A major milestone in the transition from factory production to the certification program has been achieved by the first serial-production, fully import-substituted MC-21-310 in Russia. The aircraft made a non-stop flight from the Irkutsk Aviation Plant’s airfield to the Ramenskoye airfield at the M.M. Gromov Flight Research Institute in the Moscow Region, near Zhukovsky, on August 13, 2026.
The duration of the flight was approximately five hours and fifty minutes. The aircraft achieved a maximum speed of 850 km/h and reached an altitude of 12,100 meters during the journey. The aircraft successfully concluded the long-distance flight, as per the United Aircraft Corporation, with all systems functioning as expected.
First Serial Aircraft Enters the Test Programme
The aircraft, with registration number 73362 and production number MC.0014, is the inaugural serial MC-21-310 to be built in the completely Russian configuration. The MC-21 program achieved another important milestone on August 3, 2026, when it conducted its inaugural flight from Irkutsk.
This aircraft represents the transition toward the configuration intended for serial production, in contrast to earlier experimental aircraft that were used to develop and certify the type. Therefore, its involvement in the certification program is more than just an addition to the test fleet.
A crew from Yakovlev, including test pilots and Heroes of Russia Roman Taskaev and Oleg Kononenko, as well as Alexander Popov, the lead flight-test engineer and onboard operator, conducted the flight on August 13.
After touching down in the Moscow Region, Taskaev reported that the aircraft had executed its first long-distance flight satisfactorily and that all systems had operated appropriately. Specialists from Yakovlev’s Flight-Test and Development Complex in Zhukovsky will conduct a comprehensive examination of the aircraft.
A Long Flight for a Newly Built Aircraft
The five-hour-and-50-minute flight is of particular importance because it subjected the new serial aircraft to significantly more extended operating conditions than its initial factory test flights.
At approximately 08:15 UTC, or 11:15 Moscow time, the MC-21 departed Irkutsk and arrived in the Moscow region at approximately 14:00 UTC. The aircraft maintained a flight altitude of 12.1 kilometers and achieved an acceleration of up to 850 km/h.
A transfer flight of this nature is not solely a logistical operation between two Russian aviation hubs. The aircraft’s systems and performance can be assessed under a broader range of conditions once it reaches Zhukovsky, where specialists can integrate it into the broader program of certification and development flights.
The test program can also move closer to the configuration of aircraft that will eventually be delivered to airlines as a result of the arrival of the first serial aircraft.
The MC-21’s Russian Content
The Russian PD-14 turbofan engine and a largely domestic suite of aircraft systems and components are the foundation of the MC-21-310. The import-substitution program necessitated the replacement of a large number of foreign systems and assemblies that had been initially integrated into the aircraft.
At the same time, Russia has been improving its domestic capabilities in the areas of avionics, navigation, flight-control systems, auxiliary equipment, and composite structures in preparation for the program. For instance, Rosaviatsiya authorized a substantial design modification in February 2026 that involved the integration of domestic polymer-composite materials into the structural components of the vertical and horizontal stabilizers.
The first serial MC-21-310 is also equipped with aviation tires produced by the Altai Tyre Company, with specially developed sizes for both the nose and main landing gear. The tires underwent qualification and certification testing prior to their approval for use. Their installation on the first serial aircraft has now advanced the program to the next phase: evaluation in actual flight operations. The successful first flight and subsequent five-hour-50-minute transfer to Zhukovsky provide an important early indication that the domestically produced tires can perform as part of the complete aircraft system.
Certification Remains the Critical Stage
Despite the increasing number of aircraft and test flights, the MC-21 remains in the certification phase. In the previous year of 2026, the certification work of experimental aircraft 73055 and 73057 was extended. This work included the testing of navigation equipment, engine restart procedures, fuel system behavior, fire protection systems, and other aircraft systems.
The programme has also accumulated important performance data. Yakovlev reported in June that an import-substituted MC-21 had exhibited a range of over 3,800 kilometers with a payload equivalent to 175 passengers, while simultaneously maintaining the necessary fuel reserves.
The first serial aircraft will now contribute its own flight data to this more extensive certification campaign. Subsequent to its post-flight inspection in Zhukovsky, specialists will conduct additional ground and flight testing to confirm that the aircraft meets the certification program’s specifications.
From Prototype to Production Aircraft
While the production system was being prepared for increased output, over 20 MC-21 aircraft were reportedly in various stages of production at the Irkutsk Aviation Plant in early 2026.
Certification, however, continues to be the primary concern. The first serial aircraft cannot be immediately transferred to regular airline service until the necessary approvals have been obtained.
The significance of MC-21 for Russia is not limited to the aircraft itself. Traditionally, Boeing and Airbus have dominated the narrow-body, medium-haul passenger aircraft market. The program aims to reestablish domestic capability in this strategically significant segment of civil aviation.