Up next in 10
n this exclusive interview series, the key figures behind Russia’s MC-21 airliner reveal how innovation and teamwork are transforming the nation’s aviation industry.
From the chief designer to test pilots and engineers, they discuss how import substitution, composite wings, and the PD-14 engines are bringing the MC-21 closer to serial production.
Filmed at Zhukovsky, this rare look inside the development program shows how the MC-21 embodies Russia’s pursuit of technological independence and modern aerospace design.Watch now — meet the people, see the machines, and discover how the MC-21 is redefining the future of flight.#MC21 #RussianAviation #PD14 #Rostec #UEC #Yakovlev #AviationEngineering #FlightTest #AircraftDesign #ImportSubstitution #Zhukovsky #CivilAviation #AerospaceTechnology
Be a Member for exclusive privileges - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCviEFTf1xIPKsjmyF_zvFug/join
Twitter : https://x.com/AltitudeAddicts
Website: https://www.altitudeaddicts.com
Show More Show Less View Video Transcript
0:20
Almost all systems have been replaced
0:22
and that for us the most important thing
0:24
is that the two most important systems
0:26
for the aircraft have been replaced in
0:28
the control system. Only domestic drives
0:31
are now used. All mechanization,
0:34
stabilizer, repositioning mechanisms as
0:36
well as controls in the cockpit. This
0:38
system itself and in ground tests in the
0:41
process of preparing aircraft for flight
0:43
and in flight showed that everything is
0:45
working perfectly. There are no comments
0:46
from the flight crew. The aircraft fully
0:49
meets all expectations and is prepared
0:51
for advanced testing. Our technological
0:54
system rivals the quality of imported
0:56
systems crucial to the plane's operation
0:58
including the wheel braking mechanism,
1:00
tires, brakes and braking control
1:02
systems. A very important, very
1:05
responsible system for each aircraft is
1:07
very complex and it also showed itself
1:09
at the height that is in the process of
1:11
inspections on the ground. During test
1:14
runs and in flight everything worked
1:16
normally, everything worked very well.
1:18
The system completely met expectations.
1:22
work just great. This plane of ours, one
1:24
on which the wing is installed, is
1:25
completely made of Russian opposition
1:27
materials. He started flying a long time
1:30
ago. Of course, I made one flight in 21
1:32
years. The wing shows itself
1:34
beautifully. Before that, it passed the
1:35
full range of tests both in flight and
1:37
on stands. Currently, this wing performs
1:40
flawlessly. A reminder that this model
1:43
lacks passenger cabin equipment as it
1:45
serves only for testing. It's stripped
1:48
of interior furnishing, but soon we plan
1:50
to install complete interior panels to
1:52
optimize its functionality.
1:55
Put luggage racks, put some chairs. We
1:58
have already tried it on. We just took
2:00
it off for an hour, which means the
2:02
plane will be transformed. It will be
2:03
very beautiful, very convenient,
2:05
comfortable. We have repeatedly said
2:07
that our aircraft is more spacious and
2:09
comfortable than our closest Western
2:11
competitors. So, we wait until we can
2:13
carry passengers. I hope they like it.
2:26
Level six, level 10.
2:36
[Music]
2:41
During yesterday's flight of the MC21310
2:44
aircraft, the P14 engines worked
2:47
normally at all thrust modes from low
2:49
throttle to takeoff mode. Braking is
2:51
performed using a reversing device. All
2:54
systems worked normally. The PD14 engine
2:57
was certified in 2018. For us, this is
3:00
already the third MC21 aircraft which is
3:03
equipped with PD14 engines.
3:08
Work is currently underway.
3:11
New Russian aircraft systems with a
3:13
marching power plant with a PD14 engine.
3:16
During ground flight tests of the PD14
3:18
engines, full compliance with the
3:20
requirements of the technical
3:22
specifications for weight, size,
3:24
traction, and consumption
3:25
characteristics of the engine was
3:27
confirmed.
3:29
engine. According to D14,
3:32
it is thoroughly competitive with
3:33
foreign counterparts used in both global
3:36
and Russian airlines.
3:50
[Music]
3:58
Whenever work approaches its final
4:00
stage, which in our case is marked by
4:02
the plane's takeoff, it encapsulates the
4:04
culmination of efforts.
4:07
This is just an indicator that all the
4:09
work carried out on the ground was
4:11
carried out with a positive result. It
4:14
was decided that the aircraft can go out
4:16
for one flight.
4:20
Accordingly, when we see that the plane
4:23
has taken off, when we see that it
4:25
finally rises in the air, it is always
4:27
exciting, always pleasant, and
4:29
immediately the thought arises as they
4:31
are there on board,
4:33
will they do everything?
4:35
And I must say that it is very pleasant
4:38
when the car returns from the flight.
4:40
And you hear according to the crew.
4:43
There are no comments that the task was
4:45
completed in full on the work of the
4:47
match. The plane itself is not easy. It
4:50
came then the motorcycle got on, started
4:52
it and went.
