Can Russia’s MC-21 rival Boeing and Airbus?

Can Russia’s MC-21 rival Boeing and Airbus?

Russia has unveiled a new airliner set to rival the western competitors, Boeing and Airbus.

The MC-21 is a twin-engine short- and mid-range passenger jet, and was unveiled in the Siberian city of Irkutsk, where it has been built by Irkut Corp., part of the state-controlled United Aircraft Corporation, as reported by news.com.au.

The new jet, powered by Pratt & Whitney engines or new Russian-built engines, is built with a significant amount of composite materials that help reduce weight and enhance fuel efficiency.

The MC-21 is expected to conduct its maiden flight next year, with deliveries to Russian flag carrier Aeroflot set to start in 2018.

Various models of the MC-21 are designed to carry from 165 to 211 passengers.

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev hailed the new plane as the cutting edge in aircraft design, superior to Western planes currently in service, news.com.au reported.

To date, Aeroflot and other Russian airlines have mostly relied on Boeing and Airbus planes, but the government has made the revival of domestic aircraft-making industries a top priority.

“The MC-21 is new evidence of Russia’s ability to create planes that move our aircraft manufacturing industry forward and allow us to compete with other countries,” Medvedev said.

“There are very few nations that have aircraft-making industries. They are the top league and we mustn’t drop out of it.”

 

IMAGE: news.com.au

 

Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au

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