All domestically made systems worked properly during the flight

Photo: United Aircraft Corporation

Another import-substituted prototype of Russia’s MC-21 medium-range aircraft has made its flight from the airfield of Yakovlev’s aircraft plant in Irkutsk (included in Rostec’s UAC). New domestic systems and PD-14 engines have undergone onboard performance testing. It is the second import-substituted aircraft that has made its flight. The aircraft will join the certification test program together with the MC-21 prototype. 

The aircraft was flying for about one hour and reached a speed of 500 km/h and an altitude up to 3500 m. According to the captain, the flight mission was fully fulfilled and all domestic systems worked properly.

The aircraft will join the certification test program together with the MC-21 prototype that is partially furnished with new Russian systems and equipment and made its first flight in the new conceptual design on 29 April, 2025. 

Foreign components and systems had been previously replaced by Russian products at the final assembly shop. They included cockpit controls, control actuators, high-lift device movement system and stabilizer adjustment mechanism, avionics system, integrated air conditioning system, integrated flight data acquisition, monitoring, processing and recording system, wheel braking system, primary and auxiliary propulsion systems, fuel system, wheels, tires, etc. 

The aircraft has become a landmark in the MC-21 program. It has been the first vehicle that has received a wing made of Russian composite materials, which has successfully undergone a full test program.