Russia looks to restore status in civil aviation: MC-21 makes maiden flight using Russian-made engines, ending reliance on West

Russian plane

Russian aviation has taken another step toward complete independence from foreign manufacturers with the maiden flight of the Irkut MC-21-310 aircraft, a narrow-body jet airliner equipped with two Russian PD-14 engines.

The latest plane is a variant of the Irkut MC-21, which first flew in 2017. The project was reassessed due to Russia’s relationship with the West, and moves were made to use domestically-produced engines. By adding the Aviadvigatel PD-14 to a Russia-made body, the country’s aviation industry can begin moving away from its reliance on Western technology.

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