MOSCOW. Dec 7 (Interfax-AVN) - Tests of the second Sam146 engine for the 95-seat Superjet 100 regional plane have been completed successfully at the Saturn research and production association, the Saturn press service has reported.
"The test program of SaM146 Engine No. 2 has been carried out in full," reads the report obtained by Interfax-AVN on Thursday.
Results of the tests correspond to declared technical requirements to the 95-seat Superjet 100. Boroscopic examination results did not expose any defects impeding continuation of tests, the report says.
The tests took place at Saturn's roofed test bench from November 20 to December 2. The engine was in operation for 34 hours 26 minutes and was started 34 times. The engine is being dismantled at the present time. After its disassembly, its components will undergo control and survey of defects.
Development and production of the plane and the engine are progressing exactly as planned. The flying laboratory with the SaM146 engine is to make its maiden flight in 2007. Take-off mode specifications confirmed during tests of the second engine are baseline for the SaM146 tests as part of the flying laboratory, the report reads.
The engine's certification is scheduled for March 2008. Eight SaM146 engines are to be used for certification tests. They are to perform 4,500 operation cycles in the accelerated mode.
The Sukhoi Commercial Planes Company selected the SaM146 to be mounted on the Superjet 100 in April 2003. The Superjet 100 in-service date is slated for late 2008. Snecma and Saturn have been developing the SaM146 since 2001. Both companies closely cooperate at each stage of the program, managed by the PowerJet joint venture, established on a par.
The Rybinsk-based Saturn association is Russia's leading engine-building enterprise, specializing in developing, manufacturing, and maintaining gas turbines for military and civil aircraft, ships and vessels, power generators, and gas compressor units.