The first serial production听Irkut听MC-21, the latest airliner from Russia, has completed its maiden flight.听听
The aircraft听is the first of the type to feature听domestically made composite wings and engines.听听
The flight听occurred听on December听25, 2021, in 迟丑别听Irkutsk Northwest airport. It went smoothly, and听迟丑别听aircraft performed as expected, state conglomerate听Rostec, which owns United Aircraft Corporation 鈥� the parent company of听Irkut听鈥� announced.听
鈥淭he first flight of the aircraft with the wing made of Russian composites proves: we did everything right, the MC-21 program is consistently and steadily moving forward, despite the sanctions and the unfair competition,鈥� Denis听Manturov, Russian minister of industry and trade, is quoted in听Rostec听press听.听
The first prototype of the MC-21 completed its maiden flight in 2017.听In December 2020听it听flew with听Russian-made听Aviadvigatel听PD-14 engines听that replaced听Pratt & Whitney PW1000G听turbofans initially planned for the model.听
The assembly of the first MC-21 with domestically-produced wings began in early 2021. The wings听were fitted in July听of the same year.听
According to听Rostec, the MC-21 is nearing the end of the certification process.听After testing, 迟丑别听first serial production听aircraft is going to fly with Rossiya, a subsidiary of Aeroflot. The delivery is听scheduled to September 2022.听
Irkut听MC-21 is a听narrow-body airliner under development at UAC,听similar to听the Boeing 737 MAX and the Airbus A320neo.听It is geared towards the Russian domestic market, with听迟丑别听country精东影业 airlines ordering over 150 aircraft.听