PJSC Yakovlev (part of the United Aircraft Corporation, Rostec State Corporation) will continue to work on reducing the weight of the MC-21 aircraft. This was announced by the chief designer of the aircraft, Vitaly Naryshkin.
According to him, the MC-21 was originally designed with characteristics better than those of Western competitors.
We will reduce the weight of the structure itself, we will reduce the weight of systems together with suppliers. We will work on the aerodynamics of the aircraft, we will increase the reliability of systems, and expand functionality. The aircraft, of course, will grow and develop. It is impossible without this today. One of the main problems with the Tu-154 and Yak-42 is that they were made and then not modernized for many years, and they simply became morally and physically obsolete. This is not possible now, because our competitors are constantly improving something.
The key advantage was provided by the new wing and the new engine, but then Boeing and Airbus carried out re-motorization and installed new generation engines.
We, let's say, have become equal. The PD-14 has prospects for improvement to the same level as the best foreign engines in the class. It is impossible any other way now. And the Airbus 320, our closest competitor, which was laid down in the 80s and began flying in the late 80s, is also constantly being improved. And we need to do the same. Otherwise, we will fall behind again, because progress is now very powerful.
Last week at the Gromov Flight Research Institute airfield in Zhukovsky the operation of the second MC-21-310 aircraft with domestic control system drives was tested. The crew checked the stability and controllability of the aircraft.
