In a fine spring day on May 28, the 2017 of the year, the MC-21-300 flight model made its first flight. It was assembled at the Irkutsk Aviation Plant and it was decided to carry out the first test phase there. At this stage, which lasted all summer and half of autumn, it was necessary to confirm that the aircraft, in fact, can fly and that all its systems are efficient. In addition, he remained in his "nest" in Irkutsk, so that all the problems could be solved on the spot and quickly enough.
During this time, the new liner made two dozen test flights and confirmed the main flight characteristics, such as stability and controllability in various modes. MS-21 was accelerated to a speed of 860 km / h, and raised to heights up to 10.000 meters. However, the main tests for him in store in Zhukovsky.