First flight of MS 21 of the year. Russian aviation. Latest Russian technologies

May 28 at the Irkutsk airfield aircraft plant the first flight of the new Russian aircraft took place passenger plane MS-21-300 (“Long-Range Aircraft of the 21st Century”). This is the first airliner made entirely according to Western standards, taking into account global trends and real market demand. Created without a Soviet foundation, it is the second largest Russian project in the field civil aviation.

Dmitry Medvedev:“The MS-21 is superior in its technological level to those civilian ships that are currently flying. I’m sure it will be a good car, economical and reliable.”

Creating a liner

Development is carried out by JSC Experimental Design Bureau named after. A.S. Yakovlev" and PJSC "Irkut Corporation" (part of the United Aircraft Corporation, UAC). Based on the unrealized Yak-242 project in the late 1980s. In 2014, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Dmitry Rogozin stated that the production vehicles of the MS-21 project would be called Yak-242.

In 2014, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin stated that the production vehicles of the MS-21 project would be called Yak-242. However, in 2015 it was announced that the aircraft would not receive the designation Yak-242, and would remain the MS-21. First of all, this was due to promotion on the world market: the reputation will grow along with the new aircraft.

Rogozin has repeatedly stated the maximum concentration of efforts and coordinated interaction between the UAC and the United Engine Corporation (UEC) in the creation of the MS-21 aircraft. In his opinion, without this it is impossible to create a competitive product, given that most of the components of the MS-21, including its engine, are completely new developments.

Rogozin emphasized that, despite the presence of another new aircraft, the SSJ-100 (the first flight was carried out in 2008, in operation since 2011), the MS-21 developers have a huge responsibility.

Dmitry Rogozin:“Everything here is new and a lot is domestic, and since everything is new, you and I perfectly understand how it all should be adapted to each other, from the black composite wing to the avionics.”

On June 8, 2016, at the ceremony of rolling out the new aircraft, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev assured that Russia would not disappear from the “major league” of the world aircraft industry.

Dmitry Medvedev:“New projects in the aircraft industry, for obvious reasons, are not cheap at all. In general, there are very few countries where aircraft manufacturing is developed. This is called the “major league”. And under no circumstances should we disappear from this “major league.”

He emphasized that Russia is capable of creating aircraft that compete with foreign manufacturers. “The current event confirms that we are capable of creating such machines that will advance our aircraft industry and will compete with other aircraft,” the prime minister said.

Economical, technologically advanced, domestic

Two modifications of the aircraft with a standard two-class layout have been developed: the basic MS-21-300 (163-211 seats) and a shortened version - MS-21-200 (132-165 seats). Certification of the latter is scheduled for 2019-2020.

For each modification, there are versions with normal (3500 km) and increased (5000 km) range. In the future, long-range versions (up to 7000 km) may appear.

The MC-21 differs from the SSJ-100 in its increased flight range (maximum 4578 km versus 6400 km) and a large number seats. The SSJ-100 can accommodate a maximum of 108 passenger seats, and the MS-21 can accommodate up to 211 seats.

The MC-21 will have the highest level of comfort for passengers due to the increased width of the passenger compartment. The increased diameter of the fuselage (4.06 m) provides an increase in the capacity of luggage racks in the passenger compartment and luggage compartments located under its floor.

According to the Wings of the Motherland magazine, the MC-21 has about 27 inches of fuselage cross-section per passenger seat (for Airbus aircraft A330 - 25 inches, - only 24 inches). Width passenger seat increased to 18 inches (for the A330 - 17), and the passage between the seats - to 22.5. This is much more than competitors. Passengers will be able to sit more comfortably on long flights and will be able to move freely around the cabin. In addition, the time for boarding and disembarking passengers is reduced (about 30% better than similar aircraft).

The MS-21 passenger compartment will also receive new system air conditioning, which should have a beneficial effect on the well-being of passengers. It is also planned to use three-season temperature control for convenience.

The first copies of the MC-21 will be equipped with an imported Pratt & Whitney engine, and in the future the engine will be replaced by the domestic PD-14.

