Dmitry Medvedev visited the Irkut Corporation’s aviation plant in Irkutsk and spoke at the presentation of the MC-21 airliner.
Dmitry Medvedev’s remarks at the MC-21 presentation:
At the presentation of the MC-21 airliner
At the presentation of the MC-21 airliner
At the presentation of the MC-21 airliner
At the presentation of the MC-21 airliner
Good afternoon friends. I sincerely congratulate you on this much-anticipated event for our civil aviation, our aircraft manufacturing industry and the country as a whole.
Today we’ve seen the MC-21, a super-modern passenger aircraft of the 21st century, for the first time. We are proud that it was created in our country. This plane is a major achievement by Irkut Corporation scientists, designers, engineers and workers. You are creating – with government support, of course – a modern aircraft manufacturing industry, which is moving our country and its economy forward.
New aircraft manufacturing projects are, obviously, not cheap. In general, few countries have this capability. But they play in the top league, and we must keep our place in it, which is why we have been working for the future, and will continue to upgrade the civil aircraft fleet.
Technologically, the MC-21 is superior to the current planes in this class. I know that it will be one of the best, most efficient and safe planes available. The MC-21 is new evidence of Russia’s ability to create planes that move our aircraft manufacturing industry forward and allow us to compete with other countries.
We have seen some interest in this airliner. Of course, it has just been rolled out, and we still have much to do to help the MC-21 take its place on the global market.
It is also important that the MC-21 project has brought together the best Russian experts and many international companies. We welcome the business leaders who work in Russia, who have come for this presentation and who have achieved impressive results along with our country.
Of course, the project isn’t over yet. There’ll be a series of flight tests. The plane will make its maiden flight next year.
What I want to say is that I’m confident that this airliner will be the pride of Russian civil aviation and that the public, both in Russia and in other countries, will enjoy flying the MC-21.
Congratulations to all those who helped design and manufacture this wonderful plane. You have done a great deal, I would even say, an incredible amount for the country! We will be waiting for this passenger airliner’s maiden flight. Thank you.
