MC-21 is a project of twin-engine short and medium haul Russian aircraft with a capacity of 150-212 passengers, developed and produced by Irkut Corporation and Yakovlev Design Bureau of the United Aircraft Corporation group.
MC-21 was created on the basis on the never-realized, twin-engine Yakovlev Yak-242 as a development of the three-engine Yakovlev Yak-42. At the start of the production, it was assumed that the airliner will receive the name of the Yak-242, but later it was renamed MC-21 – Magistralny Samolyot 21 veka – the airliner of the 21st century.
The initial design was to include about 33% composite materials, increasing to 40-45% after a composite wing is added. In March 2008, Irkut signed a contract with Sukhoi Civil Aircraft Company for designing and manufacturing composite wings for the aircraft. In August 2009, Hamilton Sundstrand, a subsidiary of United Technologies Corporation, signed a $2.3 billion contract to supply systems for the aircraft. In addition, Irkut chose Rockwell Collins and Avionika to supply the MC-21’s avionics.
In December 2009, it was announced that Irkut selected two engine options to power the MC-21 aircraft: Pratt & Whitney’s PW1000G and Russian Aviadvigatel PD-14. By June 2011, the pre-design phase of development had been completed, giving an estimated completion date of an aircraft in the middle of 2012. However, at the start of that year Dimitry Rogozin, vice-premier of Russian Government, announced that MC-21 will be completed 2015-2016 and delivery was planned for 2017.
In February, 2014 the Irkutsk aircraft plant began assembling the first prototype MS-21-300 aircraft. On June 8, 2016 the aircraft was introduced to public with intention to make the first flight by the end of the year. The aircraft will be available in several models: MC-21-200 with maximum passenger capacity of 150, MC-21-300 seating up to 180, and MC-21-400 – up to 212 passengers. The MC-21 has been ordered over 250 times: MC-21 has 175 firm and 100 soft orders. Its launch carrier will be Aeroflot in 2018.
News & Image Sources: Internet.