Wind tunnel testing of the MC-21 design was held in late 2015 though delays with the composite wing has, in turn, delayed the MC-21 program as a whole by several months meaning that a rollout is not expected until mid-2016. A first flight is, therefore, scheduled for late-2016. An MC-21 specimen is undergoing final assembly at Irkutsk as of this writing (February 2016).
Russian carrier Aeroflot has signed on for 50 aircraft while Irkut claims total received orders from various carriers (mainly Russian) to be around 276 (175 of this total considered "firm" orders).
The initial commercial model is expected to become the 160-to-210-seat MC-21-300ER form with certification planned for sometime in 2017 or 2018 (2018 being more likely). The other versions to come include the MC-21-200ER, a dimensionally smaller variant with seating up to 175 passengers, and the MC-21-400ER.
The MC-21 program was originally known under the "MS-21" designator.
June 2016 - On June 8th, 2016 the first MC-21 prototype was debuted to the public by way of ceremony handled by UAC.
March 2017 - It has been announced that the MC-21 will require strengthened wings after testing revealed weakness in the members over time.
April 2017 - The MC-21 is expecting its first-flight sometime in 2017.
May 2017 - The MC-21, in prototype form, has officially recorded its first flight with PW1400G-JM engines, this coming on May 28th, 2017. Certification is planned for the proposed Aviadvigatel PD-14 turbofans for sometime 2018. One-hundred seventy-five aircraft are contracted for as of this writing.
January 2018 - Aeroflot is confirmed as a customer of the MC-21 with an order for fifty aircraft in the MC-21-300 production guise. Deliveries are expected between 2020 and 2026.
May 2018 - A second flyable prototype has joined the test program of the MC-21-300 narrowbody airliner series. Its first flight was recorded on May 12th, 2018.
July 2018 - Russian regulators have been working with European regulators on systems certification for the MC-21 platform.
February 2019 - A fifth prototype for the MC-21 project is expected before the end of 2019.
March 2019 - Engineers has been testing an all-new wing mainplane design for use in the MC-21 airliner series. The wings are a product of AeroComposite.
December 2020 - The MC-21-310 narrow-body passenger jet variant is expected to make its first flight before the start of 2021.
December 2020 - The MC-21 has flown with locally-built Russian Aviadvigatel PD-14 turbofan engines for the first time.
Specifications
Year: 2021
Status In-Development
Crew 2
Production 4 Units
United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) / Irkut - Russia
Azerbaijan (ordered); Indonesia (signed); Kazakhstan (signed); Peru (signed); Russia (ordered)
- Commercial Market
- VIP Transport
Length:
118.11 ft (36 m)
Width:
118.11 ft (36 m)
Height:
37.73 ft (11.5 m)
2 x Aviadvigatel PD-14A OR Pratt & Whitney PW1400G turbofan engines developing 27,500 lb of thrust each.
Max Range:
3,107 miles (5,000 km; 2,700 nm)
(Showcased performance values pertain to the Irkut MC-21-200ER production model; Compare this aircraft entry against any other in our database)
None.
(Showcased armament details pertain to the Irkut MC-21-200ER production model)
MC-21 - Base Series Designation.
MC-21-300 - Base production model.
MC-21-200 - Short-fuselage variant.
MC-21-400 - Proposed 250-seat variant.
MC-21-200ER - Extended range variant with seating for 130 to 175 passengers.
MC-21-300ER - Extended range variant with seating for 160 to 210 passengers.
MC-21-400ER - Extended range variant.
MS-21 - Original product designation.
General Assessment
Firepower
Performance
Survivability
Versatility
Impact
Values are derrived from a variety of categories related to the design, overall function, and historical influence of this aircraft in aviation history.
Overall Rating
The overall rating takes into account over 60 individual factors related to this aircraft entry. The rating is out of a possible 100.
16
City-to-City Ranges
NYC
LDN
LDN
PAR
PAR
BER
BER
MSK
MSK
TKY
TKY
SYD
SYD
LAX
LAX
NYC
Irkut MC-21-200ER operational range when compared to distances between major cities.
Aviation Era Span
Showcasing era cross-over of this aircraft design.
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