The flight test facility of Regional Aircraft (LIC FRS), a branch of Yakovlev PJSC, continues testing import-substituted units and systems of the SJ-100 aircraft. Both ground and flight certification tests are underway in Komsomolsk-on-Amur and Zhukovsky. Vadim Shirokikh, Head of LIC FRS, in his interview to the unofficial Yakovlev TG-channel Notes of Aircraft Builders told about the technical features of the import-substituted machine and how the tests are going on.
According to Vadim Shirokikh, the SJ-100 aircraft (b/n 97021) flies safely and shows good performance, in some cases better than the base model. “Naturally, I am talking about those tests that we can perform today given the readiness of the new equipment and systems,” the head of the test facility says.
One of the key differences between the SJ-100 and its predecessor SSJ100 is the updated cockpit.
“We tried to preserve model continuity as much as possible, which is important for operators. By switching to new modern equipment, such as large-format monitors, we tried not to violate the ideology of procedures and information perception by the crew. This will ensure quick and safe adaptation during retraining and subsequent operation of the new aircraft in airlines,” Vadim Shirokikh said.
At the same time, the aircraft operation from the point of view of the integrated control system (ICS) has not undergone any cardinal changes. The development of human-machine interaction on the basic version of the RRJ-95 was once performed at a high level and received positive assessments from both domestic and foreign experts. The Superjet 100 is one of the best in terms of stability and controllability characteristics, including those in extreme modes, not only in the class of regional passenger airplanes, but also in the class of mainline airplanes, the head of LIC FRS says. Therefore, the task was set to improve the airplane without spoiling the performance obtained on the base model.
As with any new equipment in the process of testing, some nuances are revealed, which are promptly resolved in cooperation between test pilots, design bureau engineers and designers of substitute systems. Vadim Shirokikh noted that in one of the flights within the framework of the development program the influence of the radio altimeter on the control laws of the ICS was revealed. The problem turned out to be very serious.
“Test pilots prevented the development of the situation according to a bad scenario, safely landed the airplane. On the ground, the engineers sorted out this phenomenon, and the designer of the ICS promptly corrected the software based on our design bureau’s recommendations. This is just one of the examples of well-coordinated work in the loop of flight test facility – design bureau – system developer,” he said and added that such interaction is ongoing.
As for the components that can be tested at the current level of system readiness, there are either no problems with the units or they are insignificant and solvable. Vadim Shirokikh cited the example of the completion of full testing of external lighting equipment, which, according to the test pilots, showed better results than the imported equipment on the base aircraft. Radio communication systems also showed good results. At the same time, testing of many systems is just beginning, and it is too early to talk about the results.
Answering the question about which complex modes have already been tested in flights, Vadim Shirokikh noted that each test flight has its own peculiarities and gave an example of a flight with full fuel exhaustion**.
“One of the interesting tasks I had the opportunity to perform was a test flight for full fuel depletion from the right and center group of tanks. There was a little bit of everything: and the flight in the waiting area, and maneuvering with extreme angles of roll and pitch, and self-disconnection of one engine due to full fuel depletion. The result was pleasing. Flight tests showed that the unused fuel residue in the tanks is noticeably less than in the base model. This was achieved thanks to the new design of fuel tanks and, of course, the good characteristics of domestic components of the fuel system,” the test pilot shared.
** The first prototype of the SJ-100 aircraft with the flight number 97021 took to the air for the first time on June 10, 2024 after flying from Komsomolsk-on-Amur and undergoing ground checks and tests. The flights are performed as part of flight certification tests under the import substitution program. The aircraft was flown by a crew consisting of commander Vadim Shirokikh, test pilots Leonid Chikunov, certification center expert Mikhail Trubnikov, as well as leading flight test engineer, flight operator Denis Velizhanin and leading flight test engineer, flight operator, certification center expert Gevorg Matsakyan. The first flight included testing of the aircraft’s new domestic fuel system.
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