Industry Sukhoi completes Superjet 100 Saberlets flight test program

At the aerodrome located in Zhukovsky, the flight test programme with the Saberlets-equipped SSJ100 was successfully completed. Manufacturer serial numbers 95032 and 95157 flew several tests with the new horizontal wing tips. One of the aircraft had ice simulators on the leading edge.

Overall, Sukhoi performed 140 flights with the aircraft. The programme included the examinations of the take-off and landing performance, stability and manageability, flight control systems and light functionality. Additionally, there were tests for strength, high speed flights and critical angles during the flight. Also, the manufacturer tested CAT I, II, and IIIa landings and take-offs.

Minister for Industry and Trade of Russian Federation Denis Manturov commented: “Sukhoi Superjet 100 – is dynamically developing program. The installation of the Saberlets allows to simultaneously improve the take-off and landing performance. Moreover, fuel effectiveness will improve. Customers will be able to decrease the fuel consumption for no less than 4%.”

Director General of the Sukhoi Civil Aircraft Company, Ravil Khakimov added: “Sukhoi Civil Aircraft Company is consequently implementing the Sukhoi Superjet 100 improvement program aiming at market expansion and the increase of the number of Customers, the current Operators satisfaction level growth and the maintenance of the high competitive level of the product. The wing tips installation being the part of the improvement program will provide the operators with cost cut up to 10 000 000 rubles per year per one SSJ100.”

Sukhoi wrote in a statement, that the geometry of the tips was determined with the implementation of innovative 3D optimization methods. The manufacturer used numerical computations called CFD.

"The saber-like configuration of the tips installed on to the Sukhoi Superjet 100 turned out to be the result of a number of research, engineering  and experimental activities carried out by the Sukhoi Civil Aircraft Company (UAC subsidiary) with the assistance of Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute (TsAGI)," Sukhoi added.

Sukhoi hopes to receive the certification for the SSJ100 Saberlets in the near future. Afterwards, customers can choose to take the option for the new winglets. The manufacturer also pointed out that Saberlets are made for retrofits.