Russian MC-21 Airliner Flies with Locally-made Polymer Composite Wings

The Russian MC-21-300 airliner today marked its first flight with a Russian-made polymer composite materials.

The flight marks a major relief for the United Aircraft Corporation, a part of Holding company Rostec which was denied American composite technology due to US sanctions against Russian aerospace entities.

The liner took off from the airfield of the Irkutsk Aviation Plant, a branch of the Irkut company of the United Aircraft Corporation. The flight took place as usual.

“The first flight of an aircraft with a wing made of Russian composites proves that we did everything right, the MC-21 program is consistently and steadily moving forward, despite sanctions and unfair competition, said Denis Manturov, Russian Minister of Industry and Trade in a press release.

“To date, a composite wing has been manufactured for two aircraft, the third set is being manufactured. We plan to receive changes to the type certificate regarding the composite wing made of Russian materials in the second half of 2022.”

The wing consoles and center section of the MC-21-300 aircraft are manufactured at the AeroComposite-Ulyanovsk enterprise. In the production of the wing, the technology of vacuum infusion is used, which is patented in Russia.

“The share of composites in the MS-21 design is about 40%, which is a record figure for medium-haul aircraft. The use of durable and lightweight composite materials has made it possible to create a wing with unique aerodynamic characteristics unattainable for a metal wing.

Improved aerodynamics have made it possible to increase the width of the MC-21 fuselage and expand the cabin, which brings new advantages in terms of passenger comfort. This is the first medium-haul aircraft in the world where such solutions have been applied,” said the head of Rostec Sergey Chemezov.

At present, certification of the MC-21-300 aircraft is nearing completion, and it is planned to begin delivering it to the airline in 2022. At the same time, the MS-21-310 aircraft with the new Russian PD-14 engine is undergoing flight tests.

“Apart from the three aircraft in the final assembly shop, three more MC-21-300 are at different stages of production. All of them will receive a wing made of Russian composites. Within the framework of the MS-21 program, a big step has been taken in the development of cooperation between aircraft manufacturing plants in Russia. I

Within the structure of the UAC, centers of competence have been created, specializing in the production of individual units. Thus, Aviastar produces fuselage panels and tail unit MS-21, Voronezh VASO - engine pylons and landing gear fairings. "AeroComposite-Ulyanovsk" produces the wing box, "KAPO-Composite" - the wing mechanization. These centers are involved in promising projects in the Russian aircraft industry, ”said UAC General Director Yuri Slyusar.