Russia's Newest Post-Soviet Airliner Is Ready to Fly

Photo credit: Boeing
MoreFrom Popular Mechanics
The first locally designed Russian narrowbody aircraft since the fall of the Soviet Union, the MC-21, is preparing to make its first flight by the end of the month. Hopes are high for the plane, which the Russian United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) hopes will propel a return to the global commercial aircraft market.
It’s been a long road for the MC-21, first conceived of in 2003 to replace the aging Tupolev Tu-204. A twin engine medium jet air