The first flight of a MS-21-300, the third consecutive prototype, took place last Saturday, March 16th, at the airfield of Irkutsk Aviation Plant - a branch of the PJSC Irkut Corporation (a part of the UAC).
The flight commenced at an altitude of 3500 meters with aircraft speed of up to 450 km / h and lasted for an hour and a half. According to the crew test pilots Andrei Voropaev and Roman Taskayev, the mission was completely accomplished, the flight commenced in the normal mode.
Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation Denis Manturov said: “Flight tests of the MS-21-300 aircrafts are undergoing. Today a third air machine joined them. In addition to special testing equipment, the third aircraft is also equipped with passenger cabin. ”
Besides, according to Denis Manturov, it was decided to hold the world premiere of MS-21-300 aircraft with a passenger cabin at the International Aviation Space Show – 2019. “This will allow us to visually demonstrate one of the most important competitive advantages of the Russian airliner - an increased level of comfort to potential customers and future passengers,” said the Minister of Industry and Trade.
President of the United Aircraft Building Corporation and Irkut Corporation PJSC Yury Slyusar mentioned that the fourth prototype MS-21-300, which is being built at the Irkutsk Aviation Plant, will join the flight tests in 2019.
Brief reminder that the third prototype MS-21-300, designed for performing flight tests, was built by Irkut Corporation in December of last year. The first flight of the MS-21 took place earlier, on May 28th 2017, and a year later, the second prototype has flown up in air on May 12th 2018.