4:55
Weather conditions are analyzed, task
4:56
assigned and pre-flight briefings
4:58
conducted. Where is the evaluation
5:00
conducted
5:03
is reported. the condition of the
5:04
material part is reported where the
5:06
weather condition and weather forecast
5:08
are reported.
5:10
And so when we decided to go on flights,
5:12
we came on a plane in general gusts of
5:15
wind. We knew they were coming and we
5:17
were waiting for them. And most
5:18
importantly, we understood that these
5:20
were just impulses. This is not a
5:22
constant wind, a strong wind. So
5:25
practically, as you noticed, we waited
5:27
for the gust to subside.
5:30
Next, we activated the auxiliary power
5:33
unit and initiated the engine to begin
5:35
operations.
5:37
We checked the control system. Two
5:39
impulses began. So, we conscientiously
5:41
waited for this impulse to subside. And
5:44
already
5:47
with the wind, which was prescribed to
5:49
perform a one-stop flight. Well, they
5:52
decided to perform this flight. So, then
5:54
the plane already rolled along the taxi
5:56
way to the runway. The aircraft that
5:59
carries passengers and the one that goes
6:01
on a regular flight is an aircraft that
6:04
has already passed the test and is
6:07
already behind the tests related to the
6:10
expansion of conditions.
6:14
Weather conditions, yes, where the
6:16
crosswind is a tailwind,
6:19
the headwind, these conditions, they are
6:21
all negotiated.
6:23
The coefficient of addition of the
6:25
runway is all assessed by takeoff tests.
6:27
So there may be corresponding
6:29
restrictions. There may be a headwind
6:32
there up to 18 man per second is allowed
6:34
somewhere there. A crosswind there up to
6:36
12 men per second is allowed for one
6:38
flight. Of course now the restrictions
6:40
are tougher
6:42
restrictions.
6:45
They were invented for a reason. In
6:46
general, before performing the first
6:48
test flight of such an experimental
6:50
aircraft as the MC21 placed, an industry
6:54
methodological council was held where
6:56
restrictions on wind speed and wind
6:58
strength were determined.
7:03
So we complied with those restrictions.
7:05
We took off
7:07
at a survey, let's say. So
7:11
we were lucky with the weather about a
7:12
gust of wind. We just waited during
7:14
flight tests in general
7:17
way to start working calculations on the
7:19
stands. Such restrictions are issued,
7:22
developed, imposed and then in the
7:25
process of linear tests, we begin to
7:27
move first towards these restrictions
7:28
and then we already determine the
7:30
possibility of expanding the operating
7:32
conditions. Therefore, periodically, for
7:35
example, we are now talking about the
7:36
wind with you. Yes, if the wind on the
7:39
plane is 15 m/s, then
7:45
during flight test, you and I can reach
7:48
winds. For example, there are 16, 17, 18
7:51
ml per second. The most difficult thing
7:54
perhaps is to capture these conditions
7:56
in real in real conditions so that the
7:58
plane finds itself in these conditions.
8:00
And if we are lucky we correctly
8:02
calculated these conditions where they
8:04
will be at what moment they arrived
8:06
there waited flew them away
8:10
efforts the necessary materials
8:12
processed and made the evidentiary
8:14
documentation evidentiary that is we
8:16
proved that the plane can fly in these
8:18
conditions. It is safe and can carry
8:20
passengers. Then in the future these
8:22
restrictions are expanded and imposed on
8:24
aircraft. Let's say in passenger
8:29
this aircraft MC2013
8:31
this machine which will be entrusted
8:33
with the lion share of the work because
8:35
improvements to the management system
8:37
were still affected. Therefore
8:40
a huge amount of work will be related to
8:43
aerodynamics. These are stability modes
8:45
controllability. These are braking
8:47
characteristics.
8:50
Next work will be carried out to assess
8:52
the operation in principle of the
8:54
control system. itself and we will begin
8:56
to move further to watch the operation
8:58
of the power plants. Work auxiliary
9:01
power plant evaluates work. Each system
9:04
is practically separate. Fuel system,
9:06
hydraulic system, air conditioning
9:08
system,
9:10
automatic pressure regulation system.
9:12
Well, in general, it's like this.
9:14
Practically like this. So on all
9:16
systems,
9:25
aircraft 13 was originally intended to
9:27
be the first production aircraft under
9:29
the MC21300
9:31
program with imported engines and with
9:33
imported systems. On this aircraft, an
9:36
import substituted wing was implemented
9:38
for the first time. And this was the
9:40
first machine on which we implemented
9:42
complete import substitution of
9:44
composite material. And this machine has
9:47
already flown on it. We flew several
9:49
flights that were allowed to them in 22
9:51
years.
