Russian Civil Aviation

[J-20 Hotdog]

Don't see how the first one is all that worrisome. It's mostly Aeroflot bitching that they did not get the cabin layout they originally wanted, due to supplier problems. Why they can't reconfigure the planes to the new format, but insist on new ones, who knows. The new configuration is ready at this point, so its not an issue anymore. On the upside that leaves some barely used Superjets, might be a steal for some bargain airline.

this link pretty much confirms it, early versions are not up to full standards
http://www.flightglobal.com/news/art...romise-370383/

Although Sukhoi has been *criticised for its decision to produce 13 "half-able" airframes of the initial series before changing to fully capable versions, the former play a vital role in finding and eliminating teething problems.

Aeroflot agreed to accept them, but only temporarily.

At the Bahrain air show in January, Sukhoi confirmed early-production Aeroflot SSJ100s will be replaced with improved airframes starting later this year. Ex-Aeroflot airframes will be subjected to deep upgrades and modifications before being offered to other airline *customers.

[Austin]

Volga-Dnepr Group will acquire 20 An-124 aircraft for $4 billion

Volga-Dnepr Group intends to sign a firm contract with United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) on delivery of 20 An-124 aircraft with a total value of $4 billion, Valery Gabriel, the vice-president of Volga-Dnepr said. AEX.ru

The company intends to acquire a total of 40 An-124 jets by 2030 (20 ones specified in the firm contract + an option for another 20). The contract’s total amount is $8 billion.

Various modifications of An-124 aircraft will be acquired within the framework of the contract, including Аn-124NG. It will have the extended range, reduced emission and noise footprint and increased fuel efficiency. The jet’s engines will have the service life of 70 000 flight hours. An-124NG will have the glass cockpit and new avionics.

[tenthije]

Are these new builds or modified existing frames?

[soyuz1917]

http://rosprom.org/news/aviation/ale...estvit_v_iyun/

First PD-14 engine currently being assembled for the start of bench tests in June. This puts the program almost 3 years to the day behind the Leap-X.

[Austin]

Are these new builds or modified existing frames?

These are new built types over the next 20 years.

[TR1]

http://rosprom.org/news/aviation/ale...estvit_v_iyun/

First PD-14 engine currently being assembled for the start of bench tests in June. This puts the program almost 3 years to the day behind the Leap-X.

That's about the same difference between the two projects being officially announced isn't it?

[Fencher24]

These are new built types over the next 20 years.

First see than believe... How many times VDA and/or Polet stated they would order new built 124's.

And imo the markt isn't there for such a big fleet of 124's.

[TR1]

Uh, it has been in the news a lot because AN-124 production is indeed being restored. Was pushed back several years, but there is no doubt that it is going to happen. Between the military and civilian contracts they have enough air frames ordered to make production viable. So, market does exist.

[TR1]

MChS orders two An-124s.
http://lenta.ru/news/2012/04/16/ruslan/

[TR1]

http://ria.ru/defense_safety/20120416/627646693.html

Aviastar will modernize and restore the resource of 6 MoD AN-124s.

[Austin]

Some details on PD-14 Engine for MS-21 and MTA released in recent Engine 2012 show
http://www.take-off.ru/pdf/ENGINES_2012_gazeta-01.pdf

The future of the Russian engine for passenger and transport aircraft in the United engine corporation associated with the program create a new generation turbofan engines PD-14 thrust 12 500 - 15 600 kg - the first in a family of advanced engines,
MDL in 9-18 ton thrust class, developed in a wide cooperative ventures with the leading role of the ODC Permo-skogo "Aviadvigatel."

PD-14 is performed by two-shaft with a separate scheme expiration of the flow and direct (gearless) drive fan. All engines have a single family of gas-generator with an eight compressor high pressure, an annular combustion chamber and the low emission
two-stage high pressure turbine. Basic version this PD-14 will be equipped with one-step-gate torus with a diameter 1900 mm (retained size of the fan
PS-90A), a three-stage low pressure compressor and six low-pressure turbine.

The basic version of the PD-14 take-off thrust of 14,000 kg pre-assigned for use on aircraft MS-21-300. ordered modification of the liner MS-21-200 is proposed
complete PD-14A engine thrust 12,500 kg, and for extended version of MS-21-400 is intended modification tion of PD-14M with a high of 15 600 kg thrust.

According to the calculations, in terms of specific fuel consumption in cruise flight PD-14 is the level of their foreign competitors (PW1400G, LEAP-X), while having a slightly lower bypass ratio.

To be ready for testing by the middle of this year, and in 2013 planned to enter the stage of flight tests on a flying the laboratory. Certification of the basic version of PD-14-
mechena in 2014, which should provide access to the market in 2015-2016.