This is the basic civil engine of a new generation, which is being created by a wide cooperation of UEC enterprises for the MS-21 airliner. Based on the unified compact gas generator PD-14, it is possible to create a whole family of engines with a thrust of 9-18 tons, intended for short- and medium-haul aircraft, helicopters and industrial gas turbine units. The development of the PD-14 belongs to the Aviadvigatel design bureau, the main manufacturer is the Perm Motor Plant.

As experts note, with characteristics comparable to the American engine, the PD-14 engine will also become the founder of a whole line of aircraft engines. Its more powerful modifications based on a gas generator, but with a gear fan (PD-18R) will be used on the Tu-214, Il-96-300 and Il-96-400T. A lower power version of the PD-10 engine is used on SSJ-100 aircraft.

Another advantage. For the first time in the domestic aircraft industry, composite materials are widely used in the design of an airliner - about 40%. The use of carbon fiber reinforced plastics has made it possible to increase the wing span, and composites are also used in the tail of aircraft. Future promising complex long-range aviation(PAK DA) is designed taking into account the experience of creating the MS-21.

Another innovation of the MS-21, according to the specialized aviation publication “Wings of the Motherland,” is a special system for reducing and managing loads. It is expected that by reducing the weight of the aircraft's structure, combined with its high thrust-to-weight ratio, it will reduce the MC-21's takeoff run by almost 300 m, as well as increase its service ceiling by almost 600 m compared to the newest analogues from Airbus and Boeing.

The MC-21 cockpit was created taking into account the most modern requirements for its ergonomics, which should simplify piloting the vehicle and reduce the load on the crew.
The Radioelectronic Technologies Concern (KRET) developed more than 70% of the MS-21 avionics, and actively used the principle of modular electronics.

First prototype

The assembly of the MS-21-300 prototype, equipped with Pratt & Whitney engines, was completed at the Irkutsk Aviation Plant on June 6, 2016, the official presentation (the first rollout from the workshop) took place on June 8, 2016.

Flight tests of the prototype, originally scheduled for the second quarter of 2016, were postponed to 2017. Obtaining a Russian type certificate and the first delivery of MC-21-300 aircraft to the customer are planned for the end of 2018.

On April 28, the first flight prototype left the final assembly shop in preparation for its first flight. On May 15, at the airfield of the Irkutsk Aircraft Plant, the MC-21-300-0001 aircraft performed taxiing operations, various aircraft systems were also tested, and ground launches of the sustainer and auxiliary aircraft were practiced. power plant. As Irkut noted, all preparations took place in accordance with the approved schedule.

Orders for the liner

Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said that the package of advanced orders for the new MS-21 amounts to 185 vehicles. On at the moment The order portfolio is 285 aircraft.

The first operator will be Aeroflot. It is planned that it will receive the first aircraft in the configuration for 175 seats in the fourth quarter of 2018. In total, the airline's fleet will operate 50 MS-21s. The leasing company Aviacapital-Service will finance the supply. A firm supply contract was signed in 2011. Aeroflot CEO Vitaly Savelyev stated that deliveries of the first three aircraft are expected in 2019.

In 2015-2016, the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation and UAC top managers reported that Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Tanzania, Iran and a number of other countries were showing interest in the aircraft. However, not a single firm contract for the supply of MS-21 abroad is known yet. There is only a preliminary agreement for the supply of 10 aircraft (4 of them are optional) with the Egyptian Cairo Aviation. The catalog price of MS-21 is from $85 million.

In February, the Vedomosti newspaper reported that the airline would become one of the largest customers for the aircraft. “Red Wings have a preliminary agreement with the leasing company Ilyushin Finance Co. to lease 10 MS-21s. If the operation of MS-21 is effective, then their number can be increased to 15-16″, the head of the leasing company Alexander Rubtsov told the publication.

According to him, when MS-21s begin to arrive in 2019, they will gradually replace them in the fleet Airbus airlines and Tu. Currently, the Red Wings fleet has seven Tu-204 and Tu-214 aircraft.
Time will tell to what extent all these plans will be implemented, but we can already say with confidence that this is a landmark and significant order for the Russian aircraft manufacturer.

Based on materials

MS-21 “took wing”

A big and important transport event: the new civil airliner MS-21 made its first test flight in Irkutsk this morning. For a new aircraft, this is called “getting on the wing.”

