The aircraft was piloted by the commander of the aircraft - the test pilot of the 1st class of the Yakovlev Experimental Design Bureau Vasily Sevastyanov and the second pilot - test pilot of the 1st class of the Yakovlev Experimental Design Bureau Andrei Voropayev. The flight lasted six hours and passed in normal mode, all systems worked without failures.

Flight tests of the first MC-21-300 aircraft are conducted from May 28, 2017. During the tests, the performance of systems in a wide range of speeds and heights was assessed; the characteristics in various take-off and landing and cruising configurations were checked; confirmed the operability and characteristics of the instrumental landing system; the height H = 12 500 m, the speed M = 0.81, the true speed V = 881 km / h, the flight time - 6.2 hours; stability and controllability are estimated.

The corrections for the air signal system were obtained; the characteristics of take-off and landing with an imitation of the failure of one engine are estimated; the acceleration of the engine is estimated, including for asymmetric operation; performed flights to assess the characteristics of stability and controllability of aircraft in limit modes in preparation for flights at high angles of attack; confirmed the performance of all aircraft systems.

The production of the second aircraft took into account the results of testing the first test car. Flight tests of the then "green" second MC-21-300 aircraft were launched on May 12, 2018 at the airfield of the Irkutsk Aviation Plant, a subsidiary of the Irkut Corporation. Later, for the colouring of this aircraft, a white color was chosen, which allows to visually demonstrate the high quality of the glider surface and the accuracy of the docking of the fuselage compartments.

During flights from the factory aerodrome, with a total duration of about 14 hours, the aircraft reached a height of 12,000 m, a speed of M = 0.8, a true speed of 850 km / h. The characteristics of stability and controllability of the aircraft in various configurations of wing mechanisation with released and retracted landing gear were studied; Calibration of the system of measuring altitude-speed parameters for their correspondence to real values ​​in flight was carried out; Various modes of operation of the power plant have been tested, including, switching off and starting the engine in the air; the working capacity of aircraft systems had been tested.

Now, further tests of two experimental MC-21-300 will be conducted on the basis of LIIDK in Zhukovsky. For maintenance of test works in LIIDK the new hangar is constructed, means of ground maintenance are developed, the high-efficiency complex of gathering, processing and the analysis of the flight information is created. New technologies for processing flight test results provide high information content of flights, in each of which the on-board measurement system allows recording more than 30,000 parameters.

In total, four MC-21-300 aircraft will take part in the flight tests. The third and fourth aircraft are in the assembly stage at the Irkutsk Aviation Plant. Also, an aircraft is being built for resource tests. Preparations are also in full swing for serial production, new stations of the automated final assembly line are being put into operation. And already from the Ulyanovsk aviation plant "Aviastar-SP" to Irkutsk, the panels of the compartments of the first production aircraft were delivered.

Also, the construction of the Logistics Center was completed at the Irkutsk Aviation Plant. The center is designed for acceptance, storage, assembly, presentation for verification of components, as well as for their delivery to the assembly line. The work of the center is provided by an automated warehouse management system. The development of the Logistics Center is synchronised with the increase in the mass production of MC-21 aircraft.

At the same time the Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute. Professor N.Ye. Zhukovsky TsAGI passes static tests of another MC-21-300 aircraft: Tested for strength: aileron, air brake, spoiler and their hinge assemblies on the wing, nose and tail of the wing. Testing of slats and flaps in the airframe is completed. Prepared tests of the airframe of the aircraft for a joint case of loading by excessive internal pressure and maximum vertical overload.

In December 2017, TsAGI successfully completed an important stage of static testing of the composite wing caisson. The necessary safety factor of the structure for conducting flight tests was confirmed experimentally. At the moment, the stand is being prepared for testing the wing console for fatigue strength.

Separately, the program of strength tests of composite materials is being implemented. Isolated tests of mechanisation and controls have been completed taking into account climatic factors and impact damage. The strength of the aggregates was confirmed for the maximum possible loads under the most aggressive operating conditions. Mechanisation of the wing and controls from composites successfully pass resource tests. As of June 2018, the horizontal tail unit sustained 125,000 flight cycles. Tests continue.

The assembling of the wing of the second flight MC-21-300 at the Aerocomposite-Ulyanovsk plant

MC-21 - medium-haul aircraft with a capacity of 163-211 seats. The developer declares a 5-7% reduction in operating costs relative to the best modern narrow-bodied aircraft and the best level of comfort in the class due to the largest width of the fuselage. The aircraft has advanced aerodynamics and on-board systems of the latest generation. More than 30% of composite materials. Customers will be provided with a choice of engines: Pratt & Whitney PW1400G-JM or PDC PD-14.

At the moment, the total number of firm orders for which advance payments were received was 175 aircraft, plus about 150 orders for intentions. In 2018, the company Aviakapital-Service (as part of Rostec corporation) concluded with the «Aeroflot" airlines contract for operational leasing of 50 MC-21-300 aircraft in the layout of 16 business-class seats and 153 - economy class. Delivery period: from 2020 to 2026, the lease period is 12 years with the possibility of prolongation. The contract was signed in the development of a previously concluded contract between Aviakapital-Service and Irkut Corporation for the supply of the MC-21 aircraft.

To ensure the operation of aircraft by Aeroflot and the Irkut Corporation, a joint training center is being set up to train flight and engineering personnel of MC-21 aircraft. The center is located in the base airport of Aeroflot-Sheremetyevo. The staff of the center will include 8 simulators, including an integrated simulator with a mobility system (FFS Level D).

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