Aircraft
Russia’s MC-21 Starts Taxi Testing Ahead of First Flight
PW1400G-powered narrowbody on schedule to fly before summer
The first MC-21-300 prepares to taxi at the Irkutsk Aviation Plant in Siberia. (Photo: Irkut)
The first MC-21-300 prepares to taxi at the Irkutsk Aviation Plant in Siberia. (Photo: Irkut)

Russian airframer Irkut has moved the first MC-21-300 to the flight-test division of the Irkutsk Aviation Plant in preparation for first flight. Engineers have checked aircraft systems, performed ground starts of major and auxiliary power units and taxied the airplane at the plant’s airfield.