The second import-substituted sample of the medium-range MC-21 aircraft made a non-stop flight from Irkutsk to Zhukovsky on Thursday, November 13. After it, the crew of PJSC Yakovlev (part of the Rostec Group) spoke about their impressions of the aircraft, separately mentioning the control system.
Honored test pilot Andrei Voropaev clarified that no failures were recorded on the way to the Moscow region, the flight was normal.
No failures. No comments on the operation of either the control system, which we now finally have completely domestic, or other aircraft systems. In fact, we evaluated the operation of all aircraft systems. It is very important for us to use this opportunity during flights both in Siberia and on approaches to our European part. Therefore, we are very pleased with the condition of the aircraft.
Hero of Russia, test pilot Oleg Mutovin added that the crew moved along the air route, first at an altitude of 11 km, then the plane rose higher due to the movement of other aircraft.
All parameters were normal. In general, we even managed to have lunch. That is, there were no problems. Almost the entire flight after takeoff, we turned on the autopilot, as civilian pilots do, and followed the route. We used 15 tons of fuel.
Onboard engineer Anton Kuznetsov also confirmed that the aircraft showed itself in the best light, the flight was absolutely normal.
The aircraft has an increased level of comfort — large portholes, a wider passage between the seats and increased luggage racks. In a two-class layout ("business" + "economy"), it will be able to take 175 passengers on board, 16 of them in the "business" class. The first serial aircraft are already in production at the Irkutsk Aviation Plant. Completion of certification is planned for 2026.
Aviation expert Oleg Panteleev explained that the more ground tests and test flights are carried out, the lower the probability that some defect will not be detected precisely at the testing stage.
Earlier www1.ru reported that a military transport aircraft Il-76 crashed in Africa.
