An Aeroflot Superjet – Photo: SuperJet International
Many people seem to think that Aeroflot is the same beastly monolith that it was before, and immediately after, the collapse of the Soviet Union. Aeroflot is still the butt of jokes the world over. Regardless of the ill-informed jabs, what’s so bad about the Aeroflot?
The more I read online, the more I realize many people think all Russian planes look like this Bartini Beriev VVA-14, and are full of goats – Photo: Bernie Leighton | AirlineReporter
I get it; Aeroflot had a very bad reputation within the past few decades (let’s say about 1983-1995), but that was over 20 years ago. Aeroflot is by far playing in the big leagues now, in terms of safety, comfort, service, and median fleet age.
See, I never understood all of that either nationalist chauvinism or cultural cringe. I’ve wanted to fly Aeroflot since I was a child.
Russian-made Sukhoi Superjet 100
Recently Sukhoi announced they hoped to start delivering the Superjet 100 to airlines by mid-year. Now they are saying it won’t be until the end of this year. ’œThe first planes should arrive at the end of 2010,’ Deputy Transportation Minister Valery Okulov said without elaborating. Previous reports show delays are from the engines issues.
Sukhoi was originally looking to start deliveries of the Superjet in late 2008. The aircraft already has orders from Russian and European customers. The Superjet will hold 75 to 95 passengers, be able to fly about 2,500 miles and compete with the Bombardier CRJ’s, Embraer E-Jets and China’s ARJ21. It is also expected to replace aging TU-134 and Yak-42 aircraft.
So far Aeroflot, Russian’s flag carrier, holds the largest number of orders. This would be the first new airliner built by Russia since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.
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Jerome_K
