In January 2026, the certification program for the Russian MS-21 passenger airliner experienced some slowdown in pace. According to the latest data, only one prototype aircraft took part in flights — board number 73055, which completed six sorties with a total duration of 19 hours. This is four flights and 11 hours more than in the previous reporting period. The overall level of certification progress reached 70%, gaining only 1% over the month.
Test flights of aircraft 73055 were focused on checking onboard systems and handling characteristics in adverse weather conditions. In addition, the aircraft practiced automatic landing scenarios followed by a go-around, which is an important stage for ensuring safety in real operational situations.
At the same time, the second prototype aircraft — 73057 — has not yet taken to the air in 2026. In January, work was carried out on it to integrate a domestically produced passenger cabin interior, which underscores the emphasis on import substitution in the project.
It is expected that in the coming months the intensity of testing will increase with the involvement of additional aircraft.
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