New MC-21 passenger airliner presented in Siberia

A new air passenger airliner, the MC-21, the acronym of which stands for 21^st century long-haul aircraft, was presented in Irkutsk (2,610 miles from Moscow) the Rossiyskaya Gazeta newspaper reported on June 8.

The new model was developed as a mass-scale and commercially viable analog of another Russian standard bearer – the Superjet.

Alexander Korolkov / RG

Alexander Korolkov / RG

Alexander Korolkov / RG

Alexander Korolkov / RG

Alexander Korolkov / RG

Alexander Korolkov / RG

Alexander Korolkov / RG

 

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The MC-21 is slated to replace the Tu-204 and Tu-154B/M in the Russian market, as well as the top-selling Boeing 737 and A-320. The company already has supply contracts for 175 planes. Aeroflot, Russia’s national carrier, became its first customer and will buy 50 liners.

The dimensions of the new Russian plane are the same as its western counterparts. Foreign components in the MC-21 range from 30-40 percent. It can carry between 150-211 passengers depending on the model.

Flight tests will be held at the end of 2016 with large-scale production to begin in 2017. Beginning in 2020 the Irkut Corporation aircraft manufacturer will produce approximately 30 planes per year.

First published in Russian in Rossiyskaya Gazeta.

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