Air TransportRussia Begins Certification Flights of New MC-21 Airliner
The United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) has announced the start of certification test flights of the MC-21-310, Russia’s next-generation commercial jet.
The nearly fully ‘Russified’ prototype assembled by Yakovlev performed the first flight of the certification program at the Gromov Flight Research Institute airfield in Zhukovsky, near Moscow.
According to UAC, the aircraft remained in the air for 4 hours, and tests were carried out at various altitudes.
“On the aircraft that began certification tests today, only three imported systems remain: propulsion, brakes and generators. Soon, an aircraft completely replaced by imports will join the program, in which all systems and units will be domestic. It is already on the final assembly line,” said Oleg Yevtushenko, CEO of Rostec, a state-owned corporation that controls several technology companies.
Yevtushenko also revealed that there are more than 20 aircraft in various stages of readiness at the Yakovlev plant, with deliveries set to begin in 2026.
The test aircraft number 005 (registration number 73055) took off from the Irkustk facility for Zhukovsky in May and was being prepared for the certification process.
“The start of certification tests is an important stage in the import substitution program. In order to obtain a type certificate for the fully domestic MC-21, it is planned to conduct about 220-230 test flights to ensure 100% safety of our future passengers,” said Vitaly Naryshkin, chief designer of the MS-21 at Yakovlev.
The MC-21-310 was developed after Western trade sanctions blocked the shipment of several components, including the Pratt & Whitney GTF engines, which were replaced by the PD-14 from Russia’s United Engine Corporation (UEC).
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