MS-21
Developer Irkut Corporation
OKB im. Yakovleva
First flight 2017
Units produced (2017) 1 (4 experienced on assembly)
Unit cost (2017) $ 72m (MS-21-200)
$ 91 million (MS-21-300)
MS-21 (Trunk aircraft of the XXI century) is a Russian medium-range airliner developed by Irkut Corporation and OKB im. Yakovleva. The aircraft was rolled out in 2016. In the spring of 2017, it is planned to start flight tests. As a medium-range aircraft, the MC-21 is a direct competitor to the Boeing 737MAX, Airbus A320NEO and Comac C919 airliners.
History
The history of the MS-21 project began in the 2000s. At that time, the main project of the UAC and the entire Russian aircraft industry was the SSJ 100 - the future Superjet. It was decided to start the work with him, since the creation of a fairly large airliner at once, entering into direct competition with the two most massive aircraft Boeing and Airbus, was considered too risky. In 2008, the first prototype SSJ 100 completed a test flight. The implementation of the program has reached the extreme stages before entering the market.
In parallel with the tests of the SSJ 100, early work was initiated to create a new, larger and more ambitious project - the MS-21. The aircraft was developed by the design bureaus of Yakovlev and Ilyushin. The direct executor of the program was the Irkut corporation, which produces Su-30 fighters and Yak-130 combat training aircraft. Also, Irkut produces a number of components for Airbus A320 airliners. In 2008, the Ilyushin Design Bureau left the project and development was continued in full at the Yakovlev Design Bureau.
Initially, the plans were quite ambitious. In 2009, it was assumed that the MS-21 will take off in 2013, and by 2016 the aircraft will begin to be supplied to customers. However, design problems, as well as funding difficulties, thwarted the original plans. The plane itself became more advanced and complex.
By 2011, it was decided to give higher priority to the creation of an enlarged version of the MC-21-300 (180 seats) instead of the basic MC-21-200 (150 seats). Studies and surveys of airlines have shown that the large version will be in great demand (70% of applications were for the -300 model). It was decided to postpone the creation of a 200-seat MC-21-400, since its creation would significantly increase the program budget.
It is assumed that the MS-21 will be 10-15% more efficient than its counterparts, will have a 15% lighter structure and 20% lower operating costs.
In 2012, Irkut and Pratt & Whitney signed a cooperation agreement. One of the basic power plants of the aircraft will be the PW1400G engine. The second basic power plant will be the promising PD-14 engine, created at the UEC (the head developer is Aviadvigatel).
In 2014, the reconstruction of production sites for a new airliner was completed at the Irkutsk aircraft plant. The assembly of the first prototypes has begun.
On June 8, 2016, a solemn presentation took place - the roll-out of the first prototype of the MC-21-300 at the Irkutsk Aviation Plant. The first flight is planned for May 2017.
Description of the aircraft
MS-21 is a narrow-body, medium-range airliner. Structurally, it is a classic airliner with a low-swept wing and two suspended engines.
Design
MS-21 has one of the most advanced airframe designs in the world at the moment. In terms of the volume of composite materials used (about 40%), it is on a par with the Bombardier C-series (about 40%) and is second only to the Boeing 787 Dreamliner (50%) and Airbus A350 XWB (53%).
The main advantage and the first such experience in Russia is the "black wing" made of carbon composite materials. Thanks to this new technology, it was possible to reduce the weight of the wing and, while maintaining the strength characteristics, to increase its aerodynamic quality. In the short term, the MS-21 will be the only airliner in its class with a black wing. Also, the tail unit and some other structural elements are made of composite materials. The wing of the aircraft is designed and manufactured by the Aerocomposite concern. ONPP Tekhnologii (Russian Technologies) also participates in the creation of composite elements.
The fuselage is designed and manufactured directly by Irkut Corporation and Yakovlev Design Bureau. The fuselage is made mainly of aluminum alloys.
The aircraft's landing gear is classic, three-pillar. The main landing gear of two legs is equipped with two-wheeled bogies. A promising modification of the MS-21-400 is heavier and, presumably, can have four-wheeled bogies. The chassis for the MS-21 is developed and manufactured by the Gidromash concern. Materials, mainly steel and titanium alloys.
Power point
MS-21 is equipped with two jet engines of different thrust, depending on the modification.
It is planned to use two main power plants.
Pratt & Whitney PW1400G by-flow tubofan engines. The engines are among the most advanced at the moment and, in addition to the MC-21, are used on the Airbus A320NEO, Mitsubishi MRJ, Embraer E-Jet E2, Bombardier C-series airliners. For different versions of the MS-21, different engine versions will be supplied: PW1428G with thrust 12, 230 tf for MS-21-200 and PW1431G with thrust 14, 270 tf for MS-21-300. The first prototype MC-21-300 is powered by Pratt & Whitney engines.
Double-circuit tube-fan engines of the PD-14 family. Developed by the Aviadvigatel concern (part of the UEC). The engine is a completely new propulsion system and will presumably be able to compete with similar propulsion systems. For 2017, the engine is undergoing a series of tests and certification. Serial production is planned to begin in 2018. Different versions of engines will be supplied for different versions of the airliners: PD-14A with 12.540 tf thrust for MS-21-200 and PD-14 with 14,000 tf thrust for MS-21-300.
