The S.A. Chaplygin Siberian Research Institute of Aviation (SibNIA) expects to complete the certification static tests of the SSJ-New aircraft in November-December 2023. This is reported by TASS, quoting the institute’s director Vladimir Barsuk.
The SSJ-New airframe, manufactured at the Irkut Production Centre in Komsomolsk-on-Amur specifically for static tests, was delivered to Novosibirsk in January this year. Certification tests are being carried out in the fatigue and static strength department of SibNIA.
Tests of the SSJ-New airframe are performed to confirm its static strength and to determine the conditions of safe operation in accordance with the requirements of the Aviation Regulations. The tests are due to structural changes in the wing and fuselage of the aircraft, as well as the installation of the PD-8 engine and new landing gear. The press service of the Novosibirsk region government reported that the tests will affect, in particular, the fuselage, wing, horizontal plumage, pylons and PD-8 engine mounting units.
The SibNIA director noted that the aircraft has now actually been handed over to the institute. “There has been an assembly of the aircraft, a number of systems have already been assembled, partly there is still work going on,” said Vladimir Barsuk.
“First, a number of tests are made for the first flight – they are quite short, further already longer. Tentatively – in November-December [it is planned] to finish [the tests],” he explained.