Information about MS-21

The MS-21 mainline aircraft is a Russian aircraft designed to transport passengers and cargo throughout Russia and on international airlines. The MC-21 is targeting the same commercial niche as Boeing and Airbus. At the same time, it has the widest fuselage in the class of medium-haul aircraft, which significantly increases the comfort of transportation. The length of the MS-21-200 aircraft is 33.8 meters, while the MS-21-300 reaches a length of 42.3 meters. The fuselage width in both configurations is 4.06 meters.

Official release:

On May 28, 2017, at the airfield of the Irkutsk Aviation Plant, a branch of PJSC Irkut Corporation (part of the UAC), the first flight of the new MS-21-300 passenger aircraft took place.

The flight duration was 30 minutes, it took place at an altitude of 1000 meters at a speed of 300 km/h.
The flight plan included checking the aircraft for stability and controllability, as well as engine control. In accordance with the program, during the flight a simulated approach was performed, followed by a pass over the runway, a climb and a turn. This technique is typical for the first flight of new types of aircraft.
The aircraft was piloted by a crew consisting of test pilot, Hero of Russia Oleg Kononenko and test pilot, Hero of Russia Roman Taskaev.

Oleg Kononenko said: “The flight mission was completed in full. The flight went as usual. “No comments were identified that would prevent the continuation of testing.” Roman Taskaev noted: “The characteristics and operating modes of the engines were confirmed, all aircraft systems worked without failures.”

Main characteristics of the MS-21-300 aircraft:

Capacity in a two-class layout: 163 seats (16 business + 147 economy)
Capacity in a dense arrangement of 211 seats
Maximum take-off weight 79,250 kg
Maximum payload 22,600 kg
Maximum flight range 6,000 km
Main Dimensions
Aircraft length 42.2 m
Wingspan 35.9 m
Height 11.5 m
LJ: periskop

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First test flight of the new Russian airliner MS-21

May 28, 2017 at the airfield of the Irkutsk Aviation Plant - a branch of PJSC Irkut Corporation (as part of the UAC) The first flight of the new passenger aircraft MS-21-300-0001 took place.

The flight duration was 30 minutes, it took place at an altitude of 1000 meters at a speed of 300 km/h.

Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated the President of the Irkut Corporation, General Director - General Designer of the OKB im. A. S. Yakovlev" Oleg Demchenko, the team of the manufacturing enterprise and all industry workers with this significant event.

The flight plan included checking the aircraft for stability and controllability, as well as engine control. In accordance with the program, during the flight a simulated approach was performed, followed by a pass over the runway, a climb and a turn. This technique is typical for the first flight of new types of aircraft.

MC21 aircraft program status >>

The plane was piloted by a crew consisting of Hero of Russia, test pilot, Oleg Kononenko and test pilot, Hero of Russia Roman Taskaev. Oleg Kononenko noted: “The flight mission was completed completely. The flight went as usual. No comments were identified that would prevent the continuation of testing." Roman Taskaev stated: “The characteristics and operating modes of the engines were confirmed, all aircraft systems operated without failures».

UAC President Yuri Slyusar emphasized: “* created in broad cooperation, where, along with Irkut, other UAC enterprises are actively involved: AeroComposite, Ulyanovsk "",PJSC " Voronezh Joint-Stock Aircraft Manufacturing Company ", UAC-Integration Center. This is an important stage in the formation of a new industrial model of the UAC. According to our estimates, in the next twenty years, global demand in the MC-21 segment will be about 15 thousand new aircraft. I am sure that airlines will highly appreciate the new Russian aircraft».

Aviastar-SP produces sets of panels for the fuselage compartments F1, F2, F3, F4 and F5, the keel compartment and the APU compartment, all 11 doors, as well as the tail unit - the fin and stabilizer assembly with rudders and elevators. The plant's share in the construction of the fuselage is 70 percent.

At the AeroComposite-Ulyanovsk enterprise, the upper and lower panels of the airliner's wing caisson, front and rear spars, drainage boxes, as well as center section panels are manufactured. In this case, innovative technology of vacuum infusion and automated laying out of dry carbon filler are used.

Currently, the Aviastar-SP plant is assembling the fifth aircraft kit for the MC-21, and has begun manufacturing units for the sixth aircraft, which will complete the development work program. This year, the Ulyanovsk team’s task is to complete the production of units for the 5th and 6th aircraft. In July, Aviastar plans to begin production of the first pilot batch, which will consist of five aircraft kits intended for delivery to airlines. That is, serial assembly of MS-21 aircraft will already begin.

