IRKUTSK. Nov 30 (Interfax) - An MC-21-310 airliner with Russian-built PD-14 engines assembled at the Irkutsk Aviation Plant, which belongs to the Irkut Corporation (part of Rostec's United Aircraft Corporation, UAC), should carry out its first flight before the end of 2020, Russian Industry and Trade Minister Denis Manturov told journalists on Friday.
"We've just listened to a report by the plant's engineers and management on how work is proceeding. The testing systems are being adjusted now. Specialists from the Yakovlev Design Bureau are expected to arrive within the next few days to prepare for the first flight," Manturov said.
An MC-21 with Russian engines could fly for the first time on December 17 or December 18, he said.
"We expect the plane to perform its maiden flight before the end of this year at the latest," Manturov said.
Irkut completed construction on an experimental MC-21-310 with Russian PD-14 engines in November.
The MC-21 is a medium-haul passenger airliner being developed by enterprises incorporated in Rostec. The plane should be equipped with either Russian-built PD-14 or U.S.-built PW1400G engines developed by Pratt&Whitney. Several planes with U.S.-made engines are already undergoing flight tests. The start of the plane's serial production has been postponed several times and is now officially set for the end of 2021.
The PD-14 is a basic turbofan engine with a takeoff thrust ranging from 9 to 18 tonnes, manufactured by United Engine Corporation (UEC, incorporated in Rostec) enterprises. This engine should be used, in particular, for the MC-21.
The Russian Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsia) certified the engine in October 2018, which allows its operation in Russia. To operate on foreign markets, the PD-14 must be certified according to European Union Aviation Safety Agency standards, which is expected to happen in 2020, according to the latest available data.