06.11.2012
In October the Tu-204SM (No. 64151) successfully passed tests as part of the Program of certification of special testing of the Tu-204SM plane with the PS-90A2 engine in taxi mode, take-off, and landing on wet and covered with water runways. Previously, the airplane had passed tests for frost in Yakutsk and for heat, in the United Arab Emirates.
The tests were conducted in a special pool set up at the Gromov aerodrome in the town of Zhukovsky. The tasks were: to determine the take-off and landing specifics of the Tu-204SM on wet and sodden runways, to determine the plane’s handling and management characteristics in the given circumstances, and to evaluate the engines, auxiliary power unit, and other airplane systems.
The tests envisaged the appearance of streams of water as the result of interaction of the chassis with the water on the runway. It was necessary to follow the trajectory of the water, the potential for moisture to enter the engine and the APU, and to evaluate their parameters. The engines were controlled with onboard ASK-90 equipment and the PKNO-90A2 remote, and the results of the hops were recorded by video cameras both externally and on board the airplane. The tests included specialists from Tupolev, Gromov, GosNII GA, Aviadvigatel, and Perm Engine Company.
Altogether the Tu-204SM made eight runs on wet and sodden runways and demonstrated solid results in all fields. The PS-90A2 engine worked well in the given circumstances. Work is now ongoing to analyze the data for further certification of the airplane. In the near future the plane will undergo tests with real rain conditions.
According to the Tu-204SM’s chief designer Oleg Alasheev, at present the Tu-204SM has started ground tests on its fail-safe criteria. “This is one of the key stages of certification testing, which takes place for comprehensive checks and an objective evaluation of the operational qualities of the aircraft with various combinations of systems, aggregates, and blocks,” said the chief designer.
Altogether the Tu-204SM has made 285 certification testing flights with the PS-90A2 engine.