Some key decisions during the creation of the SSJ-100 were made despite internal resistance within the team. This was reported by Mikhail Pogosyan, former head of the Sukhoi Design Bureau.
According to him, one of the most intense disputes concerned the shape of the nose section. Designers insisted on a simpler geometry due to the risk of increased weight.
I insisted on a smoother shape. The designers argued that this would increase the glazing area and, consequently, the aircraft's weight. However, I believed that the exterior should be modern, and we would overcome the "against" arguments.
At the same time, the cockpit layout was being re-evaluated, Pogosyan added. The project abandoned the classic control yoke in favor of a side-stick, which improved pilot interaction with digital systems.
A separate block of decisions concerned the cabin, the former designer noted. As a result, the SSJ-100 achieved comfort comparable to Western medium-haul aircraft.
It was decided to abandon baggage shelves similar to Bombardier and Embraer models, which are designed for light hand luggage, in favor of shelves comparable to those used on the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737.
Honored Pilot of the USSR, member of the Public Council of Rostransnadzor, Oleg Smirnov, in an interview with "Pervy Tekhnichesky" recounted how former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi influenced the fate of the Sukhoi Superjet 100.
