Paris Air Show 2009: The debut of a new Russian airliner the Sukhoi Superjet 100

The biggest orders of the Paris Air Show were racked up by Sukhoi, the Russian aerospace firm best known for its fighters.

The 98-seat airplane is the first to come from the country since the fall of the Soviet Union and is slated to compete with the new Bombardier CSeries and Embraer’s E-Jets.

Sukhoi claims the operating cost of the Superjet 100 will be 10-15% lower than either of its competitors.

The airplane made its public debut at the 2009 Paris Air Show and racked up 27 firm orders with 17 options at the show, an impressive total considering the otherwise gloomy mood in Paris.

Carriers from Italy, Indonesia, Russia, Spain and Armenia have ordered the jet, bringing the total firm orders to 149 so far. It may be time for a U.S. carrier to take a look at this airplane as well.

Gadling was there for the public flying debut of the Superjet 100:

There’s also a nice video of the proposed interior of the Sukhoi’s first airliner here.

Check out the rest of Gadling’s Paris Air Show coverage.