The development of MS-21 (the next-generation airliner of the 21st century) is on schedule, Rossiyskaya Gazeta reports with reference to Irkut Corporation Vice-President Kirill Budaev.
The roll-out ceremony for the first MS-21 prototype should be held in late 2015 in Irkutsk. The jet will perform its maiden flight in mid-2016. During 2016-2018 period the liner’s testing and certification should be completed. Deliveries of production MS-21 jets should begin in 2019. So far firm orders (with advanced payment) have been placed for 175 MS-21 airliners.
The aircraft is being developed in cooperation with many foreign companies, including leading enterprises of USA and Western Europe. According to the Irkut Corporation President Oleg Demchenko not a single company has withdrawn from the project. Negotiations held at Le Bourget airshow confirmed their readiness to continue cooperation with our country.