Irkut Corporation (part of UAC)is the OEM for MC-21 airliners and have been engaged in carrying out certification tests of this new aircraft. Three МС-21-300s are involved in the tests and by end of 2019, another aircraft will join the certification campaign. The Irkut Corporation envisages initially receiving the Russian type certificate with further validation by the EASA. Within framework of the validation process, EASA specialists have already carried out a number of test flights with the МС-21-300, including those at various altitudes and speeds as required for commercial operation. During these tests, the altitude of 12 500metres, maximum speed of М=0.89, true speed of 949 km/h and flight duration of 6.2 hours were achieved,validatingmajor design and technological aspects of the airliner.
First public presentation of the МС-21-300 aircraft took place at Paris Air Show 2019, with representatives of various airlines then having a chance to also verify the enhanced comfort of the passenger cabin. The МС-21-300’s economy cabin offers comfortable seats 18” wide with an aisle of 22,5” which makes it easy to bypass a trolley during cabin service, thanks to the wide fuselage (4,06 m) of the aircraft. Another cabin option is to have a high-density configuration to seat up to 211 passengers on 18,5” wide seats and aisle width of 19.6”. The seat pitch in high density layout will be 28” in the forward section and 29” in the aft section of the cabin.
Such increased ‘living space’ not only enhances passenger comfort but the cabin pressure during cruise flight corresponds to an altitude of 6000 feet, which is currently available in wide-bodied long range airliners and competing narrow bodies have that equivalent to 8000 feet altitude.
Series production of the МС-21-300 has already started, and amongst first operators will be Russian airlines and leasing companies. RavilKhakimov, General Director of Irkut Corporation, has stated that list price of the МС-21-300 is 20% lower than that of similar competing aircraft. Denis Manturov, Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation, said that active promotion of the MC-21-300 on the world market will be after commercial services commence in Russia by when also “a reliable after-sales support system will have been established”.Such work is currently being implemented with government investments.
The Russian Government is optimistic on the МС-21 programme and according to Manturov, “МС-21-300 will become the leading Russian civil airliner in the near future”.