* MS-21-300 – a new generation passenger aircraft with a capacity from 163 to 211 passengers, aimed at the most massive segment of the air transportation market. Development is being carried out by JSC Experimental Design Bureau named after A.S. Yakovlev and PJSC Irkut Corporation, based on the unrealized Yak-242 project in the late 1980s. In 2014, Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Dmitry Rogozin stated that production vehicles of the MS-21 project will be called Yak-242. However, in 2015 it was announced that the aircraft would not receive the designation Yak-242, and would remain MS-21.

A competitor to the MS-21, the Chinese airliner C919 took to the skies for the first time >>

Two modifications of the aircraft with a standard two-class layout have been developed: the basic MS-21-300 (163-211 seats) and a shortened version - MS-21-200 (132-165 seats). Certification of the latter is scheduled for 2019-2020. For each modification, there are versions with a normal (3500 km) and increased (5000 km) range; in the future, long-range versions (up to 7000 km) may appear.

The MS-21 aircraft differs from the SSJ-100 in its increased flight range (maximum 4578 km versus 6400 km) and a larger number of seats. The SSJ-100 can accommodate a maximum of 108 passenger seats, and the MS-21 can accommodate up to 211 seats.

The MS-21 aircraft will provide passengers with quality new level comfort thanks to the largest fuselage diameter in the class of narrow-body aircraft. The increased diameter of the fuselage (4.06 m) provides an increase in the capacity of luggage racks in the passenger compartment and luggage compartments located under its floor.

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The MC-21 has about 27 inches of fuselage cross-section per passenger seat (the Airbus A330 has 25 inches, the Boeing 787 only 24 inches). The width of the passenger seat has been increased to 18 inches (for the A330 - 17), and the aisle between the seats has been increased to 22.5. This is much more than competitors. Passengers will be able to sit more comfortably on long flights and will be able to move freely around the cabin. In addition, the time for boarding and disembarking passengers is reduced (about 30% better than similar aircraft).

Thanks to the installation of large windows, the natural illumination of the passenger compartment has been increased. The aircraft will maintain comfortable air pressure for passengers and an improved microclimate. It is also planned to use three-season temperature control for convenience.

For the first time in the history of domestic aircraft manufacturing, the airliner is offered to customers with two types of engines - PW1400G-JM from Pratt & Whitney (USA) and PD-14 - the basic civil engine of the new generation, which is created by a wide cooperation of UEC enterprises for the MS-21 airliner. Based on the unified compact gas generator PD-14, it is possible to create a whole family of engines with a thrust of 9-18 tons, intended for short- and medium-haul aircraft, helicopters and industrial gas turbine units. Its more powerful modifications based on a gas generator, but with a gear fan (PD-18R) will be used on the Tu-214, Il-96-300 and Il-96-400T. A lower power version of the PD-10 engine is used on SSJ-100 aircraft. The development of the PD-14 belongs to the Aviadvigatel design bureau, the main manufacturer is the Perm Motor Plant.

New Russian engine PD 14 >>

Another advantage: for the first time in the domestic aircraft industry, composite materials are widely used in the design of the airliner - about 40%.The MC-21 is the first aircraft in the world for which the so-called infusion technology with maximum use of automation was used in the production of large parts. Refusal to use prepreg-autoclave technology, according to many estimates, will significantly reduce costs when creating aircraft.

The use of carbon fiber reinforced plastics has made it possible to increase the wing span, and composites are also used in the tail of aircraft. By reducing the weight of the aircraft's structure, combined with its high thrust-to-weight ratio, it will reduce the MC-21's takeoff run by almost 300 m, as well as increase its service ceiling by almost 600 m compared to the newest analogues from Airbus and Boeing.

About 50% of avionics for MS-21 are produced by KRET, in general, the Concern plans to supply up to 70% of all onboard radio-electronic equipment to the MS-21.MS-21 became the first domestic aircraft equipped with an integrated set of on-board equipment based on integrated modular avionics (IKBO IMA) developed by KRET. This complex implements all functions: navigation, aircraft navigation, signaling, indication and others.

