Russian Civil Aviation: News #4

kvs wrote:

Autodestruct wrote:Youtube promo video from Irkut Corp at Dubai.  It tours the Aurus business jet interior and then does the same for the MC-21-310.  You can see that the MC-21 only has a partial cabin installed and the back portion is used for testing.  It is interesting that they chose to bring this plane to Dubai when it is obviously still being used in the testing program.

No point delaying its air show rounds over such a technicality.   Giving it exposure is worth a lot because the foreign media will try to
relegate it to obscurity.

Those business class seats certainly show off the width.

Airbus got 400+ orders, while Boeing got around 100 at the Dubai Air Show.

How many will Russian aircraft get? Why does Russian Aircraft not get the orders?

par far wrote:Airbus got 400+ orders, while Boeing got around 100 at the Dubai Air Show.
How many will Russian aircraft get? Why does Russian Aircraft not get the orders?

There is more to an aircraft than just the price. You need support and for companies which don't use airplanes for a long time you need some sort of resale value.
Then there is the possibility of sanctions. With regards to the MS-21 it isn't in service yet. The Superjet is competing against the likes of Embraer not Airbus or Boeing.
It is an uphill battle but not impossible.

lancelot wrote:

par far wrote:Airbus got 400+ orders, while Boeing got around 100 at the Dubai Air Show.
How many will Russian aircraft get? Why does Russian Aircraft not get the orders?

There is more to an aircraft than just the price. You need support and for companies which don't use airplanes for a long time you need some sort of resale value.
Then there is the possibility of sanctions. With regards to the MS-21 it isn't in service yet. The Superjet is competing against the likes of Embraer not Airbus or Boeing.
It is an uphill battle but not impossible.

Plus they are very young airplanes. As you said, logistics is important. Russia will eventually expand especially in other countries looking to get something cheaper and possibly localize logistics.

Much more important: the bribes being paid by Airbus/Boeing.

miketheterrible wrote:Plus they are very young airplanes. As you said, logistics is important.  Russia will eventually expand especially in other countries looking to get something cheaper and possibly localize logistics.

Hello, new in here.

IIRC UAC/Irkut reached some kind of early agreement with ST Engineering in relation to MS-21 maintenance some years ago, I think they will later send one to them to be deeply studied for maintenance purposes.

ST Eng is one of the most respected service providers in this field worldwide, and Singapore is also quite important MRO HUB therefore. If it work as expected, the Asian market (specially SEA) would open quite easier to MS-21.

[EDIT] Once ST Eng manage to master the MS-21 maintenance (without any bad surprises) it would be easier to convince SIA[1] (Singapore Air Lines) to buy them. If the "Best Airline in the World" adopt the MS-21 it will hard to tell nonsense/crap about it.

Side interesting fact, the Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong (son of the legendary Lee Kuan Yew) is not just fluent in Russian but also graduated/undergraduated in Russia. His father "knew" Russia would arise again and considered quite important (read fundamental) to Singapore to have a good understanding of it.

[1] both have the same owner, the Singapore State.

rigoletto wrote:

miketheterrible wrote:Plus they are very young airplanes. As you said, logistics is important.  Russia will eventually expand especially in other countries looking to get something cheaper and possibly localize logistics.

Hello, new in here.

IIRC UAC/Irkut reached some kind of early agreement with ST Engineering in relation to MS-21 maintenance some years ago, I think they will later send one to them to be deeply studied for maintenance purposes.

ST Eng is one of the most respected service providers in this field worldwide, and Singapore is also quite important MRO HUB therefore. If it work as expected, the Asian market (specially SEA) would open quite easier to MS-21.

[EDIT] Once ST Eng manage to master the MS-21 maintenance (without any bad surprises) it would be easier to convince SIA[1] (Singapore Air Lines) to buy them. If the "Best Airline in the World" adopt the MS-21 it will hard to tell nonsense/crap about it.

Side interesting fact, the Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong (son of the legendary Lee Kuan Yew) is not just fluent in Russian but also graduated/undergraduated in Russia. His father "knew" Russia would arise again and considered quite important (read fundamental) to Singapore to have a good understanding of it.

[1] both have the same owner, the Singapore State.

Welcome to the forums. Don't forget to introduce yourself in this thread:

https://www.russiadefence.net/f6-member-introductions-and-rules

Thanks for the info, I had no idea that Singapore had even any resemblance of relations with the Russian federation.

This I'll have to keep an eye on. Any more info would be highly appreciated.

Unfortunately I don't have a lot of more relevant information, these are things I got on the wild some time ago, and can be found on the internet if you look carefully.

The only extra I could add about to Russia-Singapore relations:

1- a few years ago Singapore donated a reasonable sized land plot for Russia to construct a "Russian Cultural Center".[1]
As far I'm aware there is nothing in there yet, except the rock with the plate;

2- there are some "reports" the Project 03160 ‘Raptor’ was designed in cooperation with a Singaporean company. No more info about it, and not sure about the veracity, but ST Eng have some sweet 70kn interceptors (Super Swift 18);

[EDIT] 3- there where some talks about Russia-Singapore cooperation in "Smart Cities" technology,. No idea if it is actually happening;

[EDIT] 4- Singapore have been investing in Russia together with the RDIF. You can find information about it in the RDIF website (just search "Singapore").

