Ms 21 number of seats. New systems, technologies and materials. Production and after-sales service
On June 8, the newest Russian aircraft MS-21 was presented in Irkutsk, and the Prime Minister of Russia also attended the presentation ceremony. Many experts have already spoken out that the MS-21 aircraft is one of the most modern developments on a global scale. The aircraft in some characteristics has advantages over other aircraft.
The competitive cost of the MS-21 was achieved due to the fact that a huge number (over 50%) of the components for the liner are produced in Russia - at the moment this is being done through the technical capabilities of aircraft manufacturers in the Ulyanovsk region.
The West about the Russian MS-21
Western experts did not miss the presentation of MS-21 in Irkutsk on June 8th. Various publications have already published notes with headlines that confirm that the Russian aircraft is capable of making a "coup" in the world and Russian aviation.
Of course, the fact of the presentation of the MS-21 was called a significant event in the aircraft industry, although due to the geopolitical situation and economic difficulties in Russia, not everyone believed in the successful completion of the project.
“If the MC-21 is successful, it will be the first aircraft in the world not to use an autoclave for its primary structure,” noted observers from Flight Global.
In addition, French journalists who drew attention to the novelty considered the MS-21 aircraft to be a serious “competitor” for the world-famous aircraft giants Airbus and Boeing, and in China there were those who considered the debut presentation to be “a challenge to the aircraft manufacturing giants of France and the United States”.
On May 28, 2018, a significant event for the domestic aviation industry took place: the newest Russian passenger airliner MS-21 set off on its first flight from the airfield of the Irkutsk Aviation Plant. After the successful completion of the tests, the President of Irkut Corporation PJSC Oleg Demchenko called this event historic and congratulated the company's staff. And such a statement does not look like an exaggeration: excellent flight performance passenger aircraft MS-21 gives hope that this airliner will be in demand in the future by both Russian and foreign airlines.
Irkut MS-21 is a program to create a new short-haul and medium-haul mid-body passenger aircraft, which was launched at the beginning of the 2000s. Although, in fact, the MS-21 is not one aircraft, but a whole family passenger liners, which differ in their passenger capacity, configuration and flight range. So far, the MS-21-300, which will be able to take on board 211 passengers, is undergoing tests. However, along with it, another modification of the liner was also developed - MS-21-200 with a maximum passenger capacity of 165 people.
Currently, OKB im. Yakovlev and the Irkut corporation. Initially, the OKB im. Ilyushin, but in 2008 this company left the project. It was planned that the new machine will receive the designation Yak-242, but later this idea was abandoned. Airliners are assembled at the Irkutsk Aviation Plant.
In the future, the Chinese airliner COMAS C919, as well as the American Boeing-737 MAX and the European Airbus A320 neo will become the main competitor of the MC-21 mainline aircraft.
It should be noted, however, that the cost of a new Russian aircraft lower than its Western competitors. It will be from 72 to 85 million dollars. The price of American and European analogues of the MS-21 aircraft ranges from 90 to 125 million dollars. True, the Chinese COMAS C919 airliners will obviously cost less than the Russian aircraft.
In total, $4.54 billion was spent on the MS-21 project.
So far, the MS-21 aircraft are equipped with American PW-1400G engines, but the aircraft manufacturers plan to install the Perm PD-14 on the machine.
The history of the creation of the MS-21 aircraft
Work on the creation of MS-21 began in 2002. In the middle of the last decade, the main project of the Russian aircraft industry was a passenger aircraft Sukhoi Superjet 100. When it became obvious that the Sukhoi Superjet project would be successful, the idea arose of creating a larger airliner that could compete with the products of such global giants as Airbus and Boeing.
As conceived by the creators of the MS-21, it should replace the obsolete Tu-154 aircraft and other aircraft developed back in the Soviet period. At the same time, the new airliner will not compete with the Sukhoi Superjet 100, but, on the contrary, will complement it. It is believed that in the future these two aircraft will make up about 80% of our country's passenger fleet.
Initially developed new car the design bureaus of Ilyushin and Yakovlev were engaged, and the direct production of machines was entrusted to the Irkut corporation, which today can be safely called one of the flagships of the domestic aircraft industry. Irkut produces combat aircraft Su-30, training Yak-130, and also manufactures some components of passenger cars for Airbus. In 2008, OKB im. Ilyushin left the project and specialists took up its completion design office Yakovlev. It must be said that many other Russian enterprises participated in the creation of the MS-21, for example, the unique composite wing of the aircraft was developed by the Aerocomposite concern, and the tail unit was created at the OKB im. Beriev.
