The aircraft covered a distance of about four and a half thousand kilometers without landing for 6 hours. The flight took place at an altitude of 10,000 meters. The commander of the ship, test pilot, Hero of Russia Oleg Kononenko said: "The flight was in normal mode. All systems worked without failures. "

MC-21-300 is a new generation passenger aircraft with a capacity of 163 to 211 passengers, focused on the most mass segment of the air transportation market.

The President of PJSC United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) and PJSC Irkut Corporation Yuri Slyusar said: «This day opens a new stage in the history of the creation of the MC-21. There is the continuation of the flight and ground tests of the aircraft, the connection of new aircraft to this process, certification and deployment of mass production ahead of us. In the MC-21 program, along with Irkut, take part a number of enterprises of the United Aircraft Corporation, partners from Rostec and leading foreign companies. This program has brought our enterprises to a new technological level and provided professional growth of specialists».

The First Vice President - General Designer of PJSC "Irkut Corporation" Oleg Demchenko: "The flight tests of the MC-21 carried out at the Irkutsk plant and the long flight of the aircraft confirms the declared characteristics of the machine. From today, the tests will be continued on the basis of the Flight Test and Development Site of the Experimental Design Bureau named after A.S. Yakovlev. A new hangar was built specifically for the MC-21 aircraft, in which a modern complex for collecting, processing and storing flight information recorded during the flight and ground tests was created "

The MC-21 aircraft will provide passengers with a qualitatively new level of comfort due to the largest fuselage diameter in the class of narrow-body aircraft. Such a decision will significantly expand the personal space of each passenger, allowing to pass the service trolley and provide airlines with a reduction in the turnover time at airports. Thanks to the installation of large windows, the natural illumination of the passenger compartment has been increased. The aircraft will maintain comfortable air pressure for passengers and an improved microclimate.

For the pilots of the MC-21 aircraft an innovative ergonomic cabin was developed. High requirements to the comfort and economic efficiency of the aircraft required the introduction of advanced technical solutions in the field of aerodynamics, engine building and aircraft systems. According to its flight-technical data and economy, the MC-21 aircraft surpasses existing analogues.

The integrators of the main systems of the MC-21 aircraft are Russian enterprises. During the implementation of the MC-21 program, competence centres have been established in Russia in the field of development and production of composite products. In order to introduce new technologies, a radical modernisation of the production facilities of the Irkutsk Aviation Plant, a branch of PJSC Irkut Corporation and a number of aircraft manufacturing enterprises and related industries, has been carried out.

The main contribution to improving the flight performance of the aircraft will be made by a wing of polymer composite materials, created for the first time in the world for narrow-bodied aircraft with a capacity of more than 130 passengers. The share of composites in the design of the MC-21 aircraft - over 30% - is unique for this class of aircraft.

For the first time in the history of domestic aircraft construction, the aircraft is offered to customers with two types of engines: PW1400G from Pratt & Whitney (USA) and PD-14 of the United Engine Building Corporation (Russia). The engines of the new generation have reduced fuel consumption and low noise and emission of harmful substances. The MC-21 aircraft meets promising requirements for environmental protection.

The main participants of the program: the main contractor is the Irkut Corporation (included with the UAC), enterprises of the UAC and Rostec State Corporation, foreign companies.

At present, the first prototype is going through flight tests, the second is in Central Institute of Aerodynamics for static testing. At the Irkutsk aircraft plant there are building four more aircraft. Starting next year, they will be gradually connected to the tests.

The estimated reduction in direct operating costs for the operation of the MC-21 aircraft will be 12-15% compared to analogues. The starting portfolio of firm 175 orders for the MC-21 aircraft ensures the loading of production capacities for the coming years. Under the fixed orders advance payments are received.

«Today, the first prototype of the MC-21-300 aircraft flew from the site of the Irkutsk Aviation Plant to the LII airfield. M.M. Gromov Ramenskoye, to continue the flight test program, which is performed in accordance with the schedule. Thanks to the consistent policy of the state in the development of civil aircraft construction, the renewed architecture of the industry is created for the design of the MC-21 in our country, new centres of competence have appeared, including composite production, new technologies have been developed. Much remains to be done, however, we understand that the success of this project is the most important factor for the stable and efficient operation of aircraft construction for many years to come. We are sure that due to the high characteristics of our new aircraft, as well as state support for the export of high-tech products, we have a real opportunity to compete in the global market», - said the Russian Industry and Trade Minister Denis Manturov.