[Austin]

Upgraded D-18 - for new "Ruslan"
http://www.take-off.ru/pdf/ENGINES_2012_gazeta-02.pdf

At a meeting with journalists management group of companies "Volga-Dnepr" announced the signing of the contract in near future with the UAC for the delivery of 20 new heavy cargo aircraft An-124-111 and An-124NG (Next Generation) with an option yet for 20 cars.

In addition to use of other technical solutions , AN-124 and AN-111-124NG will be equipped with upgraded engines, D-18 production of JSC "Motor Sich".

In the An-124-111 engines will be installed D-18T series of 3M, the corresponding requirenments of Chapter IV of ICAO noise and emissions itself and surpassing the existing D-18 Series 3 in terms of efficiency by 2%.

According to Vice President of "Volga-Dnepr" Gabriel, AN-124-111 appears already to 2016 Investing in modernized on the D-18T series 3M are estimated at $ 25 million

The AN-124NG will be equipped with D-18 series 5, which will allow to make an aircraft 15% more economical. Company "Ivchenko-Progress" has already started to develop the engine 5-Series, But before signing the contract for the aircraft full funding for this project will not start, "- said Gabrielle.

General investment in the creation of the D-18T series of five-estimated vayutsya to $ 600 million in GC "Volga-Dnepr" hope that the new engine will appear in the 2016-2017 years.

[Trident]

I have a presentation on the D-18T series 5 somewhere that I found online, I'll dig it up if I have time. A pretty comprehensive upgrade (new, swept wide-chord fan), but even so a 15% improvement in fuel consumption is a bit optimistic Apparently Kuznetsov offered the NK-65, a similar engine based on the NK-321 core.

[Austin]

Are you sure D18T Series 5 gives 15 % fuel economy or reduces the operating cost of An-124-300 by 15 % ?

A 15 % fuel economy goal will make it a new engine similar to PD-14 , which offer similar fuel economy improvement over PS-90A.

But then they have budgeted $600 million of development of Series 5 engine , so i suppose it could be a new class of engine , series 5 will indicate 5th gen engine of D-18 series.

Any details on An-124-300 series of aircraft ?

[Trident]

Are you sure D18T Series 5 gives 15 % fuel economy or reduces the operating cost of An-124-300 by 15 % ?

That'd make more sense, yes.

[Trident]

Some details on PD-14 Engine for MS-21 and MTA released in recent Engine 2012 show
http://www.take-off.ru/pdf/ENGINES_2012_gazeta-01.pdf

Sounds good, going by that the PD-14 should end up the lightest, smallest and least mechanically complex of the new narrow-body engines. Lower SFC at lower BPR is a bit of an oxymoron though, since OPR will also be slightly lower than its Western competitors (nevertheless surprisingly high, given only 12 compressor stages in total, with the LPC at fan RPM). Hopefully Perm can establish a supply chain and quality control to live up to this promising plan in the real world.

It's basically the Trent 900 cycle executed in two rather than three shafts - not too shabby at all! Fit the high-thrust version on an Il-96-300 AWACS with auxiliary fuel tanks in the baggage compartment and at a rough guess you could be pushing 15000+ km of unrefuelled range!

I've attached the D-18T series 5 slides which I could find, last one is Kuznetsov's NK-65 proposal. I wonder if the chevron nozzles which Antonov has been testing on UR-82009 will be adopted:

http://www.airliners.net/photo/Anton...lan/1461481/L/

[Austin]

Thats all in Russian dont understand a bit.

Some stastics till date on Superjet

Sukhoi Superjet-100 planes perform more than 3350 flights

[chornedsnorkack]

Examining the numbers, D-18T series 5 is far bigger than Series 3.

For one thing, the fan diametre is 233 cm for series 3 - 305 cm for series 5. The exterenal envelope is not only wider and higher around the fan, but longer.

[Austin]

I think the D-18T series 5 is practically a new engine retaining its old name , more likely using parts and components developed for PD-14 and expanding its over all fuel economy capability.

Even if they achieve 10 % fuel economy over say the 15 % they project , its worth every penny.

In airline industry a fuel saving of 1 - 2 % is considered a game changer for the winning party in any competition.

What is the amount of pilot/crew An-124-300 planning for , will it be two ?

[TR1]

Good info guys.

How would you feel about those 2 D-18s on the Il-476 Trident?

[Trident]

Pointless While the D-18T has a higher bypass ratio than the PS-90A and hence lower fuel consumption, as well as having only 2 rather than 4 engines to maintain, the required structural changes to the wing would likely be non-trivial. Since reengining Il-76s is only really sensible for upgrades to existing airframes the business case for D-18Ts doesn't work out IMHO.