It can be added that the MS-21 has a larger number of Russian components compared to the Superjet: 80% versus 60%.
The aircraft manufacturers had grandiose plans, in 2009 it was announced that the new aircraft would take off in 2013, and by 2018 its mass production would begin. However, due to underfunding and difficulties that arose during the design phase, the deadlines had to be postponed. In 2010, TsAGI carried out a purge of the engines of the future aircraft, and recommendations were given for their further operation.
In 2011, the management of the Irkut Corporation stated that the priority of the developers was to create a modification of the MS-21-300 aircraft with a passenger capacity of 211 seats, since most potential customers are interested in this particular machine. It was decided to postpone work on the modification of the MS-21-400 (more than 200 seats) until better times in order to fit into the program budget.
In 2012, Irkut signed a cooperation agreement with Pratt & Whitney, a famous American company that builds engines for civil and military aircraft. According to this document, the MS-21 was planned to be equipped with PW1400G engines.
In 2012, a demonstration of an aircraft project with domestic advanced PD-14 engines took place. This car was planned to be manufactured for Russian customers, such as the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Emergency Situations, the FSB, etc.
In early 2014, the assembly of prototypes of the airliner began at the Irkutsk Aviation Plant. In the summer of the same year, a large-scale aircraft model was tested at TsAGI.
It should be said that during the implementation of the MS-21 project in Russia, a new bench base was created almost from scratch, on which individual components and assemblies of the future machine were tested for strength and fatigue, and their aerodynamic qualities were also tested. It can be added that the implementation of this project gave a powerful impetus to the development of enterprises that are part of the UAC. A significant re-equipment of the production facilities involved in the production of the aircraft was carried out. Thanks to the implementation of the MS-21 project, new high-tech companies have appeared in the country.
A few months later, Deputy Prime Minister Rogozin announced the date of the first flight of the liner - April 2018. However, even with this deadline, a blunder turned out: on June 8, 2018, only the first presentation of the liner took place - the solemn ceremony of rolling out the aircraft from the factory hangar, it took another year to prepare the first flight of the car. The first tests of the aircraft were carried out normally, the pilots highly appreciated the aerobatic qualities of the new aircraft.
At the moment, two MS-21 aircraft have already been manufactured, eight more are in production.
Earlier, the manufacturer's plans were announced to produce 72 MS-21 aircraft per year. The project will begin to make a profit only after the sale of the 350th airliner. Back in 2018, Irkut reported that they already had a solid package of orders for 175 liners, some of which had already received prepayments. The majority of potential clients are domestic aviation and leasing companies. Interest is also reported from Iranian, Indian and Indonesian companies. In total, the developers plan to sell 1 thousand liners in twenty years.
Description of the design of the aircraft MS-21
Passenger aircraft MS-21 is made according to the scheme, classical for machines of this type and purpose. This is a twin-engine low-wing wing with a small sweep and a tricycle landing gear. It should be noted that the MS-21 project involved the development of several modifications of the aircraft at once, differing in their passenger capacity and fuselage length. Also, initially there were plans to create a passenger liner with a longer flight range as part of this project.
Composite materials are widely used in the design of the MS-21 airframe. In terms of their use (about 40%), this Russian aircraft is at the level of the best world analogues and is second only to the latest American (Boeing 787 Dreamliner - 50%) and European aircraft (Airbus A350 XWB - 53%). The MC-21 wing is completely made of carbon, which made it significantly lighter.
The MS-21 has a fuselage of a significant diameter, as for aircraft of its class (more than 4 meters), which provides its passengers with a level of comfort comparable to wide-body airliners. It is made mainly of aluminum alloys. The design of the aircraft initially included the possibility of reconfiguring the cabins, depending on the needs of a particular air carrier.
MS-21 has a classic tricycle landing gear, consisting of two main and front legs. All three supports have two-wheeled bogies; on the heavier modification MS-21-400, chassis with four-wheeled bogies may be installed.
The landing gear for the MS-21 aircraft is manufactured by the Gidromash concern, they are mainly made of steel and titanium alloys.