9:53
Certify the wing with Russian
9:54
compositions and materials as part of
9:56
the aircraft design. Now this machine
9:58
has come back to the factory and all
10:00
systems of the Marshall power plants
10:02
have been completely dismantled. We must
10:04
pay tribute to our design services of
10:06
the technological flight station which
10:08
when preparing this machine for flight
10:10
poured in and spent the night here
10:12
solving specific technical problems. As
10:15
you know we have two experimental
10:16
aircraft on which we carry out a lot of
10:18
certification work primarily service
10:20
flights. This is 12 car and 13
10:23
12. The machine is in a partially import
10:26
substituted form 13. And the machine is
10:28
already a machine as close as possible
10:30
to the standard design on which we work
10:32
out all the Russian systems that we make
10:34
in the import substitution program.
10:36
Which means in particular here the drive
10:38
network is already completely import
10:40
substituted as the main flight control
10:43
drives. Thus the wing mechanization
10:45
movement systems are imported. The
10:47
stabilizer movement mechanism is
10:49
imported.
10:51
The aircraft's wheelbreaking system
10:52
signifies that just one flight with this
10:54
machine paves the way for comprehensive
10:56
certification testing. Our primary
10:57
objective remains straightforward to
10:59
secure approval for the principal
11:00
modification that ensures this
11:02
advancement.
11:04
Operate a fully import substituted
11:07
aircraft already in airlines. To do this
11:09
you need to do a large amount of all
11:11
sorts of work but one you need to
11:12
conduct a large number of bench tests on
11:14
the bench. electronic bird on the stand,
11:17
iron bird on the stands, strength
11:19
stands, functional ones that our
11:21
suppliers have, which means that a lot
11:24
of work needs to be done in terms of
11:25
flight and ground experiments. It is on
11:28
machines 1213 that we have developed
11:30
flight test programs that have been
11:32
approved
11:34
aviation authorities and now we are
11:36
already flying 12 car flights and in a
11:38
month about 13. The vehicle will also
11:40
join the flight test program. In
11:42
addition to flight tests, ground tests
11:44
will be carried out on the machine. It
11:45
is impossible to overestimate the
11:47
importance of the lift of this machine.
11:49
The road is now completely open to us.
12:07
[Music]
12:16
All aircraft systems were turned on as
12:18
normal. You could see that before the
12:20
launch. What we launched from the BC,
12:23
all the aircraft systems were connected
12:25
on board during the flight. No
12:27
reconfiguration took place. That is how
12:32
approximately as a line pilot is
12:34
prescribed to operate. So we operated
12:37
this aircraft that is the hydraulic
12:39
system, the electrical systems, the air
12:41
conditioning systems. There the
12:44
integrated control system did not work
12:46
in standby mode. It worked in main mode.
12:48
There were no failures in the operation
12:50
of the systems during the flight. The
12:53
landing approach was carried out in the
12:55
same way using
12:58
radio equipment was utilized during the
13:00
flight. Well, the most important thing
13:01
is that this management system drew
13:03
attention to because
13:05
this is the first aircraft on which it
13:07
is completely domestic including the
13:09
controls in the cockpit, including the
13:11
mechanization drive of the controls of
13:13
theons of the height rather the
13:15
stabilizer rearrangement mechanism. Uh
13:18
everything worked automatically
13:21
as Andre basically said that is the
13:23
plane balanced in all modes. We
13:25
performed modes in different
13:26
configurations that is in the takeoff
13:28
and the landing.
13:29
In the flight room,
13:30
the flight configuration was made by
13:32
braking accelerations and coordinated
13:34
sliding of the Dutch transfer along the
13:36
pitch. The flight program was completed
13:39
completely that is uh all the modes that
13:41
were prescribed to us and we reached all
13:43
the altitudes and speeds. Offboard the
13:46
escort not only filmed us but also
13:48
monitored our parameters. Therefore,
13:52
now we need to sort of prepare this
13:53
plane for the Zjukovski leg. To do this,
13:55
we have to test it in the entire range
13:57
of altitude speeds. That is, this is the
13:59
work we have to do now. Next, I think
14:01
that everything will be fine as if all
14:03
the prerequisites for this are there and
14:06
we should so to speak return to the main
14:08
base where it will take place. As Andre
14:11
already said, certification.
14:14
The aircraft is equipped with a system
14:16
of onboard measurements which register a
14:18
huge number of parameters of operation
14:20
of all systems and also the aircraft is
14:22
equipped with workplaces of onboard
14:24
operators where the parameters of
14:26
operation of the system are displayed.
14:29
We control it all in flight. We advise
14:32
the pilots that is we consult together.
14:34
We discuss what further modes we perform
14:37
that is what parameters have been
14:39
achieved and thus the crew works
14:41
together harmoniously.
14:44
For our part, we want to confirm the
14:45
words of the pilots that all systems of
14:47
the aircraft work normally as we
14:49
expected. So we confirm it in flight.
14:51
They were also helped to implement the
14:53
regime and confirmed the operability of
14:55
the systems as we conducted complex and
14:57
ground tests. We have already imagined
15:00
that as expected all systems are working
15:02
normally.
15:04
uh what was confirmed today in flight as
15:07
the air conditioning system, landing
15:09
gear system, braking system and other
15:11
systems of the aircraft. Everything
15:13
worked as expected and we are very happy
15:15
about it.