Testing of a new avionics complex for MS-21 >>

In addition, for the new aircraft, the Moscow enterprise KRET - Aeropribor-Voskhod JSC - has developed a system for measuring altitude and speed parameters SIVSP-21, which includes multifunctional air data meters.

The initial portfolio of firm orders for 175 MS-21 aircraft will ensure the utilization of production capacity for the coming years. Advance payments have been received for firm orders.The largest customer is Aeroflot airline; it is planned that 50 MC-21s will be operated in the airline's fleet. There are also the first foreign customers: there is a firm contract with the Indonesian Crecom Burj Berthad for the supply of 25 aircraft and an option for 25 aircraft. An agreement of intent has also been concluded with the Egyptian Cairo Aviation for the supply of 6 aircraft and an option for 4 aircraft. The national airline of Tanzania, Air Tanzania, as well as Iran, are showing interest in the aircraft. Saudi Arabia and Indonesia.

A significant event took place in Russian civil aviation. The first new mainline aircraft since the times of the Soviet Union, the MS-21, took to the skies. The success of this project is of utmost importance for the country, as it will allow it to take off Russian aviation to new heights. Moreover, to climb higher than the world aircraft manufacturers Boeing and Airbus.

The first news about the successful test flight of MS-21 on Sunday, May 28, 2017, was spread on its Facebook page Russian Vice President Dmitry Rogozin, who also published photographs of the plane in flight.

“For Russia, the first flight of the MS-21 is not just the birth of a new aircraft. This is the development of modern, advanced technologies, which Russia did not have until recently"

Russia did not make a huge show of the first flight with a live broadcast, as they like to do in the West. MS-21 first took flight in a quiet “family” circle. However, about the successful flight, of course, Russia to Vladimir Putin. Rogozin called him, and the president had already dialed the head of the Irkut corporation, the general designer of the Design Bureau named after. Yakovlev Oleg Demchenko and congratulated him and the enterprise team on this important event.

However, after a series of test flights, there may be a public flight of the MC-21 with the participation of journalists and cameras.

In the meantime, the Irkut Corporation is talking about the first flight of the MS-21-300 airliner. It went smoothly, all systems of the machine worked without failures. The flight lasting 30 minutes took place at an altitude of 1 thousand meters at a speed of 300 km/h. The flight plan included checking the aircraft for stability and controllability, as well as engine control. “In accordance with the program, during the flight a simulated approach was carried out, followed by a pass over the runway, a climb and a turn. This technique is typical for the first flight of new types of aircraft,” the press service of the Irkut Corporation reported.

The MS-21 was piloted by a crew consisting of test pilot, Hero of Russia Oleg Kononenko and test pilot, Hero of Russia Roman Taskaev. According to Kononenko, “the flight mission was completed in full.” “The flight went as usual. “No comments were identified that would prevent the continuation of testing,” the pilot noted. “The characteristics and operating modes of the engines were confirmed, all aircraft systems worked without failures,” Taskaev added.

Flight tests were planned to begin in April, but were then postponed to the end of May. At the beginning of May, it became known that the airliner was being prepared for a test flight after the first copy left the workshop on May 4. The head of the Ministry of Industry and Trade Denis Manturov said then that the first flight is a matter of several weeks.

From the moment of rolling out from the workshop until the first test flight 24 days have passed. However, rolling out an aircraft from the workshop does not mean that the airliner must fly immediately. “First, work begins under open air: the plane is refueled, the tightness of the tanks is checked, the operation of the entire complex fuel supply system and other systems is checked, the engine is started. A photograph appeared on the Internet where a fire truck stood next to MS-21. This is also normal practice: the fire department is needed when the engine is first started, because it has never been started. This is a safety precaution – that’s all,” says Roman Gusarov, head of the Avia.ru portal.

“After checking all the systems, the plane begins to slowly taxi around. The next stage: they begin to set the takeoff mode and accelerate the plane along the runway, first simply by braking, then by raising the front strut. And only after everything has been checked a thousand times – here haste only hurts – is the first flight carried out,” adds the interlocutor.

This is a revolution

For Russia, the first flight of the MC-21 is not just the completion of many years of work by a huge team and the birth of a new aircraft. This is also the development of modern, advanced technologies, which Russia did not have until recently, notes Gusarov.

