The first flight of the MS-21-310 passenger airliner with the new Russian PD-14 engines took place at the airfield of the Irkutsk Aviation Plant.
This was reported by the press service of the Ministry of Industry and Trade.
The plane was piloted by a crew consisting of test pilots Vasily Sevastyanov, Andrey Voropaev and engineer Alexander Solovyov.
The car was in the air for 1 hour 25 minutes.
The flight task involved checking the operating modes of the power plant, the stability and controllability of the airliner, as well as the functioning of its systems.
“At the end of November, while visiting the plant of PJSC Irkut Corporation, my colleagues and I inspected the preparation of the new MC-21.
At the same time, we discussed the first flight of the MC-21-310 with the new PD-14 engine until the end of this year.
And today we see in action the result of a consistent state policy in the development of high-tech industries, ”said the head of the Ministry of Industry and Trade Denis Manturov.
The minister called the flight of the MS-21 with Russian power plants the result of the labor of tens of thousands of people.
According to Manturov, "a new generation of designers and production workers" has formed in Russia.
In turn, the general director of the corporation "Rostec" Sergei Chemezov noted that the MS-21 with a Russian engine would return Russia to the "major league of world aviation."
“This flight is the result of the unification of two most important programs of the civil aircraft industry in Russia: the MS-21 aircraft and the PD-14 engine.
Through the efforts of scientists, designers, engineers, workers, a new generation airliner is being created, which returns our country to the top league of world aviation, "Chemezov said.
MS-21 ("Trunk aircraft of the XXI century") is a family of the latest Russian narrow-body airliners.
The first flight of a prototype of this machine was made in May 2017 with PW1400G engines of the American company Pratt & Whitney.
In the near future, Aeroflot will become the main operator of the MC-21.
Earlier, the company signed a firm contract for the production of 50 vehicles and an option for 35 units.
As Manturov said in September in an interview with the Izvestia newspaper, in total, "orders for 170 vehicles have been drawn up."
According to the minister, the first deliveries of aircraft are scheduled for the end of 2021.
Superiority over analogues
As expected in the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), the MS-21 will become one of the best airliners in its class due to the integration of the most modern technological solutions in the field of aerodynamics, engine building, and on-board electronic systems.
“The MC-21 airplanes will differ from their counterparts in a reduced empty weight, ensured by the use of composite materials and advanced metal alloys in combination with the introduction of new generation onboard systems, more advanced aerodynamics, and the use of a promising engine.
These and other improvements will significantly reduce fuel consumption in comparison with analogues, ”- says the materials of the UAC.
The emission characteristics of the MS-21 engines will meet the requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
Moreover, per passenger seat, the Russian airliner will emit 15-25% less CO2 into the atmosphere than its counterparts currently in operation.
Preparation of MS-21-310 with PD-14 for the first flight
© rostec.ru
The MC-21 developers paid great attention to ensuring the comfort of passengers, including customers with disabilities.
Thus, the Russian airliner will surpass foreign counterparts in the width of the passage between the seats, which will allow two passengers to disperse freely and not block the movement of people on the plane when flight attendants use carts.
The designers have increased the natural illumination of the cabin thanks to the installation of large windows and a special interior design.
In addition, the MC-21 boasts an improved microclimate and reduced noise levels.
Today the liner is planned to be produced in two versions: MS-21-200 (130-176 seats) and MS-21-300 (160-211 seats).
The maximum fuel volume for both aircraft is 20.4 tons, the flight range is 6.4 thousand km and 6 thousand km, respectively.
In the future, the third, the largest modification of the domestic airliner under the designation MS-21-400 may enter the market.
It will be equipped with the PD-16 engine, which is a more powerful version of the PD-14.
Recently, the domestic industry has been actively working to eliminate dependence on imported elements that are used in the production of the MS-21 family.
In particular, in the special economic zone "Alabuga" (Tatarstan), the production of yarns, fibers and prepregs has been launched, which are used for the manufacture of a composite wing of a passenger liner.
"Russian composites, which replaced foreign ones, have confirmed their characteristics during the tests, and the Irkut corporation has already started production of serial parts and units based on them," the Rostec website says.
