The ground tests and tuning-up of the fuel system of advanced Russian MS-21 passenger aircraft will be carried out using a test-bench developed by Techpribor (part of Radioelectronic Technologies Concern), press-service of Radioelectronic Technologies Concern (RTC) reports. Previously the national airframers were able to test the fuel systems only at the stage of flight testing when it was nearly impossible to make significant changes in its design.

Techpribor (part of RTC) won the international tender held by Irkut Corporation (the enterprise is developing the advanced MS-21 passenger aircraft). Techpribor will deliver the test-bench allowing Irkut to carry out comprehensive ground testing of the fuel system in terms of its reliability, functionality, failure-free performance and compliance with the requirements in the area of fuel-efficiency and safety, the press-service said.

The test results will help Irkut optimize the fuel system of MS-21 during development of the advanced jet. According to the contract the test-bench must be put into operation in the first quarter of 2015.

"The test-bench will have two platforms resembling the design of MS-21’s fuel tanks and lines. The platform are fitted with equipment and accessories providing the full-scale tests and simulating the flight conditions in terms of pitch, low pressure and temperature", - the press-service added.

"Zodiac Aerospace (France) – the Europe’s only company to have such kind of test-bench, has also taken part in the tender. However, RTC offered some unique advantages – its stand allows simulating the wing deflection, it has more sensors, allows reproducing the more precise configuration of MS-21’s fuel lines and it also has an automatic remote control making the testing more safe", - the press-service noted.

«One of the key advantages of our test-bench is the possibility of using it for testing fuel systems of different airliners and helicopters, - deputy CEO of RTC, Strategic Planning, Andrey Tyulin, said. – Our test-bench has a high flexibility and adaptability. I am sure that manufacturers of such advanced aircraft as SSJ NG, Il-112V, MTC-MTA, PAK DA, Il-78, etc. will be able to take into account different aspects of fuel system’s operation during development and provide the required level of flight safety under any operating conditions with the help of our test-bench».

We remind you that Aviapribor-Holding won the tender issued by Russian Ministry and Trade in April 2013 and signed the contract for manufacturing the development prototypes of instruments for an integrated avionics suite based on a modular avionics (IKBO IMA). The total value of this contract is 2.33 billion rubles.

MS-21 is the first Russian aircraft to be fitted with IKBO IMA. RTC demonstrated the instrument field of view of MS-21’s glass cockpit at MAKS-2013 in August 2013. According to Irkut Corporation, the share of Russian-produced avionics in the integrated avionics suite of MS-21 will exceed 80%, the press-service added.