Btw, Singapore is a far more interesting country than what it looks on the surface. In case of being interested the best start point to understand Singapore is the book: "From Third World to First: The Singapore Story - 1965-2000" - Lee Kuan Yew.[2]

Also, there are some Singapore laws Russia could have a close look, like about NGOs. Basically, anyone can freely establish a NGO in there, but it will have no fiscal benefits[3] unless they formally convince the government the object of the NGO will benefit Singapore as a whole, and not certain specific groups.

Also, I head about some migrant issues in Russia. In SG people coming to work on "certain" jobs have to get a specific visa, and have tons of restrictions, including personal. For starters, they can just be from specific countries, like India and others they have historical relations[4]. Maids (IDK a lot of details about others) cannot marry in Singapore unless they leave the country for two years; got pregnant, no talk -> expelled; acquire Singapore nationality? NO.


[1] I could find the exactly coordinates of it with some patience but I need some sleep now.
[2] can be easily found on the internet...
[3] just the founder can pull in money tax free.
[4] the salaries are also based on the origin, it should be more than what they earn at home but (not necessarily) on pair with the regular Singaporean ones. The employer provide the all basics, shelter and food (usually in large and properly organized sheds with several bunks etc. maids live where they work). The idea is to provide proven better conditions than what they have in home while being as cheap as possible to the Singaporean company.

[quote="GarryB"]

If they don't get customers then they are wasting their time.

That depends. As Lancelot discussed, MRO and creating a resale value is critical. One of the big thorns in the Superjet has been that SCAC signed up a host of users (scattered across the globe) with weak financials (Armavia, Interjet, etc.) which either quickly went bankrupt or did not have the money for any appreciable service and support. And, when you are in that situation, then you don't have a clear picture of where to invest in MRO infrastructure. And then poorly maintained aircraft have no resale value.

If Irkut can get a flagship carrier to order the MC-21 then great. Otherwise, stick with a Russian launch for the first few years. They can build up their MRO capability there and then expand outwards. It's not like production numbers are going to be that great the first few years anyways.

Aerocomposite has begun work on the CR929 aircraft's wing. They also say that they are running at near 100% capacity. So it might take them a while to boost the yearly production numbers of the MC-21.

https://aviation21.ru/v-ulyanovske-nachalos-izgotovlenie-iz-pkm-prototipov-kryla-dlya-shfdms-cr929/

Preparations have begun for the first flight of the MC-21 aircraft with a wing made from Russian PKM, 30/11/2021.

The Irkutsk aircraft plant has completed the construction of the first MC-21 aircraft, the wing of which is made of Russian-made polymer composite materials. November 29, 2021the plane is transferredfrom the IAP final assembly shop to the flight test unit. This was reported by the press service of the United Aircraft Corporation.

"The specialists of the plant and allied enterprises will carry out a program of ground checks of the aircraft and its systems and prepare the aircraft for the first flight," added the UAC representative.

The share of composites in the MS-21 structure is about 40%. Domestic materials for power composite structures were developed with the participation of scientists from Moscow State University and Rosatom enterprises. The wing consoles and center section of the MC-21 aircraft are manufactured at the AeroComposite-Ulyanovsk enterprise. In the production of the wing, the technology of vacuum infusion is used, which is patented in Russia.

On November 22, in Yelabuga, General Director of AeroComposite JSC, Deputy General Director of Irkut Corporation Anatoly Gaidansky announced that the first MC-21 aircraft, built using entirely Russian composite materials, will take off in December 2021. According to him, by the end of the first quarter of 2022 it is planned "to receive a major change to it, which will allow the use of Russian materials."

The delivery of the first copies of the MC-21 for the Rossiya airline is scheduled for the third quarter of 2022. The aircraft will be equipped with Pratt & Whitney engines and a Russian composite wing.

"The Rossiya Airlines will use cars with completely Russian composite materials," Gaidansky assured.

https://aviation21.ru/nachata-podgotovka-k-pervomu-polyotu-samolyota-ms-21-s-krylom-iz-rossijskix-pkm/

The Ministry of Industry and Trade hopes to certify the MC-21 aircraft this year, 04/12/2021.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade hopes to complete the certification of the MC-21 aircraft by the end of the year. This was announced by the head of the ministry Denis Manturov, whose words are quoted by TASS: “We are doing everything to try to be in time this year,” the minister said.

https://rg.ru/2021/12/04/minpromtorg-nadeetsia-na-sertifikaciiu-samoleta-ms-21-v-etom-godu.html

MC-21 with Russian engine to be certified in 2022 — UEC, 09.12.2021.

The airplane undergoes certification tests now, CEO of the company Alexander Artyukhov said.

