IRKUT reported that they have completed construction on the second MC-21.
“At the Irkutsk Aviation Plant, a branch of Irkut Corporation (part of UAC), the construction of the second MC-21-300 aircraft, intended for flight testing, was completed. The testing results of the first test aircraft were taken into account in the production of a new aircraft. On March 25, the MC-21-300 was transferred from the final assembly shop to the flight test department.
“The completion of the second aircraft assembly is an important stage in the implementation of the MC-21 program. Entering of new machines this year to flight testing will solve the key tasks of the project: to complete the certification of MC-21 in a timely manner, to launch mass production and to put the first airliners to the customer” – said Denis Manturov the Russian Minister of Industry and Trade.
In total, 4 MC-21-300 aircraft will be involved in flight tests.
At present, the fuselage of the third MC-21-300 aircraft is assembled at the Irkutsk Aviation Plant, and the components and units of the fourth aircraft are being assembled. The manufacture of aircraft parts and components intended for endurance test aircraft is underway.
The first MC-21-300 aircraft undergoes flight tests at the airfield of Flight Research Institute n.a. M.M. Gromov (Zhukovsky city, Moscow region). The aircraft for static testing is tested in Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute (TsAGI).”
By all appearances, the Russians are ahead of the Chinese in the race to enter the single-aisle market and compete directly with Airbus and Boeing. Preliminary numbers we have seen suggest the MC-21’s economics are outstanding.