Microsoft's Fly!

According to the head of the UAC, the operation of the MS-21 will cost cheaper by about $ 2 million annually compared to the current models of Airbus 320 and Boeing 737. The number of firm orders for a new Russian airliner has remained at 175 aircraft for several years already. But this amount is enough to start the serial production of the car, the top manager believes. Production will start from 10, 20 and 30 units, and by 2025 the aircraft builder intends to go on the release of 70 aircraft per year. Earlier this figure was planned to be reached by 2024.

     Let's remind that in autumn of 2017 the draft decree on the reorganization of UAC was issued, on the basis of which the companies of the group producing civilian equipment should be consolidated on the basis of the manufacturer of MS-21 - Irkut Corporation in the form of a separate subsidiary. It will include the KB. AS Yakovlev, Irkut, Sukhoi Civil Aircraft, Aerocomposite, UAC - the center of integration and UAC-capital. The transition of UAC to a single share is planned to be completed by the end of 2019.

   The program of technical re-equipment of enterprises that participate in the creation of the MC-21 (Irkutsk Aviation Plant, Ulyanovsk Aviation Plant, Voronezh Aircraft Building Association - VABA), will require approximately 100 billion rubles. By the end of 2017, about 17% of the total reserve has already been spent. In addition, the government of the Russian Federation will allocate funds to Russian companies to create aviation service centers for maintenance of MS-21. 

In addition to the base aircraft MS-21-300, it is planned to create a shorter version of the MS-21-200 with a capacity of 132 passengers. and an extended version of MS-21-400 for 212 people. in a two-year layout. Now there is no information on the enlarged model on the Irkut Corporation's website, since its development was previously frozen. But Yuri Slyusar in his interview for the first time noted that now the extended version is more relevant, as the modern market requires aircraft of increased capacity. Let's remind, that the European competitor МС-21-400 - Airbus A321neo has already come to the market of Russia and the CIS countries. Orders were received from S7 Airlines (Siberia Airlines), Ural Airlines and Kazakhstan's Air Astana. In total, by July 31, 2018, 1969 orders were received for this aircraft all over the world. 

 In July of this year, the second flight prototype was connected to the flight test program of the MS-21. The third prototype passes static tests in TsAGI. On the first two experienced flight planes, foreign Pratt & Whitney PW1400G engines were installed. The version of MS-21 with Russian PD-14 engines will be available in Q2 2019.