The Irkutsk Aviation Plant (part of PAO "Yakovlev" of Rostec) has taken a crucial step towards launching mass production of civil aircraft. The second production passenger liner MS-21-310 with factory number 0015 has been officially transferred from the final assembly shop to the flight test division.

Ahead for the aircraft is a series of key ground checks, system testing under power, and preparation for its first flight.

The freed-up assembly jigs at the plant allow for the immediate launch of final assembly of the next aircraft in the series.

Aircraft #0015 is assembled in a fully import-substituted configuration. The liner is equipped with domestic PD-14 engines, Russian navigation and avionics systems, as well as a "black wing" made of unique domestic composite materials. Commercial deliveries to airlines are scheduled for 2027.

However, former Airbus A-320 pilot Andrey Litvinov doubted the economic efficiency of the MS-21-310. According to him, an overweight of 6 tons directly raises this question for the liner.

Stanislav Ryzhakov, former director of the Ulyanovsk branch of "Tupolev", even spoke about a new problem with the aircraft's composite wings.