Russian Civil Aviation: News

So they are pretty much selling out and running? Merging with a US company is not good business tactic 101 IN Russia or any other potential enemy country.

Idiots.

Will probably be last of that aircraft companies type in Russia.

sepheronx wrote:So they are pretty much selling out and running? Merging with a US company is not good business tactic 101 IN Russia or any other potential enemy country.

Idiots.

Will probably be last of that aircraft companies type in Russia.

What a stupid post. Talking out of ones ass 101.

LOL
Don't be mean TR1

And Sepheronx; it's called business. Russian companies have to operate by the free market and be allowed to do what they want according to the most juicy business opportunities available to them, without government restriction; otherwise these companies will be less competitive and people would think twice before setting up such medium-sized business in Russia in the future.
There are no potential enemy countries in business at least not for companies not involved in the defense industry or strategic natural resources.
And yes if its their decision to move production; then perhaps that's what's most optimal and would allow them to grow - it's no good if they keep production in Russia and then go bankrupt in a couple of years and all those people would be out of a job anyway.
The Russian government for its part would be better served not by introducing protectionist measures (which it goes a little overboard with from time to time), but by improving conditions for business activity and production on its own territory; that way it could entice more companies to keep/bring jobs to Russia

Not BTW that I think that this is the case here; there is no reason to suspect that this company will be cutting down its employees or facilities in Russia. Rather they are expanding to a new market and possibly expanding their production capacity - if that's the case than it's only good news.

EDIT

MAKS Airshow round-up: UAC gathered almost 200 orders and Bombardier signs with Rostec and lessors

I can't find it now, but there was an article on Voice of Russia where the Italian delegation claimed that the actual performance of the Sukhoi Superjet doesn't meet the claimed specifications, and they won't be acquiring it it seems.

Too many fuck-ups with this program. Even 1 is too many. It's a regional jet, in a market full of them, coming from a country with a bad reputation in civil aviation. So far outside Russia only the Indonesians have bought it.
First the Armenians were supposed to be the other customers, then the Italians, now the Mexicans..
And even in Indonesia it lost out - one of the airlines that was supposed to buy it; Kartika airlines went out of business.
The SSJ can ill-afford all this; it's no wonder that the majority of its contracts are from Russian state-controlled air carriers or leasing firms.
Right now an American firm is suing Sukhoi over the SSJ VIP version
http://www.themoscowtimes.com/business/article/runup-to-maks-air-show-littered-with-broken-deals/484878.html

Sukhoi meanwhile is more than $2 billion in debt. Let's hope it hasn't spent all this money on a lemon that fails to break into the world market. Fortunately it's military sales and government support will help it avoid a default regardless.

You are too much in a doom and gloom mood Python?
Apart form Russian airlines, the SSJ is currently in service with Mexican, Indonesian and Laotian airlines with deliveries continuing.
The fact that it is no longer operated by Armenia is not the aircraft's fault. It is our airline that went bankrupt  
 
To be profitable, they need to ramp up production to around 25 - 30 per year. This year, they will barely manage 18 which is better than last year's 12.
 
Give it time.

TheArmenian wrote:You are too much in a doom and gloom mood Python?
Apart form Russian airlines, the SSJ is currently in service with Mexican, Indonesian and Laotian airlines with deliveries continuing.
The fact that it is no longer operated by Armenia is not the aircraft's fault. It is our airline that went bankrupt  
 
To be profitable, they need to ramp up production to around 25 - 30 per year. This year, they will barely manage 18 which is better than last year's 12.
 
Give it time.

Didn't know about Laos. Good news I guess. I just can't help but thinking that the SSJ is an under-performer; relative to the sort of interest it was getting a couple years back.
It's also no good selling the SSJ to airlines in Armenia and Indonesia that go bankrupt; better to sell it to airlines that perform.
Rome wasn't built in a day I guess. It may take many more years before Europe or America take an interest.

flamming_python wrote:

Viktor wrote:  looks stunning

SSBJ - Suhoj Supersonic Business Jet

Wha....woah...

BTW, can someone say Sukhoi-Gulfstream?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sukhoi-Gulfstream_S-21

Supersonic Business Jet is not an approved program just Sukhoi internal R&D program in best case.

Russian Government To Upgrade its VIP Jet Fleet

The Russian government has finalized a follow-on order for four Tupolev Tu-204-300s with VIP interiors. The Kremlin’s Special Air Detachment, the government flight department that transports Russia’s senior political leaders and high-ranking officials, already operates two of the type. These were built in 2011 and delivered the following year after installation of some onboard equipment and interiors.

