OREANDA-NEWS. The VEB Group has invested US$ 90 mln in creating the first Russian MS-21 narrow body passenger aircraft. A part of this amount has been made available as a prepayment for future aircraft, said Sergey Gorkov, Chairman of Vnesheconombank.

The maiden flight of the new MS-21-300 passenger aircraft took place on Sunday, May 28, with all systems operating normally. According to the program, the aircraft simulated a landing approach with a subsequent flight over, scramble and turn. This technique is a typical maneuver for the first flight of new types of aircraft.

"We are proud of our contribution to this project and whole-heartedly congratulate our colleagues from the Irkut Corporation. "Our subsidiary, VEB Leasing, has ordered 30 machines. For the VEB Group the participation in the MS-21 project means not only funding the creation of the new aerial vessel, but also assistance in establishing a sophisticated infrastructure, manufacturing facilities, and sale and after-sale servicing system," Sergey Gorkov said.

The Irkut Corporation is creating a family of passenger MS-21 short- and medium haul liners. The share of components from foreign suppliers in the MA-21 does not exceed 40%. The MS-21 prototype is powered by PW1400G engines built by the USA’s Pratt & Whitney Company. Aircraft designers plan to use an alternative power unit in follow-on models, the Russian-made PD-14 engine. The bulk of the aircraft onboard instruments will be manufactured by the Radioelektronniye Tekhnolologii (radio-electronic technologies) Concern (KRET). Depending on the model, the new airliners will seat 150 to 211 passengers. The basic version of the aircraft is MS-21-300, with a seating capacity of 180 to 200. Starting from 2020, Irkut plans to build 20 MS-21s each year, and from 2023 up to 70 machines a year.