On the 21st of December, 2017, a Sukhoi Superjet 100 performed its first flight with the installed saberlets in Zhukovsky.
The flight of the SSJ100 tail number 95032 with the installed sabre-like tips took 2 hours 42 minutes. According to the flight plan, the SCAC crew performed the appraisal of the aircraft stability and manageability under different flap configurations. Different modes were also performed in order to determine the level of fuel consumption at different flight stages. The flight was carried out up to 11,000 meters.
The sabre-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 with the assistance of Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute (TsAGI).
The geometry of the tips was determined with the implementation of the innovative methods of 3D optimization based on numerical computation called Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) – the unique TsAGI know-how used in Russian aviation industry in particular for Sukhoi Superjet 100 program.
The results of research and experiments showed that the installation of the sabre-like tips allows to simultaneously improve the take-off and landing performance and decrease the fuel consumption for not less than 3%. The expected improvement of the take-off and landing characteristics will be obvious for the carriers operating the aircraft at regional runways and in hot weather conditions as well as on mountain aerodromes (Hot&High).
«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 highly 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 $70,000 per year per one SSJ100», points the President of the Sukhoi Civil Aircraft Company Alexander Rubtsov.
The end of a full-scale program of ground and flight tests will result in the certification of the SSJ100 with the horizontal tips – saberlets and they will be offered as an option to the Customers. The installation of the tips is possible not only to new aircraft but to the already delivered aircraft as well.
VASO (Voronezh aircraft manufacturer) is the manufacturer of the saberlets kits, the materials used are certified in Russia as well as abroad.
Photo and video available here https://yadi.sk/d/BcFBN7xX3QpnmX
Forum discussion: http://www.aviation24.be/forums/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=55691&p=360049#p360049
21.12.2017