In the footage of the tests of the second prototype import-substituted MC-21 aircraft, aviation enthusiasts could notice a Yak-130 military aircraft accompanying the plane in the sky. The Rostec State Corporation revealed the secret of why the test flights are conducted in this way.
Rostec noted that all test flights of civilian aircraft are always accompanied, and the MC-21 is no exception.
According to regulations, a second aircraft must be in the air, conducting technological monitoring of the aircraft.
The state corporation added that the accompanying aircraft may differ depending on the manufacturer. In the case of the flight of the second prototype MC-21, it was the Yak-130 combat trainer.
The MC-21 is a new generation medium-range passenger airliner. Flight tests of the aircraft with Russian PD-14 engines began in 2025. In total, about 70 Russian components were integrated into the aircraft.
Earlier, www1.ru reported that UAC engineers underwent retraining for the tasks of future aviation projects.