Sukhoi Su-80 Short Take-Off and Landing Aircraft

Sukhoi Su-80 is a twin-engine, multi-purpose short take-off and landing (STOL) transport aircraft principally used for cargo and passenger transportation. It is designed and developed jointly by Sukhoi Company (JSC) and Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aircraft Production Association (KnAAPO), Russia. The aircraft can accommodate two crew (pilot and co-pilot) and cargo weighing 3,300kg. It is also known as the Sukhoi S-80.

The maiden flight of the aircraft took place on 4 September 2001. A total of eight Su-80 aircraft are currently in service worldwide. The Su-80 can fly either during day or night and any adverse weather conditions in commuter and regional air routes. It is certified under AP-25 airworthiness standards for transport aircraft.

Sukhoi Su-80 variants

The Sukhoi Su-80 has three variants, namely Su-80GP, Su-80PT and Su-80TD.

The Su-80GP is a cargo or passenger aircraft. It can be easily converted from a passenger to cargo aircraft by equipping detachable roller tracks to the cabin deck and cargo ramp. The variant’s passenger version offers high comfort.

Another variant, the Su-80PT, is a patrol or transport aircraft used for national land and maritime border operations. It transmits high-quality relevant data to the ground station, acquits warning fire and destroys an intruder. The Su-80PT can also perform oil and gas pipeline monitoring, magnetometric measurement, and search and rescue operations.

The Su-80TD is a troop carrier or cargo aircraft designed to carry military units. It can be used to conduct parachute training, perform casevac / medevac missions and carry out other special missions.

Sukhoi Su-80 orders and deliveries

Sukhoi Company received commercial orders for the Su-80 from various firms, including Blagoveshchensk Airlines, ChukotAvia, Dalavia, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatski Aviation Enterprise and Polar Airlines.

About ten Su-80 aircraft were ordered by the Kazakhstan Border Guards. The Chinese People’s Liberation Army Air Force, Jordanian Air Force, Malaysian Air Force and Republic of Korea Air Force are also planning to procure the S-80 aircraft.

Twin-engine, multi-purpose STOL features

The aircraft features a flight navigation system designed and manufactured by Electroavtomatika JSC. Two multimode computer consoles, four push-button multifunction displays (MFDs), an integrated aircraft systems display and needle-type instruments together constitute the navigation system of the Su-80.

The navigation system receives, processes and shows all flight data captured by the radars. It also alerts the crew about malfunctions and provides assistance in removing the errors occurred due to malfunction.

Sukhoi Su-80 cabin

The Sukhoi Su-80 features a comfortable 27m3 cabin. The spacious and comfortable cabin can accommodate a pilot, co-pilot and 30 passengers with more leg room for all occupants. A single seat is also separately available for the flight attendant. Special equipment in the cargo bay of the aircraft allows it to use handling amenities.

The length and height of the cabin is 7.75m and 1.82m respectively. The maximum width of the cabin is 2.17m and its floor width is 1.75m.

The cabin also comprises 1.82m x 1.89m of cargo ramp for loading / unloading cargo and entry of passengers, and a 1.27m x 7m emergency exit door for passengers.

Su-80 avionics

The aircraft is equipped with an aerial navigation and indication system, an aerial signals system, an automatic radio compass, a radio altitude-sensing and speed-measuring system, and distance measuring equipment.

Other avionics installed in the Su-80 include a SBKV-P strapdown heading and altitude system, VIM-95C (VOR/ILS/SP/MRK) navigation and landing systems, a SO-94R (UVD) radar responder, a 4205 airborne national identification responder and a RSBN-85C meteorological short-range navigation system.

Sukhoi Su-80 fuselage

The Su-80 features pressurised fuselage, which supports the wing and pylon. The fuselage section of the aircraft accommodates a radar bay, cockpit, avionics bay and mixed cargo cabin. The cargo ramp located in the fuselage section is used for loading and unloading cargo as well as to board passengers.

The height and width of the fuselage is 2.35m and 2.40m respectively. The fuselage clearance is 0.56m.

Among the eight aircraft manufactured, the first four pre-series were of short fuselage. Out of the remaining four aircraft, the fifth, sixth and seventh prototypes’ fuselages were extended by 1.4m (4ft 7in), providing an additional row of passenger seats.

Su-80 aircraft landing gear

The Su-80 is equipped with retractable tricycle landing gear along with a nose strut. The low-pressure tyres in the landing gear system allow the aircraft to land on small airfields, and unpaved, ice and snow-covered runways. It can operate in a wide range of temperatures and G-limits.

The dimensions of the tread and wheel base of the landing gear system are 6.3m and 6.34m respectively.

General Electric CT7-9B turboprop engines

The Su-80 is powered by two General Electric CT7-9B turboprop engines in the bays at the front of the booms. Each engine can produce 1,305kW of electric power. The engine has been designed to be highly reliable and boost operational availability, thereby reducing the overall cost.

The length and diameter of the engine is 2.43m and 0.73m respectively. Each engine has six compressor stages and a dry weight of 366kg.

Sukhoi Su-80 performance

The Sukhoi Su-80 can fly at a maximum speed of 470km/h. Its cruise speed is 430km/h. The altitude and service ceiling of the Su-80 is 6,000m and 8,000m respectively. The normal and ferry range of the aircraft is 1,300km and 3,250km respectively. The aircraft weighs around 3,300kg and its maximum take-off weight is 14,200kg.