PD-14 turbofan for Irkut MC-21 narrowbody enters flight tests

Il-76LL lab in flight with PD-14 (Photo from Twitter)

Russia’s United Engine Corporation (UEC) has commenced flight tests of the Aviadvigatel PD-14 turbofan engine for the Irkut MC-21 narrowbody airliner, reads a tweet by Red Wings Airlines. An independent industry source confirms this report to Russian Aviation Insider.

According to the source, the PD-14 flight-test prototype was rolled out mounted on the wing of an Ilyushin 76LL testbed on October 24, and completed its first flight on October 30. The engine was reportedly powered on during the flight.

As reported earlier, the seventh PD-14 prototype was originally intended to be used in flight testing phase, whose beginning was initially planned for July 2015 but slipped to the fall owing to formal financial difficulties.

The 12-14 ton thrust PD-14/14A will power the MC-21-300 and -200 versions. UEC has already landed a contract for at least 35 such powerplants, to be mounted on Aeroflot’s MC-21s.

The engine’s Russian certification is set for the spring of 2017, to be followed by EASA certification in 2018. The model is being developed by UEC subsidiary – Perm-based Aviadvigatel and will enter series production at Perm Motors, which is planning to be building 40 engines per year by 2025 and 50 annually by 2030.