During testing, the aircraft picked up speed and drove through a pool of water on the runway

Photo: United Aircraft Corporation

United Aircraft Corporation has performed certification testing of the import-substituted regional Superjet with the Russian PD-8 engines made by United Engine Corporation (UAC and UEC are included in Rostec State Corporation) in a so called “water pool”. The tests have confirmed that the aircraft could function correctly with water on a runway. 

For testing, a water trough 70 meters in length and 12 meters in width was fabricated on the airfield of Flight Research Institute named after M.M.Gromov. Dimensions of the through provide a water depth as specified in Russian and European regulations established for these types of testing. The aircraft picks up speed and drives through the “pool” on the runway. 

The testing process is recorded through a set of airborne measurements, video cameras mounted on ground and the aircraft, and by certification center representatives, Yakovlev and UEC personnel. 

The tests are conducted within the certification test program for the import-substituted Superjet concept.