First Post-Soviet Commercial Aircraft To Be Produced In Russia

The first commercial aircraft to be developed in Russia since the fall of the Soviet Union completed its first flight on Sunday. The MC-21-300 took off from the Irkutsk Aviation Plant and flew for about 30 minutes at an altitude of about 3,300 feet and speeds of up to 162 knots.

The flight plan included checking of in-flight stability and controllability, and also the controllability of the power plant. According to the program, during the flight a simulated landing approach was performed, followed by a flight over the runway, climbing and turning. This technique is typical for the maiden flight of new types of aircraft.
The aircraft was piloted by the crew commander and test pilot Oleg Kononenko and copilot Roman Taskayev, also a test-pilot.

Oleg Kononenko reported, “flight mission is accomplished. The flight went in the normal mode. There are no obstacles revealed preventing the tests continuation."

Roman Taskayev noted, that 'characteristics and operational modes of the power plant are confirmed, all aircraft systems operated without glitches.'

"Today is the historic day for our personnel and the whole big team, which works on creation of MC-21 aircraft," said Oleg Demchenko, the President of Irkut Corporation. "We put the most advanced technical solutions in our aircraft, to provide enhanced comfort for passengers and attractive economic characteristics for air carriers. I am happy to declare the maiden flight of the MC-21 aircraft has been successfully accomplished. I congratulate all project participants on our common holiday."

'MC-21 is created in a wide cooperation, where together with Irkut, other enterprises of the United Aircraft Corporation are actively participating, namely Aerocomposite company, Ulyanovsk and Voronezh aircraft plants, UAC Integration Center in Moscow," said Yury Slyusar, the President of United Aircraft Corporation (UAC). "This is an important stage in the formation of the new UAC industrial model. According to our estimates, the global demand in the MC-21 segment will be about 15,000 new aircraft in the next 20 years. I'm sure the airlines will appreciate our new aircraft."

MC-21-300 new generation aircraft with capacity of 163 to 211 passengers. The airliner is offered with two options of power plant - PW1400G of Pratt & Whitney Company (USA) or PD-14 of United Engine Corporation (Russia). New-generation engines feature reduced fuel consumption, low noise and hazardous emissions. MC-21 aircraft meets prospective environmental requirements.

(Images provided with Irkutsk Aviation news release)

FMI: eng.irkut.com