MC21 Roll Out
 

Not exactly sure that Boeing and Airbus are shaking in their boots but it'll be interesting to see how this pans out against the current and new players in the A320/B737 market.

MC-21 Roll Out »

Airbus and Boeing will beat it on price if any of their most valued customers start to get interested. Which I doubt.

The comments from a Mr Ubota at the end of the article hit the nail on the head and brings the geopolitical aspect of this venture.
That said It looks like a great aircraft and I really wish them good luck in their enterprise.

"it'll be interesting to see how this pans out against the current and new players in the A320/B737 market."

Most likely ( something like 90+% probability) that it will not "pan out" in any interesting way.
It is simply one more project used by "respectable people" as a source of kickbacks, that would be paid from gov-t contracts. The same thing happened with SSJ100 with virtually 0 interest from the industry. MC21 will be the same on the same level, I am afraid.

The current problem is that as long as the sanctions against Russia are effective, Irkut cannot buy any part to be installed in their MC-21, except the engines which are manufactured in Russia.

P&W manufactures its engines in Russia? Honestly don't know if that is the case.

Glad to see any sign of rebirth of the Russian civilian aircraft industry, even against large odds.

As others here have already indicated, my guess is that their problem, more than the technical and financial aspects, will be political. And even if relationships between Russia and the West improve, I can't imagine EASA rushing to give it approval when it will potentially steal orders from Airbus, not that I'm suggesting anyone there would have a vested interest at all!!!!

Clearly they don't. But UEC, manufacturers of the other powerplant to be offered on the MC21, do, so the OP is correct in that respect.

It is a twin engined Yak-42. Extraordinary.

I like your thinking - discounting the fact that it doesn't have a third engine, and the two it has are under the wings, and it doesn't have a T-tail, the resemblance is uncanny.

If Sukhoi is anything to go by Irkut will also have to overcome logistics and reliability problems as well as coping with an erratic order book made up of airlines which can't buy new aeroplanes anywhere else and are often tinkering on the brink financially.

707 > 727 > 757. It seemed to work for Boeing.

This aircraft is destined for the Russian market, and probably for its allies. It doesn't matter that Russia can't import US/European parts, it still makes its own, including FBW and glass cockpit systems.

The trade embargo is reinvigorating the Russian economy, including its aerospace industries. The sanctions give Russian entrepreneurs the opportunity to invest in strategic industries as a substitute, as they are already doing in the agriculture sector. Can't import tomatoes from Spain? Get them from the Caucasus.

If EASA fails to grant the aircraft type approval, it's going to be tit for tat. Russian aircraft barred from overflying Europe? Think of the mess if Russia bars overflights over its terrirory. But it won't come to that. Already, countries like France and Italy are increasingly discontent with the sanctions imposed by European commission, as its hurting their economies, and causing anger amongst its farmers and industrialists.

Smart move, Europe. It's called 'shooting yourself in the foot', and 'cutting off your nose to spite your face'.

All very well scud, but have you already forgotten why the sanctions in the first place? Lift the sanctions and you give Putin and his bully boys Carte Blanche to do what the heck they want.