However, there can be no talk of any lag between Russia and China. In addition, the Russian airliner is much more revolutionary than the Chinese one. And in many respects, as the developer states, the MC-21 will be much better than its classmates from the world giants Airbus and Boeing, namely the Airbus A319neo and Boeing 737 MAX (with improved engines).

“The MS-21 uses latest technologies, which have not yet been developed in the world. And in such revolutionism, of course, there is a huge amount of risk - whether it will work out or not. However, we were left with no choice. If you make an airplane using traditional technologies, it will definitely not be better than Boeing and Airbus. They have squeezed everything they can out of the classic design. Only by taking a step forward and taking risks can you win. To enter such a highly competitive market, our aircraft must be significantly superior to Western competitors in key parameters. Otherwise you won’t be able to get through,” says Gusarov.

If we compare with the SSJ-100, and this is the first civil aircraft created from scratch after the USSR, then on this airliner Russia, in fact, learned to create modern aircraft from scratch and certify them in the West. “The GSS themselves say that this is a school desk,” notes Gusarov. And although the SSJ-100 is a completely modern and worthy airliner, not inferior to its classmates in flight characteristics and efficiency, the MC-21 is still a step forward.

Key exam

Therefore, no one can yet say how smoothly everything will go. And no matter how important the first test flight of the MC-21 is, the work does not end there. The first flight will be followed by an important key test for the aircraft, for the designers and for everyone who created this aircraft. These are flight (factory) tests and subsequent certification of the aircraft. During factory tests, the reliability of all systems will be checked, their compliance with technical specifications, and all possible flaws will be eliminated.

“Only when the aircraft is certified will it be possible to say that the creators of the aircraft have achieved success. It is not enough to create an airplane; it is also necessary to prove that it is reliable, safe and meets all modern requirements for civil aircraft. And not only Russian, but also European. These requirements apply not only to the aircraft itself, but also to all systems and materials down to the last rivet. Everything is certified – from the aircraft design to component suppliers,” says Roman Gusarov.

The plan is to complete testing and certification in 2018, with deliveries of the first three aircraft scheduled for 2019. However, how long it will take for flight and certification tests - one and a half to two years - is not important, the main thing is that the aircraft is certified. “Because many of the technologies that were used in the MS-21, not only in Russia, but in the whole world, no one used in the construction of the aircraft. Therefore, it is better not to rush, but to bring a good product to the market,” says Gusarov.

Latest Russian technologies

The most important Russian know-how in creating the MS-21 is the use of composite materials, the share of which in the design should be 40%. And the main advantage is the composite wing. On narrow-body aircraft, such as the MC-21, neither Boeing nor Airbus have a composite wing. Only the wide-body Boeing 787 Dreamliner and A350 have composite wings. However, Russia has developed its own composite technologies that make the wing cheaper and lighter.

“When the technologies that were developed and mastered in Russia confirm their right to exist in terms of resource reliability and low cost, this will open up enormous opportunities for the entire Russian aircraft industry. If the MC-21 receives a black wing due to these technologies, then all other aircraft that will be created in Russia will be able to be built on this technology. And this creates huge advantages in terms of aircraft weight, aerodynamics, flight characteristics, and cost,” says Roman Gusarov. Therefore, Russia not only took a big risk, but if it wins, it will receive huge benefits.

Another pride of Russia is the “intelligence” of the MS-21 airliner. Russian specialists from Irkut, TsAGI and other companies included in the UAC have developed the latest, unparalleled software, which contains the algorithm and functions for controlling the aircraft - many so-called foolproof protections that foreign aircraft do not have. They increase the safety of the aircraft and reduce the risks of human factors during its operation.

For example, the MC-21 control system will protect the aircraft from the so-called stall, which occurs if the aircraft lifts its nose and loses speed, including in icing conditions, that is, when ice has formed on the wing. And for the first time on the MC-21, a restriction is being introduced not only on the lifting of the nose, but also on the roll angle, so that when landing, the plane does not touch the ground with the wing or engine nacelle (the place where the engine is located), said Oleg Panteleev from “Airport”. And, according to him, there are still many such automatic functions, which make it possible to neutralize the side effects of “manual” control of the aircraft, in the MC-21. Of course, in many ways the element base is foreign, but the idea and development of “intelligence” is purely Russian know-how.

