Irkut

Russia-based aircraft manufacturer Irkut has rolled out its first MC-21 passenger aircraft at the company’s Irkutsk aviation plant.

MC-21 is a range of twin-engine, short to mid-range aircraft that can carry between 150 and 212 passengers.

The airliners are currently built for upcoming flight and strength tests at Irkut’s assembly line at the Irkutsk aviation plant.

Irkut president Oleg Demchenko said: "We managed to get together the team of like-minded colleagues.

"All programme members are the leaders of domestic and world aviation industries. We work together and we believe in MC-21 aircraft being the best in its class."

The MC-21 airliner has been developed and co-produced by Irkut and Yakovlev Design Bureau of the United Aircraft (UAC) group.

Other UAC enterprises such as Aviastar-SP, newly established AeroCompozit and UAC-Aggregation Center are also involved in the MC-21 programme.

"We work together and we believe in MC-21 aircraft being the best in its class."

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said: "The creation of MC-21 aircraft is the tremendous victory of aviation industry, the victory of Irkut Corporation, our scientists, designers, our engineers, and workers."

Expected to replace the ageing Tupolev Tu-204 airliner, the MC-21 will make their first test flights by the end of the year or early next year, reported AFP.

The aircraft is slated to come into service by late 2018.

Five years ago, Russia begun the commercial service of short-haul Sukhoi Superjet aircraft, but the country’s aviation agency grounded the Superjets in 2013 due to technical issues faced by the aircraft.

Image: The first MC-21 passenger aircraft was unveiled at Irkut’s Irkutsk aviation plant in Russia. Photo: courtesy of Irkut Corporation.