There is currently no understanding of when exactly the new promising PD-26 aircraft engine will appear; a request is needed from the customer for the required characteristics for a specific aircraft. This was stated to "The First Technical" at the V Congress of Young Scientists in Sirius by the General Director of the Zhukovsky National Research Center, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Andrey Dutov.
According to him, there have been many meetings regarding the PD-26, and the issue is in the decision-making stage. However, it does not relate to the decisions of industry and science.
"Aeroflot" should decide in the near future what kind of aircraft they need, with all the characteristics and how they see the market.
Dutov clarified that the airline is considering an option with a wide-body aircraft with 250-280 seats. Accordingly, it will need a PD-26 engine, flying 7-8 thousand km.
But if "Aeroflot" says that the aircraft fits, then the PD-26 is included in this program. It is a mistake to make such equipment just to make it. We need a customer, when the appearance of aircraft modeling necessary for the Russian Federation appears. Because the type - small, larger or very large - does not work here. We need specific requirements of the air transport system, then it will appear.
Aviation expert Roman Gusarov also clarified that today there is only a PD-35 technology demonstrator, not a PD-26.
In fact, it is a physical or virtual model used to assess the production or technical feasibility, usefulness, and applicability of a particular technology.
"The First Technical" is an industry information partner of the V Congress of Young Scientists.