ПД-14 – чи такий вiн вдалий?

Abstract

The introductory part of the article provides information about the features of the modern Russian aircraft and engine designations, about the disappearance of the world famous brands such as "Tu", "Yak", "PS", "NK" and others. The tone of many publications testifies to a certain "megalomania" of the Russian aviation industry, whose real achievements of which are greatly exaggerated. One of the main prides of Russia is the PD-14 turbofan engine. This evaluation is the purpose of this article. The history of the development and testing of the PD-14 turbofan engine is given. Simultaneously, it is indicated that it was an alternative engine for the MS-21 aircraft, for which the Western PW-1000G engine was initially selected. Detailed information is given on the production and testing of experimental engines, including in a flying laboratory. It is noted that PD-14 is actually a program for the entire aircraft engine industry in Russia and other enterprises are actively involved in its implementation, in addition to the main subcontractors of the UEC - Aviadvigatel and Perm Motors. In the development of the PD-14, the experience of creating and fine-tuning the PS-90A2 turbofan engine was widely used. It is indicated that when creating the PD-14, many innovative and advanced technologies were developed and applied (16 key technologies). The developers of PD-14 pay considerable attention to the creation of an effective after-sales service system (a network of field offices, engine service stations, spare parts warehouses, ensuring the replacement of modules in operation, etc.), the absence of which previously prevented the successful marketing of Russian engines (a characteristic negative example is the SaM-146 engines of the SSJ regional airliner). General information about the development programs, the main technical characteristics and design features of the competitors of the PD-14 - western PW1000G and LEAP-1 turbofan engines are given. These engines are already widely used in several types of medium-haul aircraft. The PD-14 is compared with its main competitors in terms of many parameters and design characteristics. It is concluded that a modern 5th generation turbofan engine has been created in Russia, which has come close in terms of characteristics and the level of applied technologies to the existing serial Western engines of a similar thrust class. However, the future of the PD-14 engine in the current conditions of the fall of the Russian economy due to the war with Ukraine and EU and US sanctions looks uncertain.