Why Russia’s Il-96 Will Fly Long After New Wide-Body Plans Stall
In mid-December 2025, during a joint annual press conference and direct address, President Vladimir Putin issued a statement that, although seemingly self-evident, held significant...
Russia’s Aircraft Engines Are Changing—And Fuel Savings Are Just the Start
The Russian aviation sector is presently experiencing a significant transformation. At the heart of this process are initiatives to develop advanced domestic aircraft engines,...
SJ-100 in 2026: Certification Delays, PD-8 Questions & What Comes Next
In late December, Rostec CEO Sergey Chemezov stated that the certification of the import-substituted Sukhoi SJ-100 was expected to be finalized in early 2026,...
Russia’s Most Powerful Jet Engine PD-35 Faces an Unexpected Rival— The PD-26
Development of the Russian high-thrust turbofan aircraft engine PD-35 started in 2017, marking one of the most ambitious initiatives in the history of domestic...
The 10% Rule: How SJ-100 and MC-21 Interiors Beat Imported Designs
For twenty-first-century travelers, it is challenging to envision that modern overhead baggage compartments are a comparatively recent addition to aircraft interiors. In early passenger...