AIR TRANSPORT
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Air Transport PTwinjet behaved normally in 1h 7min sortie from Irkutsk on 12 MayIrkutI
rkut’s second flight-test MC-
has conducted its maiden sortie,
almost a year since the type’s first
test airframe initially became air-
borne.
The second aircraft – MC0003,
numbered 73053 – took off from
the airframer’s facility at Irkutsk
on 12 May for a relatively short
flight lasting 1h 7min.
Irkut says the aircraft under-
went basic stability checks, un-
dercarriage retraction, and wing
configuration tests.
The aircraft reached an alti-
tude of 3,000m (9,840ft) and
speeds of up to 215kt (400km/h).
It behaved normally and the
intended testing was completed,
the airframer says.
The manufacturer points out
that development of the secondMC-21-300, which was moved
from assembly to the flight-test
division on 25 March, has taken
into account the findings of the
trials performed with the first air-
craft. That MC-21 initially flew
on 28 May last year.
“Flight of the second aircraft is
a significant event that will en-
sure timely conduct of flight cer-
tification tests,” says Russian
trade and industry minister Denis
Manturov.
Two flight-test MC-21s, pow-
ered by Pratt & Whitney
PW1400G engines, are currently
complemented by a third airframe
which is undergoing static tests.
Three additional flight-test vehi-
cles are being assembled by Irkut.
The airframer is also carrying
out “active preparations” for seri-al production of the twinjet, says
Manturov; supplier Aviastar has
already begun manufacture of
composite fuselage panels for the
first customer aircraft at its Uly-
anovsk facility.
Yuri Slyusar, president of Irkut
parent United Aircraft, says that a
“profound modernisation” of
Russia’s aerospace industry has
taken place in recent years, in-cluding the creation of modern
assembly lines and the develop-
ment of competencies in high-
tech materials.
“The new high-tech produc-
tion will ensure the development
of the MC-21 programme and
other prospective aviation pro-
jects,” he says.
The first test MC-21, which is
stationed at the Gromov institute
in Moscow, has been performing a
range of certification activities, in-
cluding single-engined operations,
take-off and landing stability, and
handling at extreme attitudes.
Irkut carried out crucial wing-
strength testing last year which
led to reinforcement of the
MC-21’s structure. ■DEVELOPMENT DAVID KAMINSKI-MORROW LONDONMC-21 lifted by second aircraft’s flight
Latest test vehicle incorporates changes over initial example, as airframer gears up for serial production of narrowbodyInitial prototypes are powered by Pratt & Whitney PW1400G enginesIrkut“The new high-tech
production will ensure
development of the
MC-21 programme”
Yuri Slyusar
President, United AircraftSecure Cockpit
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