MS-21-12
Cockpit
The MC-21 cockpit is "glass". It is composed of five large-format multifunctional displays (large-format displays have not been previously used in civil aviation in Russia). To minimize work with paper documents, pilots also have electronic tablets.
Management is carried out with the help of side control sticks - side sticks. Optionally, the cab can be equipped with additional interfaces:
indicators on the windshield (ILS) - transparent panels in front of the pilot's face, displaying the necessary flight data;
synthetic vision, which forms on monitors a virtual image of the space surrounding the plane in case of loss of visual visibility (time of day, weather conditions, and so on).
The cockpit, as well as most of the aircraft's avionics, was developed by the Concern of Radio Electronic Technologies (KRET) in conjunction with Rockwell Collins.
Passenger compartment
The MS-21 passenger cabin continues the UAC ideology to improve passenger comfort by expanding the cabin and the aisle between the seats. The cabin has a width of 3.81 meters, which makes it the widest in the class of narrow-body medium-haul liners (the SSJ 100, in turn, also has the widest cabin in the segment of regional liners).
Cabin layouts support two basic classes:
Business Class (C): 4 seats in a row with a step of 36 ″
Economy Class (Y): 6 seats in a row in 32 ″ increments
Condensed economy class: 6 seats in a row with a step of 28-29 ″
Salons can be two-class and one-class.
Thanks to the expansion of the cabin, it was possible to widen the aisle between the seats, which makes it possible to simplify and speed up the seating of passengers on the plane. In addition, it will allow passengers to move freely even in the presence of cabin trolleys (previously, trolleys occupied the entire width of the passage, blocking the road).
The enlarged cab also allowed for the installation of more spacious overhead bins.
The passenger compartment is equipped with the latest systems and equipment that improve the microclimate in the passenger compartment. Thanks to this, it was possible to reduce noise in flight, increase atmospheric pressure and improve temperature control.
The development of passenger compartment systems is carried out by NPO Nauka in cooperation with Hamilton Sundstrand (USA). The interior was created by C&D Zodiac (France).
Modifications
MS-21-200 is the younger version of the aircraft. Accommodates up to 165 passengers in a single-class layout. With a takeoff weight of up to 72.5 tons, it is equipped with derated PD-14A or PW1428G engines. Due to the fact that the model is in less demand, a second one after the -300 will be created.
MS-21-300 - basic and larger version. The fuselage is lengthened by 8.5 meters in comparison with the MS-21-200. The capacity reaches 211 passengers in a single-class layout. With a takeoff weight of up to 79.2 tons, it is equipped with PD-14 or PW1431G engines. MC-21-300 is in great demand and will be the first to enter the market. The first prototype is a modification of the MS-21-300.
MS-21-400 is an enlarged version of the -300 model. Has a number of design changes, an enlarged wing and a four-post landing gear. Accommodates up to 230 passengers. With a takeoff weight of 87, 2 tons, it is equipped with a forced PD-14M engine with a thrust of up to 15, 6 tf. Significant design changes in comparison with other liners of the family increase the program budget and risks. In this regard, the creation of the MS-21-400 has been postponed.
In the future, options are being considered for the creation of larger aircraft of the family, as well as modifications with an increased range. However, there are no specific plans to further expand the family for 2017.
Orders and deliveries
For 2017, Irkut Corporation has orders for about 170-180 airliners with options for more than a hundred aircraft. The largest customers are Ilyushin Finance (63 aircraft + 22 options) and Aeroflot (50 aircraft + 35 options). Foreign customers: Azerbaijani AZAL and Egyptian Cairo Aviation.
Serial production is planned to be launched in 2018. Within a few years, production will be brought to the target - 70 aircraft per year.
Irkut Corporation plans to produce and deliver about a thousand aircraft within 20 years.
Competition
MS-21 is a medium-range airliner. This niche is almost entirely occupied by Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 airliners. The new Chinese aircraft Comac C919 also claims it. The medium-haul aircraft market is the largest in the world - about 78% of all commercial aircraft with a capacity of more than 100 seats are just such aircraft. In addition, over 30 thousand aircraft of these types will be sold within 20 years.
According to the characteristics of power and efficiency of power plants, the MC-21 is similar to competitors (often, the engines are the same or very close). In terms of aerodynamic quality and design, the aircraft is the most advanced aircraft in the world at the moment. Presumably, this allows it to surpass the previous generation A320 and Boeing 737 aircraft by 12-15% and the A320NEO and Boeing 737MAX generations by 6-7%.
Also, the advantage of the aircraft can be considered its low catalog cost in comparison with analogues (although the C919 is cheaper).
Comparison of the cost of liners:
However, catalog value is only one factor in choosing an aircraft. When concluding contracts, manufacturers offer a serious package of financial options (purchase or leasing options, loan rates, and so on). In this context, the complex sales system of Airbus and Boeing, built over many years, significantly outperforms Russian and Chinese competitors.
In addition, the supply of commercial aircraft requires a large, extensive and efficient technical network.
service all over the world. Oftentimes, building such a network can be more challenging than building the aircraft themselves.
The fact that most airlines have already chosen a supplier makes it much more difficult to enter the market. Until 2025, about 75% of the market for these aircraft has already been contracted.
Nevertheless, taking into account the characteristics and prospects, the conquest of a certain share of the world market by the MC-21 airliner seems to be a quite feasible task.
