Russia's MC-21 aircraft conducts first flight with domestic engines

A prototype of the Russia's MC-21 passenger aircraft, previously tested with imported powerplants, has performed its first flight with domestic-made PD-14 engines, Russia's state-owned Rostec Corporation said in a statement Friday.

The flight was conducted from the airfield at the Irkutsk Aviation Plant. The aircraft has become the second of its kind to conduct a successful flight with Russian engines.

The MC-21 is a medium-haul passenger aircraft, which can carry 163 to 211 passengers. The aircraft was originally developed with two types of engines, the Russian PD-14 and the U.S. Pratt &Whitney PW1400G.

The prototype initially equipped with PW1400G engines completed its first flight in 2017, and the prototype originally designed to be equipped with PD-14 engines completed its first test flight in December 2020.

Certain foreign components of the new prototype have also been replaced with their domestic counterparts, according to Rostec.