In general, everything in the MC-21 is state-of-the-art, including the “heart” of the airliner. The engine is the most complex and important part of the aircraft. For now, the Russian airliner will fly on a modern PW1400G engine from the American company Pratt & Whitney, which has already shown good performance. But especially for the MS-21, the PD-14 turbofan engine is also being created - the latest and completely domestic, from the United Engine Corporation (UEC). Russia is building a new engine for the first time since the collapse of the USSR. In November 2015, UEC began flight testing of the PD-14, and mass production is planned to begin in 2018. As a result, customers will be able to choose which engine to fly with. It is expected that the PD-14 will ensure the superiority of the MC-21 over the A320 and Boeing-737 aircraft and provide parity with those engines that will be installed on the modernized A320neo and Boeing 737 MAX aircraft.

In what other ways will the MC-21 be better than the modernized A320neo and Boeing 737 MAX? The Russian airliner will have better characteristics in fuel consumption and lower direct operating costs. As the developer states, performance characteristics MC-21s are reduced by 12–15% compared to current generation aircraft and by 6–7% compared to their re-engined versions, that is, the A320neo and Boieng 737 MAX.

The cruising speed of the MC-21 is also higher than that of its European competitor - 870 km/h versus 828 km/h for the Airbus. Even the Boeing 737 MAX with its 842 km/h is inferior to the Russian airliner. At the same time, the catalog cost of one MS-21 airliner is $85 million. While the Airbus A319neo costs from 97.5 to 124.4 million dollars, depending on the modification, and the Boeing 737 MAX – from 90.2 to 116.6 million dollars.

The emission of harmful substances into the atmosphere from MS-21 is reduced by more than 20% compared to existing analogues.

In addition, the designers have reduced the aircraft's turnaround time at the airport by as much as 20% compared to competitors. Coupled with better fuel and weight efficiency, airlines will be able to earn up to an additional $3 million from operating the MC-21.

Even inside the cabin, the Russian airliner is more comfortable. Thanks to the elongated fuselage, it was possible to make the passage between the seats wider, making boarding and disembarking passengers, as well as cleaning the cabin faster. All this means for airlines saving time during aircraft turnaround at the airport, and therefore reducing their costs.

Market prospects

At the moment, the order book for the MC-21 is 285 aircraft. Of these, firm (advanced) contracts were concluded for 175 aircraft, preliminary agreements were reached for another 110 aircraft and framework agreements were signed.

The largest customer is Aeroflot, which plans to operate 50 MS-21s. The first three should be received in 2019.

According to the plan, by 2018 the Irkut Corporation will assemble the first four MS-21s and will gradually increase production volumes. By 2020 it will produce 20 aircraft per year, and by 2023 – 70 aircraft. It is quite possible to reach the production of 60–70 vehicles per year, because in parallel with the creation of the MS-21, the plant was modernized for its production, says Roman Gusarov.

“And selling 60–70 aircraft will not be difficult if the product comes with a full range of services – financing, loans, maintenance, spare parts. The manufacturer does not just sell the car, but sells the life cycle of the aircraft - from its delivery to disposal. Today Boeing and Airbus produce more than 600 aircraft between them. We can easily get in with our 60–70 aircraft; they won’t even notice much of this competition on our part,” the expert concludes. But to accelerate to the same production volumes as Boeing and Airbus, it will take much more time. Western aircraft manufacturers themselves have been reaching such volumes for decades.

Moscow, May 28 - "Vesti.Ekonomika". The first flight of the new MS-21-300 passenger aircraft successfully took place on Sunday, May 28, 2017, at the airfield of the Irkutsk Aviation Plant, a branch of PJSC Irkut Corporation.

The flight duration was 30 minutes, it took place at an altitude of 1 thousand m at a speed of 300 km/h. The flight plan included checking the aircraft for stability and controllability, as well as engine control.

In accordance with the program, during the flight a simulated approach was carried out, followed by a pass over the runway, a climb and a turn. This technique is typical for the first flight of new types of aircraft.

The aircraft was piloted by a crew consisting of test pilot, Hero of Russia Oleg Kononenko and test pilot, Hero of Russia Roman Taskaev.

