Yakovlev MC-21
Yakovlev (Irkut / UAC) · Russia · first flew 2017 · airliner
The MC-21 is a clean-sheet single-aisle airliner intended to compete with the A320neo and 737 MAX, seating roughly 160 to 210 passengers.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, swept |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × turbofan, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Extra-wide single-aisle fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Extra-wide single-aisle fuselage
- High-aspect-ratio composite wing with raked tips
- Two underwing turbofans, clean modern lines
Its most distinctive feature is the very wide fuselage, the roomiest in the single-aisle class. The high-aspect-ratio carbon-fibre wing carries raked tips and looks unusually slender. Two turbofans hang underwing on an otherwise clean modern airframe.
Specifications
- The Yakovlev MC-21 has a length of 42.2 m (138 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 35.9 m (118 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 870 km/h (541 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Developed by Irkut, later Yakovlev, under the United Aircraft Corporation, the airliner first flew in 2017. It introduced an all-composite wing and a notably wide cabin. Sanctions after 2022 forced a switch to fully Russian systems and PD-14 engines.
Variants
The baseline MC-21-300 used Pratt & Whitney geared turbofans, while the production MC-21-310 adopts the domestic PD-14. Shorter -200 and -210 models and a stretched -400 have been studied. Production approval came in 2025.
Where you'll see it
The type remains pre-service, with only a handful of aircraft built by 2026 and deliveries repeatedly delayed. Aeroflot is the launch customer and there is no UK involvement. Weight growth has trimmed its range and payload from original targets.
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