PD-14 is preparing for flight tests

At the end of September, specialists from the enterprises of UEC-Perm Motors, UEC-Aviadvigatel and the Irkutsk Aviation Plant, a branch of PJSC Irkut Corporation (IAZ), held a number of working meetings on the organization of a section for additional assembly (paging) of PD-14 propulsion systems on territory of an aircraft manufacturing enterprise. This was another step towards organizing flight test support and the launch of the PD-14 as part of the new Russian airliner MS-21.

In particular, they discussed issues of servicing Perm aircraft engines in flight testing and mass production, the procedure and terms for installing engines on the wing, features of paperwork during the incoming engine control, and much more.

At the site of the podding, an additional installation of the propulsion system (DU) will take place - the installation of the engine nacelle and the reversing device, which are supplied directly from the manufacturing enterprises (PZ MASH JSC and VASO PJSC). After the entrance control, the remote control will be sent to the final assembly workshop, where it will be installed on the "combat" pylon under the wing. After that, the aircraft will be moved to the flight testing unit, where the specialists of the maintenance service will begin ground-based mining, and then fly over, until it is sent for flight tests in Zhukovsky near Moscow. At all stages, the engines will be accompanied by specialists of JSC "UEC-Perm Motors".

Sergey Popov, Managing Director of UEC-Perm Motors JSC, Chairman of the Perm Regional Branch of the Russian Engineering Union, "One of the most important stages in the life of PD-14 has begun: he will soon have to get on the wing of the Russian liner. It was difficult to create an engine, but even more difficult - to put it into operation, organize technical support, after-sales service. Together with UEC-Aviadvigatel and other cooperative enterprises, we are working on issues of increasing resource indicators and increasing engine reliability. Accompanied by flight tests, our specialists will gain unique experience, which will be further used in organizing the processes of technical support for airlines performing commercial operation of MS - 21 aircraft."

Flight tests of the MC-21 with Perm PD-14 engines will begin in 2020. Currently, two PD-14s for testing the aircraft were transferred to Irkut Corporation, but so far they are in custody in Perm. Two more will be assembled before the end of the year and also transferred to the aircraft manufacturing company. The fifth engine is made as a backup engine to eliminate delays in the flight test schedule.