Two MC-21s with PD-14s staged a "dance" over Zhukovsky: why were they raised into the air?

PJSC "Yakovlev" tested the liners' import-substituted systems - from navigation to lightning protection

On Friday, October 17, two of the newest MC-21 passenger liners with Russian PD-14 engines soared into the sky at once over Zhukovsky in the Moscow region. PJSC "Yakovlev" (part of the United Aircraft Corporation) explained that the flights were part of certification tests of import-substituted equipment.

MC-21 aircraft during testing in Zhukovsky
MC-21 aircraft during testing in Zhukovsky

The MS.0012 aircraft tested the operation of the domestic inertial navigation system in autonomous mode - the route ran in a circle from Zhukovsky to Vorkuta and back.

MS.0001 tested the radio altimeter during flight with various wing mechanization configurations, in the operational range of roll and pitch at all stages of the flight. The aircraft also took to the air for the first time after checking lightning protection.

MC-21 aircraft during testing in Zhukovsky
MC-21 aircraft during testing in Zhukovsky

The tests were the next step towards certifying a fully import-substituted version of the MC-21, including the engine, avionics and control systems.

The head of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Anton Alikhanov, noted that the fully Russian MC-21 will take to the sky by the end of October 2025. The head of Rosaviatsia, Dmitry Yadrov, noted that the MC-21 has not yet replaced five foreign-made systems.

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