One of the main "highlights" of the MS-21 airliner is its wing, completely made of composite materials. Thanks to this, it was possible to significantly reduce its weight, while fully maintaining the strength and performance characteristics. The "black" wing of the MS-21 was developed and is currently being manufactured by the Aerocomposite concern. It is likely that in the coming years this airliner will be the only aircraft of this class in the world with a wing of this design. Also, the tail unit of the liner is made of composite materials.
The cockpit of the MS-21 has five large-format displays, which display information about the operation of aircraft systems and flight parameters. Previously, similar displays in the Russian civil aviation were not applied.
More recently, the crew of passenger aircraft consisted of four people: two pilots, a navigator and a flight engineer. Modern airliners are usually operated by two people, the rest of the functions are taken over by electronics.
On the MS-21, flight control is carried out using sidesticks - special control knobs. At the request of the customer, the aircraft can be equipped with indicators on the windshield of the cockpit or synthetic vision - a special system that displays the space surrounding the aircraft on electronic displays. Such a system makes it easier to control the machine in case of loss of visual visibility due to poor weather conditions or time of day. To facilitate the work of pilots, special electronic tablets have been developed for them.
Most of the on-board electronics of the MS-21 was developed and manufactured in Russia in close cooperation with the world leaders in this field - Rockwell Collins and Thales.
One of the global trends in aircraft construction is the constant increase in the level of comfort for passengers. MS-21 absolutely follows this trend: a significant width of the fuselage allows you to increase the size of the cabin and the aisles between the seats, which significantly reduces the time of boarding and disembarking passengers. For the airliner, special passenger seats were developed that are comfortable for people of different sizes, special places for invalids. Salon MS-21 will be equipped with the latest multimedia devices for watching movies and playing computer games.
The passenger cabin of the liner has large windows that provide it with sufficient natural light. The intensity of artificial lighting will change depending on the time of day, which will make it easier for passengers to endure jet lag. In addition, the designers paid great attention to the microclimate in the cabin: the aircraft is equipped with a special air conditioning and humidification system, it passes through several biological filters, and the temperature is regulated.
Overall layout passenger compartment MS-21 will support two comfort classes: economy and business class. Based on the wishes of customers, the liner can have one or two classes in the cabin.
The development of life support systems for the MS-21 passenger compartment was carried out by the Russian NPO Nauka in close cooperation with the American company Hamilton Sundstrand. The interior design was created by the French firm C&D Zodiac.
Almost 20% of the MS-21 fuselage volume is occupied by luggage compartments. The aircraft will be able to carry cargo both in special containers and in bulk. At the same time, the luggage compartment of the liner has an automatic loader, the use of which significantly reduces the time for unloading or loading luggage.
The MS-21 airliner can be equipped with two types of engines: the American PW1400G, developed by Pratt & Whitney, or the domestic PD-14, which has been developed by Aviadvigatel OJSC since 2008. While the PW1400G will be installed on the aircraft, these engines are currently considered among the most advanced in the world, they are used on passenger airliners by Airbus, Mitsubishi, Embraer and Bombardier.
The domestic aircraft engine PD-14 is now being tested, it is planned that its serial production will begin next year.
It should be noted that all types of engines that will be equipped different models MS-21, comply with international environmental regulations and standards.
Modifications of the MS-21 aircraft
As mentioned above, the MS-21 is a whole family of passenger aircraft. It includes several modifications with a very high degree of unification:
- MS-21-200. It is considered the "youngest" version of the aircraft. Its passenger capacity is 165 passengers in a single-class layout. The takeoff weight of the machine is 72.5 tons, it is planned that it will be equipped with PD-14A or PW1428G engines. Air carriers showed less interest in the MC-21-200 than in the basic modification, so its production will begin later;
- MS-21-300. This is the basic modification of the aircraft. It has a fuselage 8.5 m longer than the MS-21-200. The passenger capacity of this model can reach 211 people in a single-class layout. The takeoff weight of the machine is 79.2 tons, it is equipped with PW1431G or PD-14 engines. This modification aircraft aroused the greatest interest among potential buyers, so mass production will begin with it. The prototypes of the liner are represented by the MS-21-300 modification;
- MS-21-400. An enlarged version of an airliner. It differs from the basic modification in the increased dimensions of the fuselage and wing, and will also probably have a four-wheeled landing gear (according to other sources, also a landing gear with four struts). The passenger capacity of MS-21-400 will be 230 people, takeoff weight aircraft - 87.2 tons. The liner is planned to be equipped with a forced PD-14M engine. Due to the rather serious changes that had to be made to the design of the MS-21-400 compared to the base model, the development of this aircraft was postponed.
