MS-21 completes third flight test for EASA certification
Single-aisle jetliner with first out of autoclave composite wing steps closer to certification.
Irkut Corp. (Moscow, Russia) has announced that flight test experts from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA, Cologne, Germany) have completed the third flight session for the Ðœ³§-21-300 certification program. This follows initial flight simulator sessions where EASA experts worked with their Russian colleagues toward certifying this new single-aisle jetliner for worldwide commercial service per EASA regulations. This third flight is the latest in a series of flights on the MS-21-300 performed by the EASA crew and the Yakovlev Design Bureau (a division of Irkut Corp.). Earlier this year, Irkut parent United Aircraft Corp. (UAC, Moscow, Russia) projected that certification would be complete in the second half of 2020.
The MS-21-300 seats up to 211 passengers and, with a range of 6,000 kilometers (3,730 miles), can fly from Moscow to any European destination. Irkut’s website shows firm orders for 175 planes, currently, all from Russia-based companies.
This aircraft also features the first composite wing on a commercial jetliner to be manufactured using resin infusion but without an autoclave. Read more about the MS-21’s composite construction in “Infused wing sheds light on aerocomposites future”.
Related Content
-
Plant tour: Aernnova Composites, Toledo and Illescas, Spain
RTM and ATL/AFP high-rate production sites feature this composites and engineering leader’s continued push for excellence and innovation for future airframes.
-
A new era for ceramic matrix composites
CMC is expanding, with new fiber production in Europe, faster processes and higher temperature materials enabling applications for industry, hypersonics and New Space.
-
Manufacturing the MFFD thermoplastic composite fuselage
Demonstrator’s upper, lower shells and assembly prove materials and new processes for lighter, cheaper and more sustainable high-rate future aircraft.