MOSCOW. Nov 13 (Interfax-AVN) - The Russian-French SaM146 development program, pursued by the French Snecma Company and the Russian Saturn Research and Production Association, is conducted in strict compliance with the schedule.
"Under the contract, the Sukhoi Commercial Aircraft Company and the Federal Industry Agency have assembled and submitted for tests the second of eight SaM146 engine prototypes, required to conduct certification tests," the Saturn press-service told Interfax-AVN on Monday.
The press-service said that the test program is aimed at confirming takeoff characteristics and fine-tuning engine systems. The engine is expected to undergo flight tests on a flying laboratory in 2007.
According to the press-service, the first SaM146 has successfully completed the tests. "The tests were conducted on the Saturn test bench, certified by the Central Aircraft Engine-Building Institute, in July - September 2006. The operating time of the engine amounted to 112 hours, while the number of start-ups equaled 97. The maximum time of a continuous operation per a start-up totaled 5.5 hours," the press-service said.
The Sukhoi Civil Aircraft Company selected the SaM146 engine to be mounted on the Superjet 100 in April 2003. The aircraft's commercial in-service date is slated for late 2008.