A Russian-made airliner designed to compete with the top makers of mid-range passenger jets rolled out this week in Irkutsk. The MC-21 will make a first flight in 2017 and start service the following year with Russia’s largest airline, Aeroflot, according to a Seattle Times report. The manufacturer is Irkut, part of a state-supported conglomerate of aerospace firms called United Aircraft Corporation and the builder of Sukhoi Su-30 fighters.
The twin-engine MC-21 can carry up to 211 passengers and will also fly as a smaller, shorter-range version. It is composite-built and more fuel-efficient than older designs, potentially putting it in the ranks of the Boeing B737 and Airbus A320 airliners. Irkut executive Oleg Demchenko said a global market share of 5 to 10 percent by 2035 is the goal, according to the Times.Irkut is “constantly” promoting the $90 million jet to potential buyers. “I’m sure it will be in demand on the global market,” he said. So far, the company has 175 orders, according to the Times report.
