The tests bring the new engine closer to type certification

Photo: United Aircraft Corporation

United Engine Corporation has successfully tested the PD-8, a new aircraft engine, for the regional Superject-100. It has proved its reliability in critical situation, blade breaking off, at the test bench of UEC-Saturn’s facility in Rybinsk. 

Fan blade off testing is required for certification. The blade shall not damage the engine casing when such critical event occurs in flight. This ensures aircraft body integrity, successful landing and passenger safety. 

UEC team have conducted complex open-bench tests to validate the PD-8 reliability. For this, a pyrotechnic charge was placed into one of the fan blades, and then the warmed up engine was brought to takeoff power. The charge was blasted on command, the blade was broken, but its fragments didn’t penetrate the engine casing. 

The PD-8 continues undergoing a set of bench and flight tests to validate design solutions and performance objectives. Earlier, the PD-8 has successfully passed the water ingestion tests at UEC-Saturn’s open test bench. The engine has also demonstrated its performance during acoustic testing, propulsion operation in crosswind conditions and during thrust reverser testing.

The turbofan engine uses state-of-the-art technologies and advanced domestically made materials, and is designed for the Superjet-100 regional jets and Be-200 amphibians.