“We have approached the final phase of preparations for the maiden flight of the new SSJ airliner, such as moving the aircraft to the flight test station, with the Russian systems already installed, but the PD-8 engine is still being testing in parallel,” Sliusar said in statements to the TASS agency.
The executive added that the engines will be installed in the second prototype, so the earliest flights will be done using the French-made SAM-146. The plane will be equipped with the national ones by autumn.
In early June, the Russian state corporation Rostec announced the delivery of the first prototype of the SSJ New passenger aircraft to the flight test station.
In addition, it was pointed out that the first refueling of the aircraft took place, and the specialists of the Irkut corporation, manufacturer of the aircraft, began ground tests of its new systems.
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