The first production-standard MC-21-310 aircraft has entered ground trials at the Irkutsk Aviation Plant (IAP) as Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) continues development of the domestically configured narrowbody airliner.
The aircraft, designated MS.0014, is undergoing taxi runs, high-speed runway tests, and system checks to verify braking performance, nose-wheel steering, and onboard equipment operation before its first flight. The test programme is being conducted with a flight crew comprising Russian test pilots Andrei Voropaev, Sergei Mikhailiuk, and Aleksandr Guskov.
Construction of MS.0014 began in 2019, but completion was delayed after the loss of access to imported components forced the programme to transition to a fully domestic equipment configuration. The aircraft was rolled out and transferred to the IAP flight-test unit on 30 May.
Unlike the earlier flight-test aircraft, which remain focused on certification activities, MS.0014 is expected to support production preparation work, including validation of aircraft acceptance procedures ahead of customer deliveries. The aircraft may also be used to evaluate additional domestically produced systems without reducing the availability of the primary certification fleet.
The MC-21 certification campaign is continuing with aircraft including test platforms 73055 and 73057. UAC has previously stated that completion of certification activities is expected in the second half of 2027.
Following completion of ground trials, MS.0014 is expected to begin flight testing. The aircraft is intended to contribute to the transition from flight-test activities towards serial production and entry into airline service.
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