpace gallery: Sukhoi Superjet images of its ground run tests

Source: Flight International