On 16 March 2019, maiden flight of the third MC-21-300 test aircraft took place at Irkutsk Aviation Plant’s airfield, the duration of flight being 90 minutes and upto an altitude of 3500 meters with speed of 450 km/h. The aircraft was piloted by test pilots Andrey Voropayev and Roman Taskaev. According to the after flight report, the objectives were met completely, the flight in normal mode. The Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation Denis Manturov stated, “MC-21-300 flight tests are continuing, the third aircraft has joined them. On this aeroplane, in addition to special test equipment, a passenger cabin has been included“.
According to Denis Manturov, the MC-21-300 with its passenger interior layout will debut at MAKS 2019, the upcoming Moscow international aviation and space salon. “This will allow us to visually demonstrate to potