The first MC-21-300 wing made of Russian composite materials was delivered to Irkut, at its assembly line of Irkutsk Aviation Plant.
The 17,5-meter-long wing panel was made by the Russian company JSC AeroComposite, using a domestic fiber developed among others by Moscow State University and Rosatom.
“The technology used to produce large-scale wing box panels based on infusion technology was developed by AeroComposite and patented in Russia,” Irkut said in a statement. “The use of strong and lightweight composite materials resulted in the development high aspect ratio wing and improving the aircraft aerodynamic performance and at the same time increasing the fuselage diameter.”
Russia had to develop its own composite materials after delivery of parts coming from US Hexcel and Japanese Toray Industries were abandoned over soured diplomatic relationships.
The part should soon be assembled on the first MC-21-300 to be delivered to its launch customer, the Russian flag carrier Aeroflot. Deliveries are slated to start by the end of 2021, according to Russian trade and industry minister Denis Manturov.
The MC-21 is a medium-haul plane capable of carrying between 132 and 211 passengers, a prized market segment. It is destined to replace the Tu-154 and Tu-204 in Russia and will compete with two best-sellers, the Boeing 737 and the Airbus A320.
In February 2021, the Aviadvigatel PD-14 turbofan engine slated to power the MC-21 airliner was found compliant with ICAO emission standards.