Also, the Ufa association of the Tekhnodinamika holding has manufactured a prototype of an emergency synchronous generator for the MS-21 power supply system.
This unit is designed to convert mechanical energy into electrical energy using a special screw that makes up to 14 thousand revolutions per minute.
The maximum machine power reaches 23 kVA (kilovolt-ampere).
In a conversation with RT, the executive director of the Aviaport agency, Oleg Panteleev, suggested that the issue of import substitution of components for the MS-21 would be finally closed in the mid-2020s with the completion of the corresponding development work.
“This will make it possible to assert that, firstly, the MS-21 program has no sanctions risks.
Secondly, the Russian industry is able to produce liners without hindrance.
As a result, carriers will be able to renew their fleets using the most modern, comfortable, fuel-efficient aircraft.
The events are very positive and very promising, ”Panteleev explained.
The expert called the successful fitting of PD-14 engines on MS-21 an important achievement.
According to him, during the flight tests that have begun, the domestic unit must confirm its characteristics as part of the aircraft's power plant.
Full-size model of the PD-14 engine
© rostec.ru
PD-14 is the first turbofan aircraft engine created in Russia since the collapse of the USSR.
In 2018, the unit received a certificate from the Federal Air Transport Agency confirming the readiness of the product for serial production and operation.
The units are manufactured at the enterprise JSC "UEC - Perm Motors".
The advantages of PD-14 include economical fuel consumption, high environmental performance, relatively low operating costs.
According to the estimates of Rostec specialists, the life cycle cost of the engine will be 15–20% lower than that of modern analogues.
The key to the success of PD-14, according to the state corporation, is the use of unique technologies and materials.
For example, in the design of the unit, domestic titanium and nickel alloys are used, as well as polymer composites, which lighten the engine weight and reduce the noise level.
“PD-14 was developed on the basis of time-tested design solutions using modern technologies.
At the same time, the condition was set to use only domestic materials.
The designers have developed and implemented 16 key technologies, for example, turbine blades made of the lightest titanium intermetallic compound or an advanced cooling system that allows the turbine to operate at temperatures up to 2000 K (1726.85 ° C. -
RT
), "
Rostec
notes.
"Breakthrough project"
Oleg Panteleev believes that the appearance of the PD-14 will protect the domestic passenger liner from the methods of unfair competition on the part of Western states.
At the same time, as the expert argues, Russia will not completely abandon the American unit - the MC-21 will be offered to the customers of the machine with both PW1400G and PD-14 engines.
“We know that there are already contracts for aircraft with both types of engine.
There remains competition between powertrain manufacturers, and each of them will have to prove to operators that their product is better.
At the same time, the Russian side makes it clear that in terms of operating costs, including the cost of aviation fuel and maintenance, PD-14 looks preferable, ”says Panteleev.
In the RT commentary, Honored Pilot of the Russian Federation, Major General Vladimir Popov, said that, in terms of the totality of its characteristics, the Russian engine during operation must prove its advantage over the brainchild of Pratt & Whitney.
The expert called the first flight of MS-21 with PD-14 a great success of the Russian industry on the way to full-fledged import substitution.
“Almost all the details and parts of the MS-21 structure should be manufactured only at Russian enterprises and only with the help of Russian technologies.
PD-14 is a key element in the liner along this path.
Now it is important to start mass production of this highly intelligent product.
This process will pull other industries along with it and will have a generally positive effect on the development of science and industry in Russia, ”Popov explained.
The expert is convinced that the supply of MS-21 with PD-14 will allow a significant number of Boeing and Airbus aircraft to be squeezed out of the fleet of domestic air carriers.
In addition, according to Popov, the family of Russian airliners is likely to enjoy commercial success abroad.
“We are restoring our line of civil aviation.
In this field, MS-21 is one of the breakthrough projects made according to our technological maps.
The plane, I think, will shoot at the present time and will be a promising project that is in demand not only in Russia, but also in other regions - the CIS, China, India, Vietnam, Latin America and in African countries, ”Popov predicts.