VIVAERO

Russian SJ-100 Jet engines undergo water ingestion resistance tests on runway

United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) conducted water ingestion tests with the Yakovlev SJ-100 equipped with Aviadvigatel PD-8 engines, as part of the import substitution program. The aircraft, registration number 97023, underwent the tests on a flooded runway at the Gromov Institute, on the outskirts of Moscow.

During the tests, the aircraft was accelerated across a flooded surface approximately 70 meters long by 12 meters wide.

According to United Aircraft, the tests confirmed that the SJ-100 can operate with water on the runway without compromising the operation of the engines or the auxiliary power unit (APU).

Vadim Shirokih, head of the Yakovlev flight test complex, highlighted that tests were also conducted in thrust reversal mode, a technique used by all modern aircraft to assist in braking during landing.

Cameras installed on the aircraft and on the ground, along with parametric systems, captured essential data for the SJ-100 certification program.

The SJ-100 is a version of the Superjet 100 with systems manufactured in Russia replacing imported equipment. Fyodor Mironov, deputy sales director of United Engine, emphasized the importance of water protection tests for the latest engines and stated that the PD-8 demonstrated reliable operation during the tests.

Of the three SJ-100 prototypes, two have already been equipped with PD-8 engines, which also underwent flight tests using an Ilyushin Il-76 platform. The PD-8 was developed to replace the Franco-Russian PowerJet SaM146 engine used in the Superjet.