PERM, December 9. /TASS/. Certification of the Russian passenger jet MC-21 with the indigenous engine PD-14 is scheduled for completion in 2022 and deliveries will start from 2024, CEO of the United Engine Corporation (UEC) Alexander Artyukhov said on Thursday.

"The maiden flight of the MC-21 airplane with the PD-14 powerplant was made in December 2020. The airplane with this engine undergoes certification tests now. Completion of certification is planned at the turn of 2022 and first supplies for commercial operation - since 2024," the top manager said.

The need for government support when bringing the engine to the market will be needed, Artyukhov added.

https://tass.com/economy/1373315

Baikal serial production to start in 2023. TVRS-44 (I guess) serial production to start in 2025.

"We plan to launch series production of the nine-seat Baikal since 2023 and the 44-seat turboprop regional passenger airplane in 2025" - Russian Minister of Industry, Denis Manturov

https://www.ruaviation.com/news/2021/12/21/17227/

The first prototype aircraft MS-21-300 b/n 73051 on December 22, 2021 made a flight to Irkutsk for modification to the -310 version by replacing the PW1400G engines with PD-14. Remotorization will take place at the Irkutsk Aircraft Plant.

Now the aircraft is equipped with PurePower PW1400G-JM engines of Pratt & Whitney. This turbofan engine was certified by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on May 9, 2016. The PD-14 engine received a type certificate in October 2018. In December 2020, the first flight of the MS-21 with this power plant took place. Over the past three years after certification, the expected operating conditions have been expanded and work has been carried out to increase the service life of the engine.

As part of the development work at UEC-Perm Motors, the production of PD-14 engines in the amount of up to 10 units per year was created. Now it is necessary to make decisions to determine the source of financing for reaching the capacity of 50 engines per year and organizing a start-up system for after-sales service. Such serialization will ensure the volume of deliveries provided for by the current preliminary agreements with Irkut, Aeroflot and Red Wings airlines. This was announced on December 9 in Perm at a meeting on the implementation of projects in the field of aircraft engine building by the head of the UEC Alexander Artyukhov.

Currently, the MC-21-310 (73055) prototype aircraft is undergoing certification tests, which are planned to be completed at the end of 2022. Remotorization of the MS-21-300 into the MS-21-310 version is necessary to intensify flight tests in order to meet the stated certification deadlines. This was told in January 2021 in an interview by the Minister of Industry and Trade Denis Manturov.

It's good to see the number of flights of the 310 version is going to be picking up.

https://aviation21.ru/ms-21-pribyl-na-irkutskij-aviazavod-dlya-remotorizacii-pod-dvigateli-pd-14/

par far wrote:Airbus got 400+ orders, while Boeing got around 100 at the Dubai Air Show.

How many will Russian aircraft get? Why does Russian Aircraft not get the orders?

Because Airbus and Boeing are a hegemonic duopoly in the industry maybe ? It would be easier to just submit to them like everyone else has. But Russia isn't doing that.

MC-21 completed flight certification program, 24.12.2021.

The flight certification program for MC-21 has been completed, the aircraft will soon receive a type certificate, said the head of the Ministry of Industry and Trade Denis Manturov.

"We have completed the flight certification program for the MS-21 and look forward to receiving the type certificate" - reports TASS words Manturova in an interview with TV channel "Russia 24". He recalled that commercial deliveries of the aircraft should begin next year.

Earlier, the developers of the Russian MS-21-300 airliner were personally convinced of the reliability of the aircraft: they were on board during the flight from Moscow Zhukovsky airport to Irkutsk.

We will remind, on December 16 it was reported that MC-21 first landed at a civil airport as part of control tests. The MC-21-300 crew tested the reliability of the airliner's engines, functional systems and equipment. The airliner covered over 4 thousand kilometers. The flight passed without comment.

https://m.vz.ru/news/2021/12/24/1135903.html

MC-21 plane with Russian-made composite wing performs first flight, 25.12.2021.

According to Rostec CEO Sergey Chemezov, the share of composite materials in the MC-21 plane is about 40%, which is the record high for planes of this class.

MOSCOW, December 25. /TASS/. The newest Russian MC-21 passenger plane with a domestically-designed composite wing carried out its first flight, Rostec press office announced Saturday.

"Today, the MC-21-300 plane with a wing produced from Russian-made polymer composite materials has performed its first flight. The plane took off from the Irkutsk Aviation Plant airstrip. The flight proceeded as planned," the company said.

The domestic materials for the wing’s bearing frame were developed in cooperation between Rosatom, Moscow State University scientists and aviation industry specialists.

According to Rostec CEO Sergey Chemezov, the share of composite materials in the MC-21 plane is about 40%, which is the record high for planes of this class.

"The use of sturdy and lightweight composite materials made it possible to develop a wing with unique aerodynamic parameters, impossible for a metal wing. The improved aerodynamic made it possible to widen the MC-21 body and make the cabin wider, providing better comfort to the passengers," Chemezov said.

https://tass.com/economy/1380825