The aviation engineers and specialists are in final stage to complete the certification stage of the flight tests of the prospective aircraft engine PD-14 for the new Russian passenger plane Irkut MC-21. The process is expected to end in last quarter of 2017. Currently the passenger liner is using PW 1400G engines manufactured by the American Pratt & Whitney, but the Russian model is expected to be more efficient and lower consumption.
“In March, the second stage of flight tests was completed, and now we are preparing the third stage, already certified, it will allow us to put the engines on the MC-21”, said the managing director and general designer of the JSC ODK-Aviadvigatel, Alexander Inozemtsev. “The third stage of flight tests will be completed by the end of 2017, after that it is planned to sign a special act authorizing to equip aircraft with domestic engines”, added he.
Earlier, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev instructed experts to consider the prospects for commercial use of the MC-21, which is expected to be mass-produced in 2019. Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said in late May that the aircraft will be tested in 2018, and in the spring of 2019 he will fly only with a Russian engine.
Irkut MC-21 is a Russian single-aisle twinjet airliner, developed by the Yakovlev Design Bureau and produced by Irkut, both within United Aircraft Corporation. The airplane will have capacity for 132-163 passengers in two class, or up to 165-211 passengers in single class with maximum ranger of 3,200–3,500 miles. Irkut MC-21 has overall length of 42.20 m and wingspan of 35.90 m.