The fact that President Vladimir Putin’s administration is buying more Tu-204-300s became apparent when the Russian media published a recent interview with Sergei Dementiev, general manager at the Aviastar-SP plant where the Tu-204 is produced. He said that the plant in Ulianovsk terminated Tu-204-100V production in 2010 due to a lack of orders, but it is continuing low-rate manufacturing of the Tu-204-300 under orders from the Russian government. The Tu-204-300 will remain in production through 2017 and be assembled mostly in VIP and special-purpose variants, Dementiev added.

Business Aero, which serves several large Russian banks, also flies the VIP version of the Tupolev twinjet. This operator has one Tu-204-300A, a rebuilt version of an early-production Tu-204-100. The airplane has additional fuel tanks extending the airplane’s range with customer-specified payload up to 5,079 nm. This aircraft is equipped with a shower, a satellite communications set and a mood lighting system controlled centrally by the crew and the main passenger. The cabin is configured for 26 passengers.

Aviastar-SP is preparing its Tupolev assembly line for series production of the Tu-204SM. So far two of the aircraft have been completed, and these were used in the flight-test campaign that culminated in the issuing of Russian type certification in May this year. Aviastar-SP has four airframes in production and these are 50 percent complete, with plans to make 20 more by 2017. In addition to the earlier orders, the Russian government now is considering a larger order for some 30 Tu-204SM/300 for use by various government departments. Most of those will be supplied with a VIP interior.

12th SSJ of this year had its first flight.
Now we wait to see how much they can surpass last year.

EDIT: Also an An-148 (ordered by MOD) made its first flight 3 days ago.

http://sdelanounas.ru/blogs/39935/

Something of a small achievement - 30th serial Superjet flew!

http://sdelanounas.ru/blogs/41264/

An FSB Tu-214 has made first flight yesterday. This is the 25th Tu-214 made @ KAPO.

If I remember correctly Austin said that that benchmark for this year is 44.

http://sdelanounas.ru/blogs/41732/

14th SSJ makes its first flight this year.

Putin appreciates the cooperation with China's aviation industry
http://www.itar-tass.com/c16/903651.html

Russian President Vladimir Putin appreciates the cooperation with China's aviation industry. He said this today at the APEC summit.

"We have a very good projects in aviation, - Putin said. - This also applies to helicopters, as well as medium-and wide-body aircraft." He added that "we have very good prospects in space exploration, there are specific projects, and I very much hope that we will move into them. President stressed that it is very important for Russia and China is the implementation of infrastructure projects. Now discuss a number of possibilities. Also, the Russian president said already implemented project for the construction of a branch line from Siberia - Far East.

Where to fly the fastest aircraft : Scientists are developing a radically innovative liner for Civil Aviation

"Flying wing" or "tadpole"? Engine as "one barrel" or embedded in the wings?

What is fundamentally new aerodynamic scheme for passenger aircraft of the future offer scientists and aircraft designers?

Analysts believe: aircraft manufacturers are on the verge of innovative technical solutions. Thus, throughout the world still considered a classic layout planes: a tubular fuselage, wing and engine disposed under the wing or tail. However, the era of such aircraft is coming to an end. According to experts, will have a maximum of one generation.

According to Director General of TsAGI Boris Aleshin, for years 2025-2030 will be flying machines with a "flying wing". On economic efficiency by 50-60 percent, they will surpass the existing airplanes. In fact, this concept has a long history. However, it was previously believed that such aircraft can only be ultra-passenger capacity, which caused a lot of questions. Why?

The answer is simple: the market for such aircraft, as the analysis does not exceed 7.10 percent of the total. Therefore TSAGI emphasize that their model - it's not just a model of long haul aircraft as "flying wing". This model airplane at 180-200 seats, which is quite competitive in terms of global demand.

With him will not be able to compete existing aircraft - the scientists say. Fly it will at the same speed (the number M = 0., but it will be 20-25 percent more economical. Part of the seats will be located in the wing. Consider various options for the location of engines.

Now experts from the Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute. NE Zhukovsky are actively working on a promising civilian airliner. In their view, the introduction of industrial methods of production of composite structures for such ships can be achieved fantastic results. But the biggest effect can be obtained not only from new technology, and the effects on the modernization of the entire industrial industry.

Curiously, the new engine of the aircraft may no longer exist in the form of "one barrel": it "splintered" and built into the wings. In short, it will be a vehicle completely different level than it is now. And it will create a new generation of engineers.

What else is offered? Promising model of administrative subsonic aircraft with a capacity of 3-6 passengers. Small jet plane with a high administrative level of comfort with its unique patented layout - drop-shaped fuselage and a straight wing. Specialists him for a joke and called - "Tadpole".

