The fourth Superjet 100 joined the flight-test and certification effort on 4 February, as Sukhoi increases the tempo in its efforts to achieve Russian certification by the middle of this year.

MSN 95005, which completed a 2h 45min sortie from the production plant in Komsomolsk-on-Amur, is built to the final certification standard configuration incorporating all modifications required for testing and approval of the 100-seat twinjet, says Sukhoi.

Flight-testing has been interrupted by delays to the delivery of production PowerJet SaM146 engines. Sukhoi says that the fifth Superjet is equipped with the powerplants from the first flight prototype (MSN 95001) "to provide a smooth and regular certification flight-test pace and comply with the schedule".

Sukhoi Superjet
 © Sukhoi
The fourth Superjet 100 (MSN 95005) completed its maiden flight on February 4 from Sukhoi's production plant in Komsomolsk-on-Amur, Russia 

Sukhoi Civil Aircraft president Vladimir Prisyazhnyuk says that the introduction of a fourth prototype will allow the flight-test programme "to deliver 75 flights monthly" and adds that "provided the engines are certificated and delivered in due time, we will receive type certification in mid-2010".

Source: Flight International