RuAviation

On 19 August, as part of preparations for demonstration flights to mark the anniversary of the Irkutsk Aircraft Plant, the MС-21 passenger jetliner, b/n 73053, performed the Ranversmann aerobatics figure, Rostec reported. It is a turn on a slide – the machine gains altitude with a constant angle of inclination and changes the direction of flight without losing altitude. The manoeuvre is used by combat aircraft when attacking or counterattacking.

‘The MS-21-300 airliner has performed a figure of aerobatics ranversman. In this, the aircraft makes a steep slide, loses speed, then glides on the wing with a steep turn in the opposite direction. This figure is used in combat aviation. The pitch angle at the highest point of the slide was 90 degrees. Such capabilities of the MC-21 are provided by the reliability of its design, perfect aerodynamics and the most modern control system. Of course, in order to increase thrust capability, the aircraft did not have any cargo on board and was not fully fuelled,’ Rostec said.

At the MAKS-2019 air show, the MC-21 performed demonstration flights, some elements of which go beyond the understanding of how civilian aircraft can and should fly. After the jetliner was lifted off the runway, it performed an almost vertical climb, followed by a turn with a roll of more than 90 degrees. Test pilots Oleg Kononenko and Vasily Sevastyanov demonstrated a semi-sidewinder.

‘It’s not called stunts or anything, it’s just normal piloting, yes, a little more roll, climb, descent, but it’s necessary to show the aircraft’s capabilities as much as possible,’ Vasily Sevastyanov told then.

At the 2021 Airshow, the MS-21 prototype aircraft also demonstrated flights with large angles of attack and with a roll of more than 90 degrees. According to Oleg Mutovin, 1st class test pilot of the Yakovlev Design Bureau, Hero of Russia, in those demonstration flights the roll reached 110°, pitch – up to +50°.

‘Such flights are possible in DIRECT MODE. In normal mode, the aircraft can have a roll up to 75 degrees and pitch up to 25 degrees,’ said Oleg Mutovin. – The test pilots’ preparation for such flights consists of a number of training flights according to the approved programme. In any case, in demonstration flights, only what has been previously tested in test flights is performed,’ he emphasised.