Crash of Sukhoi SuperJet 100 During Sales Presentation a Harsh Blow to Kremlin's Export Aspirations

Reaganite Republican ^ | May 9, 2012 | Reaganite Republican

[Reaganite Republican]

Just what they didn't need...

Sukhoi SuperJet 100

After $1.4B in development, successful presentation/flights at the 2011 Farnborough Air show, and even Russian domestic commercial service, the Sukhoi SuperJet 100 seemed to be moving along towards attaining the respect and cash-generating exports Putin was looking for when the Kremlin orchestrated Sukhoi's collaboration with Italy's Finmeccanica and other foreign suppliers (including Boeing). The $32M plane features a number of firsts for a Russian commercial airliner, such as fly-by-wire technology and even a stunning Pininfarina-designed business-class.

Putin, Medvedev, and Berlusconi tour the SuperJet's cabin

Yet earlier today a new SuperJet 100 with 50 passengers aboard (Indonesian aircraft officials, Russian sales staff/crew/engineers, and journalists) appears to have fell out of the sky while on a short demonstration flight out of Jarkarta. Weather appears to be a factor in the crash, but regardless of the cause -except perhaps terrorism- it won't be bringing the aspiring exporter anything but hurt.

A shame for them, as the product seems a genuine quantum leap from the hardy yet crude, uncomfortable, and semi-safe commercial passenger aircraft the Soviet Union was infamous for. The remains of that industry collapsed in the economic chaos of the Yelstsin era, with former Soviet 'design bureaus' such as Yak, Ilyushin, and Sukhoi churning-out only military planes. By 2010, even the Russian airlines where running 75% Airbus, Boeing, and other imports.

Sukhoi SuperJet 100

The planned comeback in the domestic passenger-plane market (and simultaneous export offensive) was to be accomplished via two-pronged attack: first, the SuperJet 100 as an economical regional jet that seats up to 100 passengers, and powered by two Franco-Russian PowerJet engines. Then, the larger MS-21 is meant to make inroads against Boeing and Airbus.

Up until today's accident, the SuperJet 100 had 240 orders, with the only major airline stepping-up to the plate -Russian international carrier Aeroflot- 'encouraged' by the Kremlin to take their 30 planes, along with an option for 10 more. The company claims that if and when 200 orders are filled, Sukhoi will have broken-even on the project- indeed an substantial accomplishment. Yet after numerous delays, only a handful have been produced, engine certification being a major snag.

The Russians are still developing the Irkut MS-21 -'Airliner for the 21st Century'- a larger plane seating 150-212 that's intended to replace creaking Soviet fossils such as the Tu-154. Currently in the prototype stage, it was shown at Paris in shell/cabin mock-up form and is scheduled for deliveries in 2017...

Irkut MS-21

But there's awful lot of competition out there: not only is there Boeing and Airbus to contend with, but also quality product from Japan's Mitsubishi, Brazil's Embraer and Canada's Bombardier. And if they're planning to do it on price, they've got to consider China's profit-killing Comac now.



Prayers go out to the most unfortunate victims of today's SuperJet crash, including families and loved ones...

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Aerospace and Technology   Wikipedia   Aviation.net   DWS Government of the Russian Federation  BBC  Eligovision   The Telegraph

[MeganC]

It’s a clear rip-off of the venerable Boeing 737 and this crash will show the world that a corrupt regime can’t be trusted with your family’s safety.

[Reaganite Republican]

Personal *PING*

Enjoy your day, sir

[Doogle]

http://rt.com/news/sukhoi-superjet-disappears-radar-838/

[allmost]

Forward with Putin comrade.

[John Valentine]

With all due respect, you have not a clue what you are talking about. DEspite Boeing’s collaboration with Sukhoi’s engineers during the design of the Superjet, the SJ-100 is not in any way a “rip-off” of the 737.

For one thing, the Boeing engineers would not have permitted such a thing. Moreover, there is just no commonality on the designs of the two planes.

Frankly, knowing what we know about all the weaknesses of the 737, no sane aircraft designer would want to “rip it off”.

[Reaganite Republican]

Agreed on that, SJ100 fuselage identical to my eyes to the 737

[beethovenfan]

It’s the seven-thirty-sevenski

[null and void]

ping

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

When I joined the aircraft industry in the early 90s I asked some questions nobody in the industry could ever answer.

Since the Russians ripped off most of their designs what happens when they have to compete in the open market for aircraft sales? Will their patent infringements just be ignored? It appears that's what happened.

[RckyRaCoCo]

Looks like a combination B787,E190,A320.....

(and it probably is)

[freedomlover]

Crashing during sales pitch not usually is good.

[spel_grammer_an_punct_polise]

During the height of the “cold war” in the mid 50s my dad used to tell the following joke:

A communist offical died and went to hell. The devil asked him if he wanted to go to the communist hell or the capitalist hell. He answered that he wanted to go to the communist hell because he knew that the heating system wouldn’t work.

[Jack Hydrazine]

Is there an equivalent of the Bermuda Triangle over there in Indonesia?

[Gay State Conservative]

As long as the USSR has Europe by the reproductive organs through oil and gas exports they’ll be a country to be feared by all free,civilized people.

[Gay State Conservative]

Is there an equivalent of the Bermuda Triangle over there in Indonesia?

I've traveled in that part of the world and two facts may be at play here...1) it's a very mountainous area and 2) the most unbelievable thunderstorms can pop up out of nowhere and at a moment's notice.

[JPG]

'Crashing during sales pitch not usually good.'

A flying Volt comes to mind.

[Jack Hydrazine]

So it is a case of CFIT or storm blowing them out the air?

[saywhatagain]

you wrote . . . "Frankly, knowing what we know about all the weaknesses of the 737, no sane aircraft designer would want to “rip it off”."

Interesting comment considering it is statistically considered one the most successfully commercially designed aircraft.

Aside from the well known rudder issues (pcu) on the "Classics" . . . which is significant, . . . what other weakness(es) are you referring to?

[dragnet2]

Killing dozens of buyers is not good for sales.