The MS-21-310 medium-haul airliners are continuing the certification program. In February 2026, four aircraft took part in the tests, which together logged more than 110 flight hours and completed 26 flights, the publication "Tekhnosfera Rossiya" reported.
Aircraft No. 73055 completed the Arctic program, carrying out departures from Syktyvkar, and made a flight to the Sabetta area without landing.
The crew checked the operation of the domestic inertial navigation system in the conditions of the Far North, as well as the functioning of onboard equipment during a long flight. Over the month, this aircraft completed 14 sorties.
Aircraft 73057 completed nine flights, 73051 completed two, and 73054 completed one. During the program, the airliner's stability and controllability were assessed in various modes.
Certification tests of the MS-21 are continuing in parallel with the assembly of the first production aircraft at the Irkutsk Aviation Plant.
Analysts from the YouTube channel Luxe Fleet presented a comparison of the characteristics of the import-substituted MS-21-310 and the American Boeing 737 MAX. They concluded that the Russian aircraft currently looks more logical for domestic carriers, while Boeing is more versatile on the global market. The analysts explained their conclusion by the American brand's developed service support.
Read more materials on the topic:
- Production of critically important MS-21-310 units was sharply increased
- The production MS-21-310 was sent for inspection of all electrical units
- The Irkutsk Aviation Plant is assembling 20 MS-21 aircraft simultaneously
