The "Super"Jet

It is always interesting to see some new developments in your industry, some new inventions in your lab, a different chapter in your syllabus or a newly researched high-tech gadget in your toolbox.

In September 2007, at the KnAAPO assembly plant in Siberia, rolled out the 95-seat transport vehicle onto the tarmac. It was a joint venture between the Russian Aviation Industry, Rosaviakosmos (Space Agency) and the Boeing Company along with the marketing genius of Sukhoi, Ilyushin and Boeing.

It was the Sukhoi Superjet 100. The first of its kind. The beginning of a new series.

Having seen one in front of my eyes, I must say how posh and classy the exterior looks. I would have even been able to see the interiors had I been a Russian citizen. Anyway, the superjet boasts of some really state-of-the-art equipment. The standardization of the design will make it possible to improve the economic performance of the aeroplane family operation with expenditures kept at a rational level. The aerodynamics and design of the aeroplanes of the family are based on proven advanced technology to minimise technical risks at the stage of design, testing and operation. It can cruise at a maximum altitude of 41 thousand feet at a maximum speed of 0.78-0.8 Mach. It has the regular 2 turbofan engines as always.

Deliveries are to begin in late 2008. Sukhoi predicts that 163 units of all variations of the Superjet 100 will be delivered by the end of 2016.

In my personal opinion, I feel Russia has managed to create an aviation oil-well with the manufacturing and launch of the superjet. They will save a lot of money on imports and the orders have already started flowing in. I see the superjet 100 challenging the Boeing 737 and the Airbus 319 in the small-aircrafts category. It is just the former CIS countries that have placed huge orders at the moment. But when word spreads out about the efficiency of this machine, even the Brits might think twice about their agreement with Airbus. India and Russia have a “positive” history when it comes to aircrafts and in this case delivering the aircrafts won’t be a problem since Russia is geographically closer. Or do I need another globe?

In the long run the bigger jumbos like Boeing 747 and Airbus A380 will take away the candy, but the Sukhoi superjet is an excellent example of how to succeed when it comes to short-term profit in the aviation industry. It makes sense economically to the Russians, if they have counted right. They’ll need to fund their next few space mission failures with the money they generate out of the aviation industry.

Even though I wish at times Russia had more money, so that they could show the world what is the true meaning of technology, they are soon establishing themselves in the Asian aviation market at least.