Successful Maiden Flight of Superjet Prototype Powered by PD-8 Engines Marks New Era in Russian Aviation

The prototype of the Sukhoi Superjet has successfully completed its inaugural flight powered by Russian PD-8 engines. The aircraft spent around 40 minutes in the air, reaching speeds of up to 500 km/h and ascending to an altitude of 3,000 meters. All objectives of the flight were fully achieved, as reported by Rostec.

This flight, which took place in Komsomolsk-on-Amur, marks the beginning of flight testing for the PD-8 engines as part of the Superjet project. According to the crew commander, all tasks were successfully performed. The powerplant operating with the PD-8 engines demonstrated stable performance, and it was also possible to evaluate the gas-dynamic stability of the engines under various conditions.

«The flight today confirms the accuracy of our engineering calculations and the aircraft’s high readiness. The project is being executed within a very tight timeframe by global aviation standards. After 2022, the Superjet essentially had to be reassembled from scratch. The engine is a crucial component of the import substitution program and is the ‘heart’ of the aircraft. There is still much work ahead and many more flights to conduct. In April, another fully Russian aircraft equipped with PD-8 engines will join the certification flight tests,» stated Sergey Chemezov, CEO of Rostec.

The PD-8 engine, with a thrust of 8 tons, has been developed for the passenger aircraft Superjet and the amphibious aircraft Be-200 using new Russian materials and progressive technologies, as emphasized by Rostec. The development has actively utilized the experience gained from creating the PD-14 engine.