The second serial-production MC-21-310 has now been transferred from final assembly to the flight-test department at the Irkutsk Aviation Plant, marking another major milestone in Russia’s efforts to introduce the domestically produced Yakovlev MC-21 into regular airline service.
According to Yakovlev, the aircraft, which bears the serial number 0015, has been transferred from the final assembly workshop to the flight-test division of the corporation. The immediate task at hand is not a passenger flight, but rather a sequence of ground tests, system inspections, and preparations for the aircraft’s inaugural flight.
The significance of aircraft 0015 is more apparent when considered in conjunction with the first serial-production aircraft and the broader certification program, although the announcement is brief.
Second Serial Aircraft Follows the First
The second aircraft from the serial-production series is the MC-21-310 with serial number 0015. The first production MC-21 to take to the skies was aircraft 0014, its predecessor.
The inaugural serial aircraft took to the skies on August 3, 2026, from the Irkutsk Aviation Plant. The flight, which reached an altitude of 6,000 meters and an indicated speed of up to 600 km/h, lasted one hour and 23 minutes. The aircraft’s stability and controllability in various configurations, as well as the operation of its domestically produced systems, were assessed by the test crews.
This flight was of particular significance due to the fact that 0014 was not merely another prototype. It was built using serial-production technologies, which meant that its successful flight was intended to prove that the manufacturing process was prepared to support production aircraft.
An initial batch of 18 aircraft was assembled, and the aircraft’s successful first flight served as a important indicator that Russia’s production chain was transitioning to a repeatable manufacturing process.
Therefore, Aircraft 0015 signifies the next phase in the transformation of a development program that has historically been characterized by a high concentration of prototypes into a functioning production line.
What Happens to MC-21-310 0015 Now?
The aircraft is not immediately prepared for flight upon its transfer from final assembly to the flight-test department.
The aircraft will undergo functional checks and ground inspections prior to its inaugural flight. These are designed to confirm the functionality of the aircraft’s systems, engines, flight controls, avionics, and other equipment prior to the aircraft’s initial test sortie.
This is also where Yakovlev can acquire valuable experience in the development of a repeatable process for preparing serial aircraft for delivery. The first serial MC-21 has already offered the opportunity to evaluate the aircraft and the production and acceptance procedures associated with the new manufacturing system.
The aircraft is being manufactured in the MC-21-310 configuration, which is heavily domestically substituted and is centered around Russia’s PD-14 engines and Russian systems and equipment. Additionally, Russia has finalized the integration of domestically manufactured composite materials into the aircraft’s framework, which is a critical component of its endeavor to reduce its dependence on foreign components.
The outcome is an aircraft that is significantly different from the original MC-21-300 configuration that was developed prior to the disruption of the program by Western sanctions. Much of the recent effort has therefore been about replacing imported equipment while retaining the aircraft’s original aerodynamic and structural advantages.
Certification Remains the Critical Milestone
Despite the rapid movement of serial aircraft through the Irkutsk factory, the MC-21’s most important remaining hurdle is certification.
The program has already amassed years of flight-test data. The initial MC-21 certification program was initiated in 2017, and the basic type certificate for the previous configuration was issued in December 2021.
Nevertheless, the aircraft underwent a major modification as a result of the replacement of Western components with Russian systems, equipment, engines, and composite materials. Consequently, the domestically substituted aircraft has necessitated additional certification work, rather than merely inheriting the entire certification status of the previous configuration.
Testing has continued throughout 2026
One important area has been natural icing testing, with MC-21-310 aircraft conducting flights designed to establish compliance with requirements for operation in icing conditions.
Another noteworthy performance milestone was achieved when an MC-21-310, which was equipped with a payload equivalent to 175 passengers, flew over 3,800 kilometers. These evaluations are crucial because certification is not just about proving that an aircraft is capable of flight. Regulators are required to verify that the aircraft consistently satisfies the necessary standards for performance, reliability, safety, and operation in a diverse array of circumstances.
As a result, the August flight of the first serial aircraft signified the beginning of a new phase: production aircraft are now being introduced into the program, while certification flights are ongoing.
Aeroflot Wants More MC-21s
The commercial significance is particularly clear because Aeroflot is preparing to take substantially more MC-21s than the first batch alone.
The Aeroflot Group is scheduled to receive 18 MC-21 aircraft as part of an existing arrangement, with deliveries scheduled for 2027–2028.
But the airline is now looking at a much larger commitment.
Aeroflot CEO Sergei Aleksandrovsky announced in August that negotiations with UAC had concluded, resulting in the signing of a definitive contract for an additional 90 MC-21 aircraft.
Aeroflot Group’s intended MC-21 fleet would expand to 108 aircraft upon its completion.
That additional order could be of paramount importance to the program. As Yakovlev transitions from development and low-rate production to a more sustained manufacturing rhythm, a large firm customer provides it with increased certainty.
It also clarifies the significance of the second serial aircraft’s appearance. The MC-21 program is no longer only focused on the completion of the certification of a new aircraft. Russia is now required to demonstrate its ability to manufacture the aircraft on a regular basis, certify the domestically substituted configuration, and ultimately supply it to airlines at the necessary rate.
Thus, the transition of MC-21-310 0015 from final assembly to flight testing may appear to be a routine factory announcement; however, it is indicative of a more significant event. The second serial MC-21 is currently undergoing the same flight-test pipeline as the first production aircraft, which has already been initiated.
Aeroflot is the primary early customer and may operate a fleet of over 100 MC-21s if certification proceeds according to the plan. These aircraft will serve as a bridge between the long-standing MC-21 development program in Russia and the actual airline deliveries.