The MS-21 aircraft is a large-scale and very promising project in the field of the Russian aviation industry. Most components are manufactured at enterprises located in the department of the Rostec organization. The development of a new Russian airliner is carried out in conditions of high competition. The main rivals of the MS-21 are the domestic aircraft Tu-204, as well as Boeing and Airbus. What are the features of this airliner? Will it withstand competition in the international market?
Aircraft MS-21: photo, development history
The history of the new Russian airliner begins in 2010, when TsAGI tested the engine air intakes for aircraft. As a result, the modes that ensure the safe operation of the aircraft were identified.
In September 2011, Alexei Fedorov, who is the president of Irkut Corporation, announced that the company would focus on the production of airliners with a layout of one hundred and eighty seats, since it is the one that is most in demand among buyers.
In 2012, government customers - the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Emergencies, the FSB - were presented with the MS-21 aircraft with domestic PD14 engines. In the same year, an agreement was signed with the American company Pratt & Whitney on the supply of PW1400G engines.
The assembly of the first prototypes and their initial tests were completed by August 2014. June 8, 2016 was marked by the presentation of the latest Russian aircraft. This event took place in one of the shops of the Irkutsk aircraft plant.
Description
The abbreviation MS-21 stands for “21st Century Mainline Aircraft”. A distinctive feature is the use of the latest technical developments from the fields of aircraft construction and safety. In many respects, the airliner significantly exceeds the most popular foreign-made aircraft.
MS-21 is a medium-range aircraft designed for passenger and cargo transportation on domestic and international routes. The chief designer is Konstantin Popov. In parallel, the development of models MS-21-300 and MS-21-200 with layouts for 160-211 and 130-176 passenger seats, respectively. The domestic design of the Yak-242 aircraft was taken as the basis for development.
The fuselage is designed by Irkut and the Yakovlev Design Bureau, and the wings by the Aerocomposite Corporation. At the request of the customer, both PD-14 and PW1400G engines can be installed on the aircraft. According to official information, it is planned to introduce and certify the new MS-21 aircraft by 2018, and by 2017 - to release the first production copy. By 2020, the planned production rate should reach forty units per year.
Main flight parameters
- The fuselage length is 42.3 m for the 21-200 and 33.8 for the 21-200.
- Wingspan - 36 m.
- Height - 11.5 m.
- The width of the cabin / fuselage is 3.81 / 4.06 m.
- The maximum take-off weight is 79.25 tons for 21-300 and 72.56 tons for 21-200.
- The maximum weight during landing is 69.1 tons and 63.1 tons for 21-300 and 21-200, respectively.
- The maximum level of fueling is 20.4 tons.
- The maximum range of air travel is 6000 km.
- The maximum capacity with a tight layout is 211 and 176 passengers for 21-300 and 21-200, respectively.
Customers
Currently, more than two hundred agreements have been concluded on the supply of these airliners with the following carriers and leasing enterprises:
- Cairo Aviation (Egypt).
- Crecom Burj Berhad (Malaysia).
- "Aviation Capital Service".
- "Azerbaijan Airlines".
- Aeroflot.
- VEB Leasing.
- Ilyushin Finance,
- "IrAero".
- NordWind.
- Red Wings.
- Sberbank Leasing.
Most carriers that have entered into firm contracts have already paid in advance. Russian leasing enterprises and airlines ordered 175 boards.
Russian aircraft MS-21: competitive advantages
The main competitive advantage of the new domestic airliner is the large carrying capacity, reaching 211 people on the 21-300 model. Thanks to this, the aircraft can serve the growing passenger flow, and its operation remains commercially viable even for low-budget companies.
The MS-21 aircraft is designed in accordance with international standards using the latest materials, including composite. Due to this, the weight of the aircraft and fuel consumption decreased significantly. Noise and harmful emissions into the atmosphere are minimized. Thanks to the new on-board maintenance system, the aircraft remains reliable even after downtime.
The passenger compartment is equipped with modern seats at wide intervals, which makes it convenient for people with different complexities. A wide aisle between the seats allows two passengers to freely disperse. To support the microclimate installed humidifiers, filters, temperature controllers.
The new navigation system ensures the safe operation of the aircraft in all weather conditions. Diagnostic equipment provides timely failure detection.
Competition with Boeing and Airbus
The global airline market has long been secretly divided between the main companies - Airbus and Boeing. Will the MS-21 aircraft be able to compete with them? Manufacturers suggest that this is quite real. These corporations have long ceased to introduce breakthrough technologies and are gradually improving existing models. Russian equipment is more reliable at a relatively low price and is traditionally operated in the Asian and Latin American markets.
MS-21 is a medium-range aircraft of a new generation of Russian production. This is a real breakthrough in the field of civil aviation. The airliner can compete with Boeing and Airbus and, according to preliminary estimates, occupy up to 10% of the global transportation market.