The prototype of the Sukhoi S-80 regional turboprop was unveiled at last week's Russian air show MAKS 2001 in Moscow. The twin-boom aircraft, powered by two General Electric CT7-9B turboprops, made high-speed runs at the Zhukovsky flight test centre in early August and is expected to fly soon. Series production of the 30-seat airliner is being set up at AVPK Sukhoi's KnAAPO factory in Komsomolsk-upon-Amur. The prototype, which is shorter than the production model, will undergo an 80 to 100-flight evaluation before a decision is taken on the long-term test programme.
Source: Flight International