Scientists presented the layout of having certain advantages, and above all - a large interior space. That's our word for new concepts of business aircraft, which we propose to consider the further development of the designers - notice TsAGI specialists.

Meanwhile, the future of aviation have been linked to the development of long-term lung supersonic air taxi. The concept has already been developed. But now we have to solve several fundamental problems. One of them - a sonic boom: the need to reduce the harmful effects of the shock wave, which is comparable to the explosion.

Studies have shown that the level of sonic boom can reach 15 Pascals. For comparison, 100 Pascals - this Tu-144. But the most important thing: the volume of the sonic boom can be reduced to 65 decibels. It turns a little "hlopochek" and the rustle of which one is not annoying.

It is clear that the establishment of an air taxi is much cheaper compared with supersonic air buses. What will look like "air cab" at an unprecedented rate?

Engineers TSAGI considered various technical solutions and work options. Let's analyze the business operation of aircraft has shown that they are mainly used in the mode of a one-day business trip. In this case, 93 percent of the routes do not exceed the range of 4,000 km: say from Moscow to Paris or London - about 2,500 km to Barcelona - a little more than three thousand, and to Irkutsk or Delhi - about 4300 ... Given the short time of flight for supersonic aircraft at similar distances - less than 3 hours - experts believe that the diameter of the interior may reach 1.3-1.4 m

Air taxis will be based on the ground with a length of the runway 1,200 meters These are almost all regional centers and major cities. By the way, to maximize the design and reduce the cost of using traditional materials and techniques, TsAGI specialists propose to limit the speed of the air taxi number M = 1.6-1.8. Such a cruising speed of twice the speed of flight of existing analog design supersonic business aircraft.

Direct speech

Another project with which to associate the future of the Russian aircraft - aircraft "Frigate Ekodzhet." The developers propose to medium-range widebody aircraft with a fuselage of elliptical cross.

No analogues in the world. Due to the design, the plane can be placed piece so as to provide three passes therebetween. Baseline characteristics are impressive: the number of passengers - 380 range - 3500 km.

Elliptical fuselage makes the plane much lighter and smaller than existing competitors at the moment. Fuel efficiency by 25 percent, he exceeds the A-310 aircraft in flight up to 3500 km, a 30 - to 2500 km with 302 passengers on 15-25 - at ranges of up to 1,500 km.

The shape of the aircraft "Frigate Ekodzhet" formed: confirmed the main technical parameters and feasibility of the project. Wind tunnel tests of models elements of the aircraft gave the most positive results. In this case, as emphasized, the creators of the new machine, the claimed reduction in weight compared to peers, perhaps even more, through the use of composites.

The details of the "RG" said the head of the project "Frigate Ekodzhet" Alexander Klimov.

Alexander V., in what is now the state of the project?

Alexander Klimov: We finished the stage of conceptual design. That is all identified critical and non-critical technologies, have created a collection of technical solutions, conducted jointly with the TsAGI a number of calculations and model tests in wind tunnels. Are the conclusions confirmed the attainability of specifications which are set out in our proposals. Created a business model, it has been calculated. For her, made a feasibility study of the project to start production.

It is assumed that at the assembly plant will be implemented large-hub assembly of aircraft parts from components supplied by our partners from more than ten countries.

It really is a revolution in aircraft?

Alexander Klimov: I would refrain from such dramatic statements. Yes, the project involves the use of the latest digital technologies for production and quality control, which eliminates the possibility of defects in the final assembly of aircraft. Yes, it's a whole new level in the field of aviation. But the relation of novelty and tradition, we deliberately restrict ourselves to five percent.

How to build a "Frigate Ekodzhetov"?

Alexander Klimov: Not less than 250 but not more than 500. Why? That is the niche market for this aircraft. But our greatest achievement - we did the wide-body aircraft, which can carry up to 400 people, and the weight and size it is the same as the Tu-204.

Provides for a range of these aircraft?

Alexander Klimov: We lay still in the design phase is very intense modification of the passenger compartment. Just the regular, periodic maintenance will be able to change the shape of the aircraft capacity from 250 to 380. Accordingly, changes and range. If you are carrying 380 people, then fly to 2.5 thousand km by 250 - that seven thousand. This ensures flexible variability.

Ably

From an interview with "RG" Henry Novozhilova, legendary aircraft designer, academician of Russian Academy of Sciences, twice Hero of Socialist Labor:

Henry V., modern digital technology, perhaps, give a huge expanse of flight design idea?

