Russia Commences Work on Supersonic Passenger Aircraft

Russia has kick-started work on its new supersonic passenger aircraft with the work on the engine to power the jet having begun.

"Before we create the aircraft, we have to construct the engine, as no one in the world has a civilian propulsion system of this class.

We should do everything step by step, as if we start laying the engine now, we'll see the plane only in around 15 years, as we don't have a gas generator that could become the basis for such an engine," Mikhail Gordin, Director General of manufacturing company Central Institute of Aviation Motors (CIAM) was quoted as saying by Sputnik Friday.

Gordin added that it is preferable to create a prototype of the engine using a customised gas generator and simultaneously work on the programme to construct the aircraft.

"In this case, we will not lose time, and the prospective aircraft will feature exactly those characteristics that the prototype engine will show during tests", Gordin said.