The first flying prototype of the Russian single-aisle MS-21 aircraft left the final Assembly shop at the aircraft factory of Corporation “Irkut”. On Thursday, may 4, write “Izvestia”, citing a source in the aviation industry.
According to the publication, the MS-21 has completed the next stage of testing, and began the final stage of preparation for the first test flight. Airliner, claimed as a competitor to the Boeing 737 MAX and Airbus A320neo, was up in the air in February-March 2017, but the deadline was postponed.
In October 2016, it became known that to support the sales of MS-21 to 2025 will require about 200 billion rubles. Almost 100 billion needed as subsidies for leasing companies to ensure that they have installed on the MS-21 competitive interest rate another 75 billion will go to the manufacturer of the liner to create a system of after-sales maintenance and guarantee of the residual value.
Short and medium-haul passenger aircraft MS-21 is being created to replace the outdated vessels of the Tu-154. The aircraft is able to carry from 150 to 210 passengers. The maximum flight distance — up to five thousand kilometers. In late 2018 or early 2019, the first flight instances of MS-21 should be put “to Aeroflot”.