Chasing the aurora – Kommersant

Red Wings Airlines chose an unusual way to present the Sukhoi Superjet 100 in a business configuration. The airliner went on an introductory circular flight along the route Vnukovo-3 – Vnukovo-3, but the main goal of the 5-hour expedition was to observe the northern lights. A fascinating natural phenomenon was discovered where it was expected, in the region of polar Murmansk. Without changing altitude, the plane made several circles so that everyone on board could admire the greenish flashes in the sky and take confirmatory photographs.

Against such an advantageous background, the advantages of the aircraft that had undergone modernization with the replacement of both engines and received a completely new interior looked better. On the outside, the aircraft number RA-89007 has a nice carbon fiber livery with the Red Wings logo and the Special Series inscription. Inside there are 52 comfortable armchairs (according to the 2+2 scheme) with a large pitch between the rows, upholstered in sand-colored eco-leather. Unfortunately, the design of the seats does not allow them to be folded horizontally – and this is the only complaint about the comfort of the cabin. Multimedia capabilities for each passenger are provided by branded portable tablets. The airline hopes to interest corporate customers and sports teams in its unique business-style aircraft. It can also be chartered for air excursions and even private celebrations in the air. This was illustrated by an introductory flight, in which representatives of the press and business aviation market were offered a dinner from Maison Dellos, a wine tasting from the Sevastopol Perovskikh Estate, and a lecture by Alexander Chernyshev, associate professor at the Space Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, on the nature and features of the northern lights.