Aircraft
Russia’s MC-21 Rolls Out in Irkutsk
Russian prime minister Dmitry Medvedev addresses gathering of employees, supplier reps, executives and government officials
Irkut revealed the first MC-21 during a rollout ceremony in Irkutsk last June. At the time, officials estimated it might fly this February but official estimates now place the milestone some time during this first half of the year. [Photo: Irkut]
Irkut revealed the first MC-21 during a rollout ceremony in Irkutsk last June. At the time, officials estimated it might fly this February but official estimates now place the milestone some time during this first half of the year. [Photo: Irkut]

United Aircraft Corporation subsidiary Irkut rolled out the first MC-21 narrowbody airliner Wednesday from its factory in Irkutsk in eastern Siberia. The milestone, which came roughly some six months later than last scheduled, nevertheless marked what the Russian company considers a sort of vindication for a program some in the West have disparaged as an overly ambitious attempt to compete with the likes of the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320.