Irkut made another advance in the development program of the MC-21-300, the company's new aircraft built with contemporary technologies. THE aircraft performed recently a flight from Zhukovsky (Moscow region) to Yakutsk for operational tests in subzero outside temperatures.

A group of experts from the Irkut Corporation and the Yakovlev Design Bureau, led by Andrei Boginsky, CEO of Irkut, went to Yakutsk to organize and carry out tests of the MC-21-300.

“Today's flight is the first to combine two factors: the distance to Zhukovsky's destination point and proof of maintenance of all aircraft systems for a long and comfortable flight with many passengers on board. The number of transported specialists exceeded 70 people. They will carry out tests to expand the aircraft's ability to operate in outside temperatures below minus 30 degrees Celsius. This is a continuation of the hard work that was undertaken last year and resulted in the MC-21-300 being type certified. We will have to carry out a series of tests to expand the certificate and deliver its first mass-produced planes to Russian airlines for operation by the end of this year.”, said Andrei Boginsky, general director of PJSC Irkut Corporation.

Daniil Brenerman, managing director of the Yakovlev Design Bureau, reported that the MC-21-300 flight from Zhukovsky to Yakutsk went smoothly.

“It will take approximately three weeks to conduct ground and flight tests in Yakutia, depending on the air temperature in the region. Each test phase is preceded by the cooling of the aircraft and in the afternoon and evening it will remain in the open parking lot for 12 hours. Yakutsk Airport and Yakutia Airlines provide technical and organizational support for the tests.”, he added.

The aircraft was operated by Oleg Mutovin and Andrey Voropaev, first class test pilots from the Yakovlev Design Bureau.

Testing of the MC-21-300 aircraft will be carried out as part of the type certificate extension which currently allows operation in outdoor air temperatures close to the ground down to -30°C.

Previously, the aircraft's systems were successfully tested in booths under temperature conditions down to -55º C.

The Irkut Corporation delegation will also have working meetings with officials from the Administration of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), the Ministry of Transport of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) and Yakutia Airlines to discuss the operation of the Corporation's civil aircraft in the region.

The MC-21-300 has capacity for 163 to 211 passengers, always in a two-class configuration. Irkut promises up to 15% lower cost of operation for the MC-21 compared to current competitors such as the Airbus A321neo.

Irkut has more than 185 orders, with over 100 options to buy, for the MC-21. However, most of these orders come from companies in Russia.