In June 2001, the Sukhoi Civil Aircraft Company (AVPK Sukhoi) announced the Russian Regional Jet (RRJ) programme. Sukhoi is responsible for design and manufacture of the aircraft. The Russian Aviation and Space Agency (Rosaviakosmos) and the Boeing Company agreed the joint development and marketing of the Russian Regional Jet and Sukhoi, Ilyushin and Boeing formally signed a joint industrial agreement in July 2001. Ilyushin is responsible for certification of the aircraft. Boeing is responsible for marketing activities (including sales and leasing) and after sales support (including operational logistics support, maintenance and spares).
In March 2003, Rosaviakosmos announced the Russian government’s selection of the RRJ to meet an initial build for 200 regional jets.
The first flight of the aircraft, the RRJ-95 variant, is scheduled for 2006. Ilyushin will manage the Russian AP-25 certification and FAR/JAR-25 certification process during 2006 and 2007.
The aircraft is expected to enter service in 2007. Aeroflot signed a memorandum of understanding in August 2001 for an initial requirement of up to 30 RRJ aircraft.
The launch customer is the Russian carrier, Sibir Airlines, which placed an order for 50 95-seat RRJ regional airliners in July 2004.
Variants
The RRJ-60, 75 and 95 variants seat up to 63, 78 and 98 passengers. All three variants are to be built in standard and long-range versions.
The RRJ-75 is the baseline design, although the RRJ-95 will be the first aircraft to be built. The aircraft variants have maximum commonality in design, for example in structural design, system fits, avionics, landing gear, electrical systems and power systems. The RRJ-75 seats up to 78 single class passengers. For airlines with a two-class passenger requirement, an alternative configuration provides eight passenger seats in the forward first class cabin section and 62 tourist class seats in the main passenger cabin. The cabin has two passenger doors on the port side and three service doors for fast embarkation and disembarkation and fast turnaround at the airport terminal.
There are under floor baggage hold compartments in the lower section of the fuselage beneath the rear and forward cabins. The baggage compartment volume in the RRJ-75 is 16.1m³.
The RRJ-95, overall length 30m, is a stretched version of the baseline RJ-75 with two additional plugs in the fuselage sections forward and aft of the wing.
The RRJ-60, overall length 24.5m, is a shrunk version of the baseline RRJ-75 design (overall length 26.5m) with two sections of fuselage removed to the forward and aft of the wing section.
Design
Novosibirsk Aircraft Production Association (NAPO), a member of the Sukhoi Holding, will manufacture about 40 % of the RRJ, including the nose section, vertical and horizontal tail surfaces and the auxiliary power unit.
The Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aircraft Production Association (KnAAPO), also a member of the Sukhoi Holding, will manufacture the low swept back wings. RRJ final assembly will take place in Komsomolsk-on-Amur.
The RRJ airliners will conform to ground noise level requirements under ICAO Chapter 4 and FAR 36 Section 4 standards to come into force in 2006.
In March 2005, Sogitech of France and Sukhoi Civil Aircraft signed an agreement to jointly develop the specifications for creating interactive electronic technical publications for through life after-sales support.
Flight deck
In June 2005, Thales announced its selection by Sukhoi and the award of a contract to provide the avionics suite for the new RRJ aircraft. The flight deck is of similar design to that on the Airbus A380 aircraft. The avionics suite includes the cockpit displays, communication, navigation and surveillance systems.
Leibherr Aerospace, based in Toulouse, and the Voscod Design Centre in Russia are responsible for the RRJ’s flight control system. Leibherr is also developing the air control and conditioning system.
Cabin
The normal seating configuration is 3+2 in economy class and 2+2 in business class.
B / E Aerospace in Florida has designed the cabin layouts including the sidewall and ceiling configurations, baggage bins, passenger service panels, reading lights, crew and passenger oxygen systems, seats, services and cabin management systems.
Performance
The aircraft has maximum cruise speed of Mach 0,81 and maximum altitude of 12,500 m. The range of the RRJ-95 is 3,279 km and 4,620 km in the RRJ-95LR version.
Engines
The aircraft is powered by two podded[64] engines mounted under the wings. Snecma Moteurs and NPO Saturn have set up a joint venture, Powerjet, to produce the SaM146 turbofan engines. Each SaM146 engine is rated at 62 kN to 71 kN and is fitted with Snecma Full Authority Digital Electronic Control (FADEC). The engines’ low pressure system is developed by NPO Saturn. The Gromov Flight Research Institute signed an agreement with Snecma Moteurs to develop an Ilyushin Il-76 flying testbed for the SaM146 turbofan engines. The first flight of the engine is scheduled for March 2006.
Intertechnique, based in France, is supplying the fuel systems. The aircraft has a fuel capacity of 13,135 L.
The aircraft’s auxiliary power supply is designed by Honeywell and MMPP Salyut. The aircraft is equipped with Hamilton Sundstrand electrical systems and Curtiss Wright fire suppressors.
Landing gears
RRJ is fitted with Messier-Dowty retractable twin wheeled tricycle type landing gear with a Sukhoi braking system and Goodrich wheels and brakes. Four-wheel bogies are offered as an option for the main landing gear units.
EXSERCISES
1. Write 10 questions to each text from the unit.
2. Write out of each text the sentences with the verbs in the Passive voice.
3. Translate any part of the texts (1500 signs) in writing.
4. Retell text about «The Su-33 single seat ship borne fighter».
5. Speak on «Multifunctional cargo-passenger aircraft».
