Irkut Corporation (a UAC member) has completed construction of the third MC-21-300, intended for flight tests. On 25 December 2018, the aircraft was transferred from the final assembly shop to the flight test unit of Irkutsk aviation plant - a branch of Irkut Corporation. Test results of the first MC-21-300 aircraft passing certification tests were taken into account in the production of the new aircraft.The components and units of the fourth flight test aircraft are being assembled at the Irkutsk Aviation Plant.
Currently, two MC-21-300 aircraft are taking part in flight certification tests at the airfield of Flight Test Institute named after M.M. Gromov. The aircraft for static testing is being tested at Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute (TsAGI). President of UAC and Irkut Corporation Yuri Slusar stated, “In 2018 flight and ground certification tests of aircraft prototype confirmed the main design solutions. UAC enterprises have begun to manufacture parts and units of MC-21-300 aircraft intended for customer’s delivery. Joining to the flight tests of new aircraft and production intensification of mass-produced airplanes are the main tasks for 2019. ”
Since the beginning of flight tests in late May 2017, the aircraft has carried out more than 30 flights. In October 2017, MC-21-300 made a non-stop flight from Irkutsk Aviation Plant (IAP) to the airfield of the Flight Research Institute, located near Moscow. Here, a modern testing base has been constructed on which the main part of the debugging and certification flight tests will take place. Test flights have taken place at altitudes of up to 12,000 meters and speeds of up to 860 km/h. The maximum flight duration has exceeded 6 hours with a range of 4500 km.
To obtain a certificate of the type, it is necessary that the experimental MC-21-300s performs about 1000 flights. Applications for aircraft certification have been submitted to Russian certification authorities and EASA. According to the current plans, the Russian type certificate for MC-21-300 will be received in 2019, a similar EASA document - in 2020.
In the interest of the MC-21 programme, an unprecedented number of certification and qualification tests is being conducted. For their implementation, 56 stands, deployed in the Irkut Corporation and partner companies, are used. A significant volume of tests is connected, first of all, with the wide use of composite materials in the construction of the MC-21 aircraft. Of these, in particular, the wing caissons and the tail fins of the aircraft are made. In December 2017, the composite wing caisson successfully passed the static tests, demonstrating a significant margin of safety as per the design loads.
On the first test aircraft, a Pratt & Whitney PW-1400G-JM engine, which is certified by FAA and EASA, was installed. Customers of MC-21-300 are provided with an option to choose an alternative engine - Russian PD-14, which is being tested in a flying laboratory. The wide use of composites and other innovative solutions are intended to provide the aircraft of the MC-21 family with the superiority in performance and economy over existing narrow-bodied aircraft. The composite high aspect-ratio wing greatly improves aerodynamics. Implemented innovations will allow to reduce operating expenses by 5-7% compared to the latest variants of popular narrow-bodied airliners of similar capacity.
Another distinct difference between the MС-21 family aircraft from its competitors is that the fuselage is of an increased diameter. This provides increased comfort for passengers and reduced working hours at airports. The order book of 175 aircraft will ensure the production for many years to come.