In the event of a successful launch of the new project, Russian aircraft manufacturers plan to significantly expand the MS-21 family by adding aircraft with a longer flight range and passenger capacity. Whether they will be implemented, the near future will show.
Prospects for MS-21
The Russian aviation industry places great hopes on the MS-21. Most new domestic aircraft are produced in such small quantities that manufacturers cannot even recoup the costs associated with development.
IN different years the Soviet and then the Russian aviation industry was engaged in the development of many projects that remained at the stage of design development or the creation of prototypes. This happened especially often with passenger aircraft. Moreover, many domestic cars that never saw the sky had very good flight performance, and in some respects even surpassed foreign competitors. Does the MS-21 have a future, given the high level of competition that reigns in this area?
MS-21 is a medium-haul airliner, that is, it belongs to the most numerous niche of passenger aircraft. Now such cars occupy 78% of the total number of commercial passenger liners. To estimate the size of this market segment, only one figure can be given: in the next twenty years, 30,000 medium-haul aircraft will be sold in the world. That is, potentially MS-21 has excellent prospects.
However, competition among aircraft manufacturers is unusually high. Currently, the niche of medium-haul aircraft is almost completely closed by the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320. On May 7, 2018, the Chinese medium-haul passenger airliner Comac C919 made its first flight, its operation is scheduled for 2020. According to its characteristics, it is very similar to the MS-21-300, but there is practically no doubt that the new "Chinese" will cost much less than not only its Western counterparts, but also the Russian aircraft. Now the figure is 50 million dollars. The Chinese manufacturer already says it has a batch of 517 firm orders for the C919 to date.
On the other hand, we can state the fact that Russian aircraft manufacturers have managed to create a really good car, which is in no way inferior to Western counterparts.
This machine will be equipped with the latest Western engine, environmentally friendly and economical, which can be called an undoubted advantage of the project. For the task of persuading foreign customers to buy a passenger liner with a Russian engine is incredibly difficult. Since the collapse of the USSR, the domestic aircraft engine building industry has not created a single new engine for passenger liners and has lagged far behind the main world manufacturers. Even the engine for the Sukhoi Superjet had to be created in cooperation with the French. The PD-14 will first have to be tested on domestic Russian lines, and only then offered abroad.
MS-21 has on-board electronics with the so-called open architecture, which allows you to install equipment from any manufacturer on it. The cockpit and passenger compartment are made according to the latest international standards.
Since the MS-21 is a new aircraft, a large volume of luggage compartment, spacious luggage racks, comfortable and wide seats, as well as significant aisles between them. Existing and prospective medium-haul Airbus aircraft and Boeing are modifications of old models that inherited their fuselages. Therefore, they will not be able to offer such amenities to their passengers.
In addition to the above advantages, MS-21 has a very competitive price compared to Western counterparts. However, the fact is that the price of the aircraft indicated in the catalog is only one of the factors that determines the choice of this or that model of the liner by the buyer.
A huge disadvantage of Russian aircraft is the almost complete absence of an after-sales service system. For example, Boeing customers receive a guarantee (usually 3-4 years) for the main components of the aircraft. In addition, buyers of Airbus and Boeing aircraft know that, if necessary, a new part will be delivered anywhere in the world within 12-14 hours. Also, potential customers, as a rule, are offered a whole package of financial options (payment terms, leasing, loans for the purchase). European and American manufacturers over the decades have managed to create a complex system for attracting customers, and neither China nor Russia has anything to counter this yet.
However, despite the rather unclear commercial prospects of the Russian airliner, the MS-21 can still be considered a breakthrough for the domestic aircraft industry. It is not known whether the billions that the state has invested in the creation of new production facilities and the construction of experimental aircraft will pay off, but in any case, the MS-21 project is a significant step towards Russia's entry into the international aviation market.
