The Russian company ODK has published a video from the certification tests of the PD-8 aviation engine, developed for the aircraft Superjet. The trials evaluated the reliability of the propulsion system and flight safety in an abnormal bird strike scenario.
The tests were carried out on an open test bench at ODK-Saturn in Rybinsk, in the Yaroslavl region. During the procedure, the engine was run at maximum starting position, with 8 tons of tractionwhen it was subjected to a simultaneous hit by four birds – simulating a flock – fired from a special four-barreled device from five meters away.
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To reproduce conditions close to real operation, speed and hit accuracy were calibrated taking into account the aircraft’s typical take-off and landing speed of 103 meters per second. The birds hit the most critical areas of the fan blades as well as the aerodynamic deflector. To facilitate visual evaluation, the fan blades were painted yellow and provided with special reference markings.
According to the company, the PD-8 passed the test without mechanical damage and retained full maneuverability. “The engine underwent a rigorous test. The main success criterion is the absence of damage and continuous operation under flight conditions. During the simulation of the abnormal situation, the PD-8 did not take damage and maintained maneuverability,” said Sergej Mosin, deputy chief designer of the PD-8 in charge of the engine nacelle and integration with the aircraft at ODK-Saturn.
The bird crash tests are part of the certification process led by United Engine Corporation, a holding company belonging to Rostec. According to UEC, the results confirm stable engine operation even in abnormal situations and strengthen flight safety under real operating conditions.
Currently, the PD-8 is undergoing an extensive program of bench and flight tests to validate the project’s engineering solutions and specifications. Previous trials have already included tests of fan blade failure, water intake, acoustic evaluations, operation in crosswinds and tests of the reversing system – all completed with good results.
Source and images: Telegram @uecrus_official. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editors.
