Sukhoi is nearing power-on for its first serial Superjet 100, and has 14 production airframes in various stages of manufacture.
There are five Superjet 100s in final assembly. The first production aircraft, number 95007, is "approaching" power-on, says the company, while final assembly and system installation are being completed on two others: 008 and 009.
Factory testing for the first two production jets will involve equipping them with prototype powerplants, the company admits, owing to delays to the PowerJet SaM146 engine programme.
Aircraft 010 is undergoing fuselage-wing mating, while 011 is at an earlier stage of final assembly, having doors and fuel systems fitted.
Two later examples, 012 and 013, are undergoing fuselage work ahead of transfer to the final assembly line.
Sukhoi says 14 aircraft are in serial production and orders have been place for parts up to airframe 024.
Tests are continuing on the four flying prototypes. Initial pilot training for customers will be undertaken on the newest of them, 005.
These aircraft, says Sukhoi, have accumulated over 1,500 flight hours in 600 test flights including operations to six "typical" airports in Russia and the CIS.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
