The MS-21 aircraft is being “beaten” with electricity to speed up its serial production

The Irkutsk Aviation Plant is undergoing unusual tests of the MS-21-310 prototype. The aircraft with tail number 73057 is in the final assembly shop, where the plant's engineers are finishing checking the operation of the systems under voltage.


The main purpose of the tests is the final assessment of the stability and reliability of all power supply elements before flight tests. It is noteworthy that the aircraft with the above number became the first by air MS-21, made in a completely domestic configuration.

Import substitution required replacement of a significant number of components, including cable trunking. One of the most labor-intensive tasks was laying kilometer-long wiring harnesses.


The "current" testing began immediately after the New Year holidays. The complex of measures included the following manipulations:

✅ primary connection to power sources
✅ assessment of the correctness of operating modes
✅ simulation of emergency situations

Once the electrical testing is complete, engineers will move on to the next stage of production testing. Specialists will conduct final testing of the radio communication equipment, hydraulics and integrated control system.

The actions of the Irkutsk Aviation Plant employees are regulated by design documentation. According to the company's representative office, all work is proceeding as usual. The latter became possible due to effective interaction with suppliers and equipment developers.


The debut flight of the airliner with the tail number 73057 is planned for the summer of this year. In parallel with the testing of this aircraft, preparations are underway for the experimental aircraft 73055. The aircraft has already been transferred to the flight test complex of the IAZ. It will take to the air earlier - at the beginning of next month.

Let us recall that the localized modification of the MS-21-310 is the result of an import substitution project. This passenger airliner is intended to become an alternative to such aircraft as the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737.

The aircraft has two distinctive features. The first in importance is the PD-14 engine, which will soon be installed on the MS-21 en masse. In addition, the modernized aircraft can boast a record share of composite materials for the Russian aircraft industry of 40%.