Irkut Corporation, a Russian aircraft manufacturer, has announced that it will test its MC-21-300 prototype aircraft in sub-zero conditions.
Yakutsk, Russia, will host the testing. As part of the extension of the type certificate, the manufacturer will conduct tests on the MC-21-300 prototype passenger aircraft, which currently allows the aircraft to operate in air temperatures near the ground of minus 30 degrees Celsius.
According to an Irkut Corporation announcement dated January 23, 2022, Yakutia provides the ideal climatic conditions for aviation equipment to be tested at low temperatures because it is one of the world’s coldest places.
According to the manufacturer, the MC-21-300 systems have previously been tested on stands at temperatures as low as minus 55 degrees Celsius.
“It will take approximately three weeks to conduct ground and flight tests in Yakutia, depending on the air temperature in the region.
Each test phase is preceded by cooling of the aircraft and in the evening and at night it will be in the open parking lot for 12 hours.
The Yakutsk Airport and Yakutia Airlines provide organizational and technical support for the tests,” explained Daniil Brenerman, the managing director at Yakovlev Design Bureau.
With more than 70 specialists on board, the prototype aircraft traveled from Zhukovsky (ZIA) to Yakutsk (ZIA) to begin preparations for the anticipated trials.
The flight demonstrated the serviceability of all aircraft systems “for a comfortable lengthy flight with several passengers on board,” according to the manufacturer.
Irkut Corporation’s director-general, Andrei Boginsky, also announced that the business will conduct a series of additional trials to increase the existing certificate before mass-producing and delivering the aircraft to its client, Rossiya Airlines, by the end of 2022.
The MC-21-300 aircraft is a new generation medium-range commercial passenger airliner with a seating capacity of 163 to 211 passengers.
The Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsia) issued the aircraft a type certificate in December 2021, confirming that it met the certification requirements for commercial aviation equipment.