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22:51 — REGNUM
On May 28, 2017, a significant event for the Russian civil aviation industry took place - the first flight was made by the newest passenger airliner MS-21. The plane spent about 30 minutes in the air, rising to a height of 1 km and accelerating to a speed of 300 km/h. The flight was carried out in closed mode. Recall that MS-21 left the assembly shop on May 4. Can the new Russian airliner become competitive and commercially successful?
MS-21 belongs to the most popular class of passenger aircraft
The first passenger aircraft developed from scratch in Russia was the regional short-range airliner Sukhoi Superjet 100 (SSJ-100). By the standards of modern Russian civil aviation, a significant number of SSJ-100s have been built. Since 2008, 128 boards have been produced, of which 108 have been delivered to customers. Unfortunately, some “narrowness” of the market regional aircraft did not allow manufacturers to reach the planned annual production of 60 aircraft, respectively, the aircraft did not become profitable. On the other hand, there is no need to talk about some kind of “crazy” failure either, since only about $ 400 million was spent on the development of the aircraft. budget money(and another $600 million in extra-budgetary investments) is one of the not-so-frequent examples of the efficient use of public funds for last years. In addition, useful experience was gained and it was possible to assemble the backbone of specialists capable of developing modern passenger aircraft.
As for the MS-21, the aircraft created by the Irkut Corporation belongs to the class of narrow-body short/medium haul aircraft. Currently, the MS-21-300 (160-211 seats) and MS-21-200 (130-176 seats) liners are being developed, the maximum flight range of aircraft is 6000 and 6400 km, respectively. The world's most popular airliner models such as the AirbusA-320 (more than 7,500 units produced) and the Boeing-737 (more than 7,000 units produced) fall into the same category. The market for these products is huge - for example, new modifications of the A-320neo (in operation since January 2016) and Boeing-737 MAX (first flight in January 2016) already have huge orders - about 2600 and 2500 aircraft, respectively. Moreover, according to Boeing, between 2016 and 2035, the global market demand for narrow-body airliners will be a mind-boggling 28,140 units worth $3 trillion. It is easy to guess that even 5-10% (1407-2814 units worth $150-300 billion) from this "pie" can bring huge profits. Obviously, it will be incredibly difficult for the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) to claim the huge North American and Western European markets (the need for about 11,000 aircraft). At the same time, it is necessary to set a clear goal to obtain over these years most CIS market (about 800 boards) and compete for contracts in Asia (about 11,000 boards), Latin America (about 2,500 boards), Africa (about 900 boards) and the Middle East (about 1,500 boards).
Will the MS-21 manage to win a part of the world market?
It will not be easy to do this - here it is not enough just to offer an aircraft with competitive characteristics (as the MS-21 has declared) and a price. The catalog cost of the MS-21 will be about 85 million, while the cheapest Boeing-737 MAX will cost the customer $87 million, and the A319neo costs $94.4 million. In this sense, the Russian aircraft is doing well. But do not forget another new player - China, which is testing its Comac C919, which is in the same class. While the cost of this aircraft has not been officially determined, but judging by the pre-order for these aircraft in the amount of 380 units worth $ 26 billion, it is easy to calculate that on average one aircraft will cost the customer about $ 68 million. At first glance, everything is simple - the Chinese should gradually “kill » all its competitors due to such a low cost. But the fact is that in reality, the same Airbus and Boeing give huge discounts to large customers. For example, on average. The same goes for "American". It will be even more difficult for Russian manufacturers than for the Chinese - the Celestial Empire has its own huge air transportation market, which, for sure, will be “persuaded” by the administrative resource to purchase a domestic aircraft. The CIS market, where Russia can dominate, is much smaller and freer than the Chinese one. Of the difficulties for the Russian side, it is also worth noting the fact that the KLA does not have such developed infrastructure maintenance of aircraft delivered abroad, and this is one of the most important factors influencing the choice of an aircraft by a buyer. A lot of work still needs to be done in this direction. This issue is somewhat simplified by the fact that both the American Pratt & Whitney PW1400G engines and the Russian PD-14 engine being tested can be installed on the aircraft. Obviously, with a Russian engine (even with its excellent performance), it would be much more difficult to sell aircraft outside of Russia (including due to the difficulties of certification).