Oleg Kononenko stated that “the flight mission was completed in full.” “The flight took place as usual. No problems were identified that would prevent the continuation of testing,” he explained. Roman Taskaev noted: “The characteristics and operating modes of the engines were confirmed, all aircraft systems worked without failures.”

Flight performance characteristics of the MS-21-300 aircraft

Capacity in a two-class layout is 163 seats (16 business + 147 economy), capacity in a dense layout is 211 seats. Maximum take-off weight - 79,250 kg. Maximum commercial load - 22,600 kg.

The maximum flight range is 6 thousand km. The main dimensions are aircraft length 42.2 m, wingspan - 35.9 m, height - 11.5 m.

The MC-21 flies faster than its competitors and benefits from greater efficiency. According to Irkut's calculations, by using the MC-21, airlines will be able to save up to $3 million a year.

Irkut has collected 175 firm orders for the MS-21, and another 100 orders are under discussion. Aeroflot will be the first operator of the new aircraft. Deliveries of the MC-21 will begin at the end of 2018 - beginning of 2019. Aeroflot intends to buy 50 aircraft.

The catalog price of the MC-21 will be from $90 million, while the European competitor Airbus A320 will cost $97 million, and the American Boeing 737 new versions will cost $95 million.

MS-21 is an important stage in the formation of a new industrial model in the Russian Federation

The integrators of the main systems of the MS-21 aircraft are Russian enterprises. During the implementation of the MS-21 program, centers of excellence in the development and production of products made from composite materials were created in Russia. In order to introduce new technologies, a radical modernization of the production facilities of the Irkutsk Aviation Plant, a branch of PJSC Irkut Corporation, and a number of aircraft manufacturing enterprises and related industries was carried out.

The main Russian participants in the program: the lead contractor is the Irkut Corporation (part of the UAC), leading UAC enterprises, and the Rostec state corporation.

President of the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) PJSC Yuriy Slyusar emphasized that the MS-21 was created in broad cooperation, where, along with Irkut, other UAC enterprises are actively participating: AeroComposite, Ulyanovsk and Voronezh aircraft plants, and the UAC Integration Center.

“According to our estimates, in the next 20 years, global demand in the MC-21 segment will be about 15 thousand new aircraft. I am sure that airlines will highly appreciate our new aircraft. This is not just the flight of a new aircraft, this is the appearance of a new product that will last for the next 50 years will determine the face of Russian civil aircraft industry", said the head of the UAC.

MS-21-300 – a new generation passenger aircraft

MS-21-300 is a new generation passenger aircraft with a capacity of 163 to 211 passengers, aimed at the most popular segment of the air transportation market.

The MC-21 aircraft will provide passengers with a qualitatively new level of comfort thanks to the largest fuselage diameter in the class of narrow-body aircraft. This solution will significantly expand the personal space of each passenger, allow them to avoid the service trolley and provide airlines with a reduction in turnaround time at airports.

Thanks to the installation of large windows, the natural illumination of the passenger compartment has been increased. The aircraft will maintain comfortable air pressure for passengers and an improved microclimate.

An innovative ergonomic cockpit has been developed for pilots of MC-21 aircraft. High demands on the comfort and economic efficiency of the aircraft required the introduction of advanced technical solutions in the field of aerodynamics, engine engineering and aircraft systems.

In terms of its flight performance and efficiency, the MC-21 aircraft is superior to existing analogues.

The main contribution to improving the aircraft's performance characteristics will be made by a wing made of polymer composite materials, the first in the world created for narrow-body aircraft with a capacity of over 130 passengers. The share of composites in the structure of the MS-21 aircraft - over 30% - is unique for this class of airliners.

For the first time in the history of domestic aircraft manufacturing, the airliner is offered to customers with two types of engines – PW1400G from Pratt & Whitney (USA) and PD-14 from the United Engine Corporation (Russia). New generation engines have reduced fuel consumption and low noise levels and emissions of harmful substances. The MC-21 aircraft meets future environmental protection requirements.

The estimated reduction in direct operating costs when operating the MC-21 aircraft will be 12-15% compared to analogues.

The initial portfolio of firm orders for 175 MS-21 aircraft ensures the utilization of production capacity for the coming years. Advance payments have been received for firm orders.