United Aircraft has successfully executed the maiden flight of its first serially-produced Yakovlev MC-21-310, a narrow-body twinjet designed as a critical component of the manufacturer's import-substitution initiative. Departing from the Irkutsk aviation plant on August 3, the aircraft, identified by serial number 0014, remained airborne for one hour and 23 minutes. According to FlightGlobal, the test flight reached altitudes of approximately 6,000 meters and speeds exceeding 320 knots, with a four-person crew evaluating the performance of the jet's domestic systems, including its Aviadvigatel PD-14 powerplants.

Test pilot Roman Taskaev indicated that the aircraft demonstrated satisfactory stability and controllability throughout the evaluation, confirming that all primary flight tasks were successfully accomplished. This milestone signifies a major production push for the Irkutsk facility, which currently has 18 airframes in various stages of construction. Vadim Badekha, head of United Aircraft, noted that the successful sortie proves the factory's readiness to begin volume production, effectively setting the stage for future deliveries once the model secures its official certification.

While the program continues to focus on rigorous flight testing to expedite the certification process, the engineering team is already considering future variants, including a shortened MC-21-210 model aimed at increasing range. Discussions regarding this potential variant have involved high-level political scrutiny, particularly regarding range performance expectations. As the manufacturer works to refine final assembly and testing procedures, the goal remains to minimize the timeframe between the achievement of certification and the commencement of full-scale commercial operations for the domestically-sourced jet.