RT reported that on April 29, state technology and defense corporation Rostec said that the latest prototype of the self-developed MC-21 by Russia - assembled entirely with domestic components - had successfully made its first flight.
The plane took off from Irkutsk Airlines terminal and flew for 1 hour and 15 minutes, reaching a speed of 580 km/h and an altitude of 3,000 m. After that, Rostec confirmed that all systems were operating perfectly.
Rostec said the MC-21 is equipped with a PD-14 engine, and claimed that this is the first new-generation rocket engine developed in modern times in Russia.
In the process of developing PD-14, Rostec said it has applied 16 important technologies to create new materials, new coatings and design solutions to replace domestically produced engines.
The MC-21 is the first narrow-body, medium-range aircraft designed and manufactured by Russia since the collapse of the Soviet Union. With a capacity of 163 to 211 passengers, this model is expected to replace the previous position held by the Tu-154 - currently mainly occupied by foreign models.
Rostec CEO and Board Member Oleg Evtushenko said that about 80 foreign-made systems and components have been replaced, praising the efforts of domestic aircraft manufacturers in the process of eliminating dependence on external supply chains, in the context of Russia still facing many sanctions from the European Union (EU).
Mr. Evtushenko added that the MC-21 is expected to replace Airbus and Boeing aircraft in Russian airspace, and when combined with a PD-14 engine, this model is expected to bring high economic efficiency while not requiring large operating costs.
Not stopping there, Russia is continuing to develop some other domestic aircraft models, typically the Tu-214 and Sukhoi Superjet New - the aircraft model that also successfully made its first test flight in early April.
