Russian MC-21-300 commercial airliner completes maiden flight

MOSCOW. The MC-21-300 commercial aircraft from Irkut Corp., a United Aircraft Corp. in Moscow, Russia, completed its first flight, which spanned 30 minutes at the altitude of 1000 meters and at the speed of 300 km/hour, at the airfield of Irkutsk Aviation Plant.

The maiden flight included a simulated landing approach, followed by a flight over the runway, climbing, and turning. The flight plan also included checking: in-flight stability and controllability, and the controllability of the power plant.

The aircraft was piloted by Crew Commander Oleg Kononenko, test pilot, the Hero of Russia, and the Copilot Roman Taskayev, test pilot, The Hero of Russia.

Kononenko reported that no obstacles were revealed that would prevent the continuation of the tests. Taskayev noted that “characteristics and operational modes of the power plant are confirmed, all aircraft systems operated without glitches.”

“We put the most advanced technical solutions in our aircraft, to provide enhanced comfort for passengers and attractive economic characteristics for air carriers,” says Irkut Corp. President Oleg Demchenko. “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. This is an important stage in the formation of the new UAC industrial model,” says United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) President Yury Slyusar. “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.”