Although if for some reason best known to yourself you *must* have a new-built airframe, it'd actually be a better concept than the Il-476 as planned - unless of course said reason is that you want to avoid Ukrainian participation. Which you probably do, as otherwise you'd end up buying An-70s Speaking of which, an An-70 variant with D-18T5s, providing higher MTOW for increased fuel capacity and longer range... interesting.

BTW, although the gearbox isn't really that obvious in the drawing, the NK-65 is actually a geared turbofan, as evidenced by the ridiculously low number of low-pressure turbine stages (which also look to have tapered blades). Now, at 2 to 3 times the thrust of P&W's GTF this gearbox would clearly have presented a formidable challenge, but then Kuznetsov has after all smashed conventional wisdom on gearboxes before (NK-12)

[Austin]

it good to offer a re-engine version of PD-14/14M at some point in the future for all older PS-90 replacement , once certified on IL-76 and Tu-204 , PD-14 will offer flat 12-15 % fuel savings and specially on newer aircraft or aircraft going for upgrade will atleast 10-15 years of life available its good value for money

[J-20 Hotdog]

Russians will take care of Belavia airlines of Belarus. Will make it sexier by flying Sukhoi superjets on the Minsk route

http://telegraf.by/en/2012/04/aerofl...uet-na-belavia

yeah baby... Belarus is becoming Russia's "Israel"

[TR1]

Becoming? Always has been.

[J-20 Hotdog]

so do half of Russians feverishly support Belarus and the other half feverishly oppose Belarus as Americans do with Israel?

on the other hand.. do Russians like Israel since most Israelis are from Russia and most top business and political Russians tend to also hold Israeli citizenship

[TR1]

most top business and political Russians tend to also hold Israeli citizenship

They most certainly do not.
Not that many left in Russia anymore.

Regarding Belarus, sure there are some Russians who are for closer ties, but its not exactly the same as some Israel support you get in the US (fundamentalist Christians for example), more memory of USSR and being one nation....others just don't want to bankroll Lukashenko.

I am mixed myself, useful military ally to have, and even if prices of equipment sold are "lgotniye", still good work for manufactures. For Russia better to have a Lukashenko than a Yushenko I guess.

[Austin]

In Russia, the aircraft engine developed a thrust of 30 tons

New high power aircraft engine thrust of 30 tonnes under the symbol DD-30 can be set up within four to five years

This was stated by Chief Designer of "Smiths" Dmitry Fedorchenko. "The relatively short period of time due to the lack of a major aircraft engine technical risks," - said Fedorchenko.

He explained that the main structural elements of the engine is developed, which will significantly reduce not only the timing of its development, but also R & D spending.

According to him, "the world is on the engines and 30 tons and 40 tons of thrust, but in Russia the engines of this class yet." At the same time in the development program provides for the development of aviation aircraft, which will require the engine thrust of 30 tons

"In addition, the engine with a 30-ton thrust may be necessary for heavy transport aircraft An-124-300" - said D.Fedorchenko.

He noted that the JSC "Kuznetsov" has extensive experience in developing high-performance engines. At the end of the last century, the company developed the engine NK-44 thrust 44 tonnes.

Fedorchenko also announced that the basis of PD-30 will be modified by a gas generator engine NK-32. "Now being tested in HS termobarokamere CIAM," - he said.

[Austin]

They would need a 30T engine for the new Wide Body Long Haul Aircraft , similar to 787 class.

The trend is to use 2 engine on wide body aircraft , then to have 4 smaller engine , because of fuel economy and engine getting more reliable these days.

PD-30 is something they must develop.

[J-20 Hotdog]

They most certainly do not.
Not that many left in Russia anymore.

Regarding Belarus, sure there are some Russians who are for closer ties, but its not exactly the same as some Israel support you get in the US (fundamentalist Christians for example), more memory of USSR and being one nation....others just don't want to bankroll Lukashenko.

I am mixed myself, useful military ally to have, and even if prices of equipment sold are "lgotniye", still good work for manufactures. For Russia better to have a Lukashenko than a Yushenko I guess.

there's nothing wrong with having Dr. Phil as your leader
i bet you can't even tell the difference

[Trident]

They would need a 30T engine for the new Wide Body Long Haul Aircraft , similar to 787 class.

The trend is to use 2 engine on wide body aircraft , then to have 4 smaller engine , because of fuel economy and engine getting more reliable these days.

PD-30 is something they must develop.

Sounds to me like they've rebadged the NK-65 project. As for the NK-44, this was essentially Kuznetsov's counterpart to the Trent 800:

http://balancer.ru/support/2012/03/t...k-44.4241.html

http://engine.aviaport.ru/issues/08/page39.html

It does not seem to have gone very far, unfortunately.