Zhukovsky, Russia, February 18, 2008.
Today PowerJet, the joint venture founded by Snecma (SAFRAN Group) and NPO Saturn reported of the first successful results of the SaM146 engine flight test.
The flight test program was initiated on December 6, 2007 on the IL-76LL flying test bed at the Gromov Flight Test Institute in Zhukovsky, Russia. As of today the engine has run total 42 flight hours (22 flights) and passed ground testing, including on-wing testing, in full compliance with all design parameters.
Flight tests that were conducted in the framework of the program included: outdoor test bench, verification of performance and airworthiness, verification of performance at re-start and ignition at windmilling, verification of compliance with technical requirements for acceleration and deceleration time, verification of stall margin, FADEC validation, flutter margin, estimation of engine general performance, stress and vibration levels.
The tests will be continued for follow-up data acquisition for engine certification, for which total of 150 flight hours will be required. The second series of tests is scheduled for the second decade of 2008.
Presently the two engines that meet the technical requirements have been shipped to SCAC in Komsomolsk-on-Amur in order to complete first flight tests of the SuperJet100 regional jet.
The SaM146 is the only integrated power plant, specially designed for use on regional aircraft of the new generation. The engine is of the state-of-the art design, developed on the basis of experience of the two parent companies Snecma and NPO Saturn, that has become the result of close collaboration aimed at successful implementation of this program. The distinctive features of the SaM146 engine are high reliability, low maintenance cost, low fuel consumption, and full compliance with the ICAO existing and advanced emissions requirements.
PowerJet established in July 2004, is the joint venture of the French corporation Snecma and the Russian NPO Saturn. This company is responsible for management of the SaM146 program, including development, production, marketing and sales, as well as customer after-sales support, maintenance and repair. In April 2003, the SaM146 engine was chosen by SCAC to power the SuperJet100 regional jet.
For more information please contact:
PowerJet: Alexia Attali - Tel: +33 (0)1 69 87 09 30 -
alexia.attali@snecma.frSnecma: Antoinette Menard - Tel: +33 (0) 1 69 87 09 29
–antoinette.menard@snecma.frNPO Saturn: Sergey Zhiltsov – Теl: +7 (4855) 296-284 -
pr@npo-saturn.ru 
