Flight testing of Russia's second MC-21 to start soon

When testing is complete, the new Russian medium-range passenger airliner is expected to become more than a match for the Boeing-737 and Airbus A-320, two of the most popular single-aisle jetliners around.

The first MC-21-300 prototype has already carried out 33 test flights, and will be joined by a second test plane in late February or early march, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitri Rogozin has confirmed.

Rogozin, an official whose portfolio includes aerospace and defense, explained that the assembly of the second MC-21 is being wrapped up at the Irkutsk Aviation Plant. He also confirmed that that the Irkut Corporation is on track to start mass production of the aircraft in 2019.

The MC-21, a new short and medium-haul jetliner with a capacity of 130-220 passengers across its MC-21-200, and MC-21-300 variants, has a range of up to 6,000 km. The company is also mulling the creation of a 250 passenger variant, the MC-21-400.

Developers, officials and flight testers have touted the plane's many expected advantages against competitors, including improved fuel consumption figures, lower maintenance requirements, higher cruising speed, more comfortable cabin pressure and climate control, better noise isolation, and a price tag which can run tens of millions of dollars below that of Boeing and Airbus's offerings.

These advantages are believed to have been achieved thanks to developer Yakovlev Design Bureau's leading-edge design decisions in airframe, engine, and avionics technologies, including a composite wing-design.

The MC-21 will be powered by two next-gen PD-14 turbofan engines produced by Aviadvigatel Company. The planes can also be fitted with the PW1400G power plant, produced by American engine firm Pratt & Whitney.