Henry Novozhylov: Reach engineering thought there was not. In principle, all new born of human imagination. Of course, today, in the design of aircraft has changed a lot. In the computer program has been laid experience in creating designs. It is possible to carry out aerodynamic studies and calculations of strength to such an extent as before, and did not dream. This simplifies the job. Provides higher performance and design, and production.

Personal intuition aircraft is still important?

Henry Novozhylov: Absolutely. But it helps that you can analyze a lot of the technical solutions. But do not forget: the computer - it's just a tool that enhances the design, prochnista, aerodynamics. The final decision, as always, is up to the head of design and chief designer.

There is much talk about "Frigate Ekodzhet." Argue that the elliptical shape of the fuselage promises a revolution in aircraft?

Henry Novozhylov: The history of this long-standing issue. Back in the late 70's TsAGI worked through the plane "flying wing", reminiscent to some degree option elliptical. A prominent scientist and aerodynamics Leonid Shkadov all agitated me to make such a plane. Moreover, not believe, but on the "flying wing" mentioned even in 1948! The students had heard and ask Ilyushin, saying that what his opinion. A Ilyushin and said: "I think that you and even your grandchildren have enough aircraft usual pattern."

But of course, this needs to be addressed. For example, in designing an aircraft weight problem is always important. Today, for example, I do not see already, thus you can save.

And what role can play in the aircraft industry composites, nanotechnology? How can they change the look of the aircraft and its characteristics?

Henry Novozhylov: When we designed the Il-114, which had come to replace the An-24, then, of course, also sought to make it easier. And because the entire fuselage constructed from composite materials. But further work has not been claimed. In Hotkovo still stands the same composite compartment. And the Americans before making aircraft "Boeing-787", "Dreamliner" around this compartment paved path all studied the experience.

And then we, our customers say: just do not use composite materials! Like, if you hit someone conventional aircraft - brought a piece of duralumin, put riveted, tweaked. And as composites repair? ..

In composites do have drawbacks, primarily increased fragility ...

Henry Novozhylov: That's why the Americans before applying such materials, first learned how to repair them. In the "Dreamliner" their share exceeds 50 percent. Now the Russian plane created the MS-21 will also be nearly forty percent consist of composites. But it must be borne in mind that the composites today - this is not what they were yesterday. Science and technology is not standing still.

On another note, regarding the new Mi-171A2 shown at MAKS, is there any information as to when the first flight is planned ? Also, when is the military version supposed to be first flown, and does it have a designation yet? Thanks.

As of today, the tally of first flights for 2013:

14 Sukhoi SSJ
4   An-148
2   An-140
2   Tu-214
1   Il-96

Total of 23 so far.
By the end of the year the number will end up being between 27 and 30.
Not bad considering they were doing around 10 - 15 up until 2011.

If I remember correctly Austin said that that benchmark for this year is 44.

Is this objetive only for SSJ or for all civil jets combined? let's see if SSJ production ramps up next year...

The hopes of August 2013

Austin wrote:The hopes of August 2013

Thats funny. The article talks about the il-476 or whatever and say it is a huge achievment, but no mention of il-96 which is a great aircraft, and then say that they didnt have the ability to build it, so where this model come from? As well, seems to think there isnt much hope for the civil aviation, but does not explain that there are more sales of ssj-100 than almost all other Russian airliners in a long time, as well, portfolio of ms-21 is high too. Then talks about boeing and that the world needs 35,000 jets in the next 20 years and talks about potentials. But problem is, there are some models of different types of these ssj-100 but no wide body long range jet so they pretty much are at just one part of the market for civil jets. As well, SSJ-100 production is ramping up, isn't it?

" For now the Kiev-based design bureau outscores the whole Russian aircraft industry, which has advantage in terms of financing and number of enterprises. "

By outscore he means struggle to find any orders to survive. Their only truly interesting project (An-70) wouldn't exist without Russia anyways.

I love how he dismisses the MS-21 and Superjet, but is hopeful about Tu-204. LOL. Oh well, plenty Russians love to make their journalistic careers crying about how bad everything is.

Someone remind me the last Russian civie airliner that saw 30 new airframes take off in the span of two years.

I can tell you that even Kiev plant isnt there either. Dunno what he was talking about, as Sukhoi pumps out significantly more.

Austin, please read the sources before posting. You just end up looking like a nagger about Russian stuff even if you are just the messanger. In other words, sounds like an agenda.

Austin just posts what he sees. It's not his fault much english-language articles about Russia are crap.

TR1 wrote:Austin just posts what he sees. It's not his fault much english-language articles about Russia are crap.

Most articles about Russia is crap. Still, better to read source before posting. I do.

Austin is a smart and wonderful person. So I just expect better from him. I wouldnt give two poops if it was posted by RPG or alike.