The developers of the LMS-901 "Baikal" aircraft deliberately abandoned the idea of a fully composite airframe, although composites became one of the main technologies of the Russian MS-21 airliner. Aviation expert Artyom Kirillov explained the difference in design approaches.
He reminded that the LMS-901 must operate where there are no large airports, hangars, and specialized service centers. This refers to small airfields in Siberia, the Far East, and the Far North, where the An-2 continues to fly today.
For a local air service aircraft, the ability to repair it far from large service centers is often more important than a few percent of weight savings. That is why "Baikal" received a mixed design, and did not become a reduced copy of the MS-21.
Kirillov added that for "Baikal", maintainability came to the forefront. A damaged aluminum structure can be restored almost in the field, while the repair of composite elements requires special equipment.
But LMS-901 also did not do without composites. They are used where they provide an advantage - in cowlings, doors, fairings, interior elements, and aerodynamic surfaces.