Future of programme still in question (242 words)

Published: 9/10/2001

On 4th September, the long awaited first flight of the GE powered twin turboprop S-80 took place, following high-speed taxi runs by the aircraft in early August at the Zhukovsky Flight Centre near Moscow. The flight comes a little later than expected by Sukhoi, which had expressed its ambitions to include the aircraft in the MAKS2001 flying display. The aircraft was, however, on static display at the show. Gennady Litvinov, Chief Designer, reported that the flight lasted 26 minutes and was uneventful. It will be followed by additional flights on 7th and 8th September. According to sources, the aircraft still has to undergo a further 80-100 flights by Sukhoi, before the decision is finally made about the programme's future. Litvinov, in previous statements, has said that the total cost will be around $45-50m. The $5.5-6m aircraft will be produced at Komsomolsk-upon-Amur based KnAAPO, part of AVPK Sukhoi. The plant - primarily a fighter producer - built both the prototype and the two static test airframes, tested at SibNII in Novosibirsk. The new production schedule is not yet known: in August 2000, two aircraft were slated to be produced in 2001, in addition to the prototype, followed by a further aircraft in 2002.The programme has been undermined by considerable funding problems, with reports that Sukhoi might abandon the project, which was originally conceived to pave the way for the company's civilian future.

Article ID: 2739