Russia Takes Flight: MS-21 Passenger Plane Completes Maiden Voyage
The Russian passenger plane MS-21 has completed its first flight, marking a significant milestone in the country's effort to replace Boeing and Airbus aircraft. The MS-21 took off from the Irkutsk Aviation Plant on August 3 and flew for 1 hour and 23 minutes at an altitude of up to 6,000 meters and an instrument airspeed of up to 600 km/h.
The flight was a major success, with the aircraft completing its mission as planned. The MS-21 is the first fully import-substituting serial aircraft in Russia, meaning that it will be produced domestically using domestic materials and components.
UAC has confirmed its readiness to produce the first batch of 18 aircraft, with certification expected by the end of 2027. The first customer for the MS-21 is Aeroporta Group, which has booked over 200 of these aircraft.