On the eve of the public opening of the Paris Air show, French President Jacques Chirac respected the long-lasting tradition of the inauguration of the most famous aerospace show in the world. Short visit of selected stands were on the presidential agenda for the show 45th edition.

Accompanied by a large delegations of ministers, military advisors, and followed by journalists, Jacques Chirac started his tour with the Dassault stand exhibiting combat aircraft and business jets mockups. He then moved to the nearby Snecma stand where he was welcomed by Snecma Chairman and CEO Jean-Paul Béchat. Jacques Chirac, with at his side French defense minister Michèle Alliot-Marie, looked at the M53 and M88 military engines for Mirage and Rafale before stopping a couple of minutes before the rocket engines on display : technological demonstrator of a solid rocket motor for the second stage of a ballistic missile, HM7B, the cryogenic engine for the upper stage of Ariane 5 and the Vulcain 2 engine of Ariane 5 ECA. Jacques Chirac then took a look at a mock up of the SM146, the engine that will power Sukhoi’s Russian Regional Jet. The SM146, developed by Snecma Moteurs and NPO Saturn, was recently selected by Sukhoi for the three versions of the RRJ. Jacques Chirac ended his visit on the Snecma stand with the Turbomeca helicopters engines and the Microturbo’s turbojet for missiles. Jean Paul Béchat and Jacques Chirac then moved to the Sukhoi stand where they shortly met with Sukhoi General Director Mikhail Pogosian. Sukhoi is famous for its military aircraft but all the eyes focused on the RRJ mockup. This regional jet, powered by two SM146, is expected to enter service in 2007. According to Mikhail Pogosyan, recently interviewed in Snecma Magazine, Sukhoi has already received about hundred preliminary orders for the RRJ from Russian airlines as well as airlines outside Russia.