"Foreign Premiere": the Russian aircraft MS-21 made its first international flight

The Russian medium-range civilian aircraft MS-21 made its first international flight. According to TASS, the liner produced by the Irkutsk Aviation Plant arrived at Istanbul Ataturk Airport from Zhukovsky at 13:26 Moscow time.

In the largest city of Turkey, the MS-21 will become a participant in the TEKNOFEST festival of aviation, space and technology, which will be held from September 17 to 22.

“For the MS-21 undergoing certification tests, the exhibition in Turkey will become a foreign premiere,” the report on the website of the United Aircraft Corporation said.

In addition, other novelties of the Russian corporation will be presented at the festival - the short-haul airliner Superjet 100, the Be-200 amphibious aircraft and the Su-35 multi-functional fighter. Aviation equipment will take part in the TEKNOFEST flight program, and will also be partially presented in a static parking lot.

At the same time, the press service of the Irkut Corporation (part of the UAC) added that the cabin of the MC-21 aircraft will be presented to visitors in a two-class layout. At the same time, test equipment is installed in the tail of the liner.

In August, a medium-range passenger aircraft of a new generation was demonstrated at the International Aviation and Space Salon (MAKS). Three samples of the MC-21-300 were brought to Zhukovsky "Irkut" - one for participation in the flight program, two more for static parking.

At the same time, the presidents of Russia and Turkey, Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdogan, became one of those who examined the salon of the liner. The heads of state on the sidelines of the MAKS also held talks, among other things, discussing the possibility of joint production of military aircraft - Su-57 and Su-35 fighters.

Project implementation

The MS-21 project airliner is being created in the niche of medium-haul aircraft and should compete with the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320. His first demonstration flight took place on May 28, 2017. The family of liners will have a capacity of 150 to 210 passengers. As the Deputy Prime Minister of Russia, Yuri Borisov, noted, in 2020 the aircraft should receive a certificate from the Federal Air Transport Agency, and in 2021 - pass the validation of the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).

“Two more experimental vehicles are under construction, one of which is intended for flight tests with the Russian PD-14 engine. Active work is underway to prepare the serial production of the MS-21, ”Borisov said in July.

However, the project is taking place against the backdrop of sanction pressure from the United States of America. In September 2018, the US Department of Commerce entered into the sanctions register JSC Aerocomposite and JSC Obninsk Scientific and Production Enterprise "Technology" named after A.G. Romashina ”involved in the creation of the MS-21. As a result of this, a ban was imposed on the supply of composite materials used in the manufacture of the wing of a promising aircraft; supplies of titanium fasteners, dry carbon tape laying machines and other equipment were blocked.

Currently, preliminary tests of composite materials produced by the Russian nuclear industry are underway. They should be completed before the end of 2019.

In addition, the United Engine Corporation is developing a modified PD-16 powerplant for the MS-21 based on the latest PD-14 engine. According to the general designer of UEC Yuri Shmotin, this modification will be in demand for the MS-21-400.

At the same time, the scientific and technical center for radio communications equipment of NPP Polet should deliver intercom equipment to the project at the beginning of 2020.

Moreover, back in January, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev signed a decree on the allocation of 10.5 billion rubles for the implementation of the MS-21 aircraft project in the next three years. So, in 2019, program financing will amount to 1.58 billion rubles, in 2020 and 2021, 4.11 billion and 4.81 billion rubles, respectively, will be allocated for these purposes.

“The MC-21 project is important for the development of civil aviation. In 2018, the number of air passengers in Russia increased by more than 10 million people. However, the Russian fleet lacks short- and medium-range aircraft, which are especially needed on regional routes, ”the head of government pointed out.

We add that the portfolio of firm orders for passenger aircraft MS-21 is 175 units. It is assumed that the first operator of the new airliners will be Aeroflot, which concluded a contract for the supply of 50 cars.