The task of pushing the giants of the civil aircraft industry is not set
At the moment, the portfolio of orders for the MS-21 is 285 aircraft, of which advance payments have already been made for 185. About $5 billion will be spent on the development of the aircraft, and 300 aircraft will need to be sold to achieve profitability. This “minimum task” is quite feasible. Another question is that this, of course, is not enough. Denis Manturov, Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation, said that by 2037 the UAC expects to deliver 1000 MS-21s, that is, to reach the mass production rate of 60-70 aircraft per year. In sum, with the production of about 20-30 SSJ-100s, in an ideal scenario, it is possible to achieve an indicator of 90-100 aircraft per year. For comparison, the USSR in the 1980s produced 60-70 civil aircraft per year, while Airbus and Boeing supply customers with about 600 aircraft per year. It is obvious that the task of really pushing the American and European aircraft manufacturers in the next 20 years is not set by the leadership of the UAC and Russia - and this is impossible. At this stage, it is necessary to at least simply return to the list of countries producing competitive civil aviation, to be able to equip domestic aircraft Russian airlines and create a profitable commercial project. Only after that you can think about some more global tasks. But even the set goals are very difficult to achieve - in order to enter the long-lost markets, you will have to use all the levers, including those that are not entirely “honest” (fortunately, “kickbacks” after the collapse of the USSR into Russian market the same Boeing and Airbus aggressively entered). It is clear that in the developing countries of Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America far from always decisions on the purchase of something depend on the quality of the offer. Well, after the airline's fleet is "captured" by the manufacturer, it is already very difficult to "get off" from the supply of additional aircraft and spare parts in the foreseeable future.
A huge bet has been made on the MS-21, and the fate of the Russian civil aircraft industry largely depends on its success or failure, so effective work at all levels is important - from development and production to the creation service centers and promotion.
"Main aircraft of the XXI century" (MC-21) is a new Russian development. It is being created to replace the "old men" Tu-154 and Tu-134. The liner will be able to carry from 150 to 230 passengers over a distance of up to 5,000 kilometers. A vivid confirmation of the fact that the new ambitious project of Russian aircraft manufacturers has entered the final stage is the fact that our best pilots have already begun to learn how to fly the airliner of the future. Such an opportunity is now offered to pilots of foreign airlines. At the Irkut Corporation presented to potential buyers a new version of a flight simulator for training flight crews of passenger aircraft of the MS-21 family. Flight training on MS-21 Aeroflot aviation personnel were the first to sit at the helm of the MS-21. Compared to the flight simulator, which was exhibited at the MAKS-2013 and Farnborough-2014 air shows, the new version is made according to a lightweight scheme. About how the "twenty-first" is being tested in exclusive interview Test pilot Nikolai Grigoriev told the Zvezda TV channel: “Now we are working on the display system and system interaction on the flight stand. There is, for example, a flap closing system. The pilot monitors by indicators how it works. Here we are all together - the Institute of Civil Aviation, the Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute named after Professor N.E. Zhukovsky (TsAGI) and the Irkut Corporation are doing everything possible to take the next step forward, i.e. we strive to ensure that the indication on the dashboard is fully consistent with what is actually happening with the aircraft at a given second.” Testing of MS-21 systems continues for the second year“A very important stage is the development of the aircraft control system and protection systems. Protection, for example, from "stall". This is when the plane goes into a tailspin due to too much "angle of attack". The protection system is designed to ensure the safety of passengers even if the pilot gapes or for some reason stops making decisions. In these cases, the machine must correct the pilot's error in time. Two other protective systems are also under development: from reaching a high speed and a roll and pitch protection system - this is the climb angle, which for the convenience of passengers should not exceed 30 degrees, ”explains Grigoriev. Testing of the MS-21 was entrusted to the best Russian specialists in the field of civil aviation. After working out all its working systems, tests of a completely new PD-14 engine will begin. New generation: comfort and speed MS-21 is a new generation in our family of passenger aircraft. Three models of the "twenty-first" have already been designed. Their main difference will be the capacity - from 150 to 230 passengers. The new liner is distinguished by high aerodynamic qualities. This is achieved through a wing of greater elongation. It is made of polymer composite materials. In general, the level of use of composites in the MS-21 is over 30%, which is unique for narrow-body aircraft. Such light aircraft we haven't had it yet. The plane has the widest fuselage in its class. For people - this is increased comfort, and for the operation of airports - a reduction in the time of boarding and disembarking passengers. Export version The export version of the aircraft will be powered by American Pratt & Whitney PW1400G engines. However, little distinguishes it from the Russian PD-14: both engines provide an approximately equal reduction in fuel consumption, reduction in noise levels and emissions of harmful substances. Foreign orders were not long in coming. A starting portfolio of firm orders for 175 MS-21 aircraft has been formed, plus 100 option aircraft. Advances have been received on all firm contracts. breaking news air show in Le Bourget: "Interest in the MS-21 aircraft from potential foreign customers is growing." Why is the MS-21 better than the Boeing? Foreign analogues of the MS-21 fly a little further, but the MS-21 has one very important advantage: it has a much larger capacity. So, for example, in the MS-21-300 version, it will be able to carry 212 passengers. For comparison, the Airbus A320neo has only 180 passengers, the Boeing 737 MAX-8 - 189 passengers, the Bombardier CS300 - only 135. But that's not all: the Russian aircraft will have a larger volume of luggage racks, a greater width seats and the greatest width of the passage. And the new fuel-efficient engine will allow airlines to significantly reduce the cost of operating the Russian aircraft, which will increase the net annual income per aircraft by $30 million. There is also a benefit in price. The cost of one MS-21 aircraft, compared to competitors, is also low: the catalog price is $70 million. While the Airbus 320neo will cost customers $102.8 million, the price of the Boeing 737 MAX-8 is $93.3 million, CS300 costs - $80 million. MS-21: the core of modern aviation The MC-21 aircraft is designed for mass transportation on air lines, which today are dominated by Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 aircraft. UAC President Yuri Slyusar called the MC-21 the main project of the company when he took office. “We hope this year to roll out the first flight copy of the aircraft MS-21 is the core project of the civil part Russian aviation industry. We have a lot to do with the MS-21 - not only the amount of investment, but also all our ambitions regarding the presence in the long-haul aircraft segment,” he says. Currently, a wide program of aerodynamic, strength and life tests is being successfully implemented. A system of technical and financial support for customers is being worked out, and pilot aircraft are being manufactured for flight and strength tests. The MS-21 will make its first flight in 2016. By the end of 2018, it is planned to certify the new liner, after which the planned deliveries of MS-21 to customers will begin. The game is worth the candle So far, the Irkut company plans to reach the production level of 40 MS-21 per year by 2020. At the same time, according to the UAC president, the payback point for a Russian aircraft lies in the region of 300-400 aircraft. That is, even if the plan for the production and sales of MS-21 can be fulfilled by 100%, it will be possible to recoup all the funds invested in this project only after 2030. However, the MS-21 project is still a breakthrough for the domestic aircraft industry. And while the state is only spending billions of dollars on the development of this aircraft without making a profit, the aviation infrastructure being created, the establishment of a large-scale production base, the construction of a wide after-sales service network and the unique technologies used in the MS-21 make Russia one step closer to conquering the global civil aviation market. The French are jealous This year, the MS-21 manufacturer is to supply 114 sets of aircraft landing gear niches to the French company Stelia. “Our components make up a significant portion of Stelia's assembly line. Therefore, French partners visit the Irkutsk aircraft plant at least once a year,” says Sergei Migunov, director of international cooperation at IAP. it is especially interesting to see how the enterprise changes. The organization of production is particularly impressive. civil aircraft MS-21: in the assembly shops of the liner, the flow is clearly and transparently built. Everywhere neat and clean. Everything is under control. By the way, the main purpose of my trip is to resolve issues that allow extending cooperation with Irkut for a longer period. Who said that international cooperation with Russia has ended? The hosts of the air show in Le Bourget - the French - are masters of giving compliments, but business people jealousy out loud is extremely rare.
Moscow, May 28 - Vesti.Ekonomika. The first flight of the new MS-21-300 passenger aircraft successfully took place on Sunday, May 28, 2017, at the airfield of the Irkutsk Aviation Plant, a branch of Irkut Corporation PJSC.
The flight duration was 30 minutes, it took place at an altitude of 1 thousand meters at a speed of 300 km / h. The flight plan included checking the aircraft for stability and controllability, as well as the controllability of the engines.
In accordance with the program, during the flight, an approach simulation was performed, followed by a pass over the runway, climb and turn. This technique is typical for the first flight of new types of aircraft.
The aircraft was piloted by a crew of test pilot, Hero of Russia Oleg Kononenko and test pilot, Hero of Russia Roman Taskaev.
Oleg Kononenko said that "the flight task has been completed in full." "The flight was in normal mode. There were no remarks preventing the continuation of the tests," he explained. Roman Taskaev noted: "The characteristics and operating modes of the engines were confirmed, all aircraft systems worked without failures."
Flight performance of the aircraft MS-21-300
The capacity in the two-class layout is 163 seats (16 business + 147 economy), the capacity in the dense layout is 211 seats. Maximum takeoff weight - 79 250 kg. The maximum commercial load is 22,600 kg.
The maximum flight range is 6 thousand km. The main dimensions - the length of the aircraft is 42.2 m, the wingspan is 35.9 m, the height is 11.5 m.
MS-21 flies faster than competitors and wins due to greater efficiency. According to Irkut's calculations, when using the MS-21, airlines will be able to save up to $3 million a year.
Irkut has collected 175 firm orders for MS-21, another 100 orders are under discussion. Aeroflot will be the first operator of the new aircraft. Deliveries of MS-21 will begin in late 2018 - early 2019. Aeroflot intends to buy 50 aircraft.
The catalog price of the MS-21 will be from $90 million, while the European competitor Airbus A320 - $97 million, American Boeing 737 new versions - $95 million
MS-21 is an important stage in the formation of a new industrial model in the Russian Federation
The integrators of the main systems of the MS-21 aircraft are Russian enterprises. During the implementation of the MS-21 program in Russia, competence centers were created in the field of development and production of products from composite materials. In order to introduce new technologies, a radical modernization of the production facilities of the Irkutsk Aviation Plant, a branch of PJSC Irkut Corporation, and a number of aircraft manufacturing enterprises and related industries was carried out.
The main Russian participants in the program are: the main executor is the Irkut corporation (part of the UAC), the leading enterprises of the UAC, the state corporation Rostec.
President of PJSC "United aircraft corporation"(UAC) Yuri Slyusar emphasized that the MS-21 was created in broad cooperation, where, along with Irkut, other UAC enterprises are also actively involved: AeroComposite, the Ulyanovsk and Voronezh aircraft plants, the UAC Integration Center.
“According to our estimates, in the next 20 years, the global demand in the MC-21 segment will be about 15,000 new aircraft. I am sure that airlines will highly appreciate our new aircraft. This is not just a flight of a new aircraft, this is the emergence of a new product that will will determine the shape of the Russian civil aircraft industry," the head of the UAC said.
MS-21-300 is a new generation passenger aircraft
MS-21-300 is a new generation passenger aircraft with a capacity of 163 to 211 passengers, aimed at the most massive segment of the air transportation market.
The MS-21 aircraft will provide passengers with a qualitatively new level of comfort due to the largest in class narrow-body aircraft fuselage diameter. Such a solution will significantly expand the personal space of each passenger, allow them to pass the service trolley and provide airlines with a reduction in the turnaround time at airports.
Thanks to the installation of large windows, the natural illumination of the passenger compartment has been increased. The aircraft will maintain comfortable air pressure for passengers and an improved microclimate.
An innovative ergonomic cockpit has been developed for MC-21 pilots. High demands on the comfort and economic efficiency of the aircraft required the introduction of advanced technical solutions in the field of aerodynamics, engine building and aircraft systems.
The MS-21 aircraft surpasses existing analogues in terms of its flight performance and economy.
The main contribution to the improvement flight performance aircraft will introduce a wing made of polymer composite materials, the world's first designed for narrow-body aircraft with a capacity of over 130 passengers. The share of composites in the structure of the MS-21 aircraft - over 30% - is unique for this class of aircraft.
For the first time in the history of the domestic aircraft industry, the airliner is offered to customers with two types of engines - PW1400G from Pratt & Whitney (USA) and PD-14 from the United Engine Corporation (Russia). New generation engines have reduced fuel consumption and low noise and emission levels. The MC-21 aircraft meets the advanced requirements for environmental protection.
The estimated reduction in direct operating costs for the operation of the MS-21 aircraft will be 12-15% compared to analogues.
The starting portfolio of firm orders for 175 MC-21 aircraft ensures the utilization of production capacities for the coming years. Advance payments have been received for firm orders.
