The third experimental SJ-100 with PD-8 engines and domestically produced systems reached a ground speed of 990 km/h during tests on 16 February. This was reported by specialist aviation analysts from the "Letaem vmeste" blog.
The flight of aircraft No. 97023 took place in the skies over Syktyvkar and lasted 3 hours 6 minutes. Other details about the test flight are not yet known, but previously there had been no reports of such a ground speed for the "Superjet".
It should be emphasized that ground speed is the aircraft's actual speed relative to the ground; it is made up of wind speed and the aircraft's own speed. That is, if the wind is favorable, the ground speed is higher and the aircraft flies faster relative to the ground. If the wind is head-on, the ground speed is lower.
It is worth noting that according to the technical specifications of the MS-21 on the official website of the United Aircraft Corporation, the cruising speed of the "Superjet" with PD-8 is 0.82 Mach — about 870 km/h. The service ceiling is 12.2 km.
The "Superjet" has not yet been officially certified in Russia. The Ministry of Industry and Trade emphasized that the SJ-100 does not depend on foreign components and is assembled entirely at domestic facilities.