On Wednesday December 29, the first Tupolev Tu-204SM jetliner performed its maiden flight from the aerodrome of Ulyanovsk aviation plant.

The takeoff took place at 13:23, with Victor Minashkin and Denis Vyazankin at the controls. Chief engineers Vladimir Salatov and Vladimir Filimoshkin were also aboard the airplane, to see to the test equipment. The airplane landed safely at 14:15. All system were functioning normally during the flight.

“Creation of the Tupolev-204 resulted from the huge and persistent work done by the Tupolev company together with its industrial partners and state establishments. It is a milestone for the Russian aircraft makers”, said Aleksander Bobryshev, Tupolev president and senior vice president with United Aircraft Corporation.

He expressed satisfaction with the work that has been done on the Tu-204SM project. “I am sure that the Tu-204SM will provide a reliable platform for development of new passenger, cargo and special mission aircraft”, Bobryshev said.