Irkut is unconcerned by the 29 May failure of a Pratt & Whitney PW1500G geared-fan engine on a Bombardier CSeries aircraft.
Speaking at Irkut's Moscow headquarters on 5 June, president Oleg Demchenko dismissed the incident as "just a regular thing that happens when you start [testing] a new engine".
He still anticipates receiving the first pair of PW1400G powerplants for its MC-21 twinjet in 2015 "as [P&W] has promised to fulfil its obligations under the contract".
However, he admits that there has been no communication from the US manufacturer about the CSeries mishap.
Meanwhile, says Demchenko, the development of the alternative Aviadvigatel powerplant for the MC-21 continues, with the first engine due to begin bench tests next month.
Flight trials of the indigenously-developed powerplant using an Ilyushin Il-76 will follow next year he adds, ahead of planned 2017 certification. In all 10 test engines will be produced, says Demchenko.
Irkut has begun assembly work on the first three examples of its developmental MC-21 including the initial flight-test articles.
Two fuselage sections are in final assembly, with production of components for a further three under way, Demchenko says.
He expects the three test airframes to be completed in 2015 ahead of first flight planned for later that year. "We are fully keeping [to] the schedule," he says. However, he shies away from committing to a firm timeframe for the maiden sortie, noting that ahead of that milestone "there are a large amount of tests to be performed".
Static evaluations will be carried out by Russia's Central Aerohydrodynamics Institute (TsAGI).
Source: Cirium Dashboard
