It was only on 20th February that the first successful run of engines attached under the wings of the plane was passed. The SaM146 engine ran under the wing of SSJ100 in Komsomolsk following a series of power plant and APU testings as well as the checks of the major aircraft systems such as fuel, hydraulics, air conditioning, electrical, avionics and fire-protection. The engine has been developed by French risk-sharing partner Snecma, who together with Russian NPO Saturn through their joint venture PowerJet.

It was only on 15th of January that President Vladimir Putin signed off on the purchase by Alenia Aeronautica of a 25%+1 share stake in Sukhoi Civil Aircraft enabling the Italian company to help the Russian plane maker develop the Superjet airliner.

Shortly afterward, on 24th January, Sberbank agreed a 10-year loan worth 100 million euros ($134 mln) to finance the aircraft project. The loan is earmarked for purchasing equipment and modernizing production capacity. The financing adds to loans already secured from EBRD and Vneshekonombank.

Boeing, has been a consultant to the project from its launch nearly seven years ago.

At last the Superjet 100 is looking viable and, with orders from Aeroflot, Armavia and ItAlia on the books, it is expected to fly and enter production next year.

The aggressive marketing strategy masterminded by Boeing has spurred orders for at least 60 of the aircraft and it heralds a revival of the sector.

Last year the Government merged civilian and military aircraft makers into a giant state-controlled company, the United Aviation Corporation (UAC). The new corporation combines key Russian aircraft makers Tupolev, Sukhoi, Ilyushin, MiG and Irkut. UAC’s goal is to produce and sell about 4,500 aircraft worth some $250 billion by 2025 and overtake Soviet-era production records to compete in the world market with Boeing.

The Sukhoi SuperJet-100 is the company’s largest civilian aircraft program and is touted as the future of Russian aerospace.

The Sukhoi Superjet 100 is much more than a typical business move. At stake is the county’s lost glory as an aerospace giant. The manufacturers, government and Russians on the street all keenly await the first flight and the market verdict on this ambitious venture.

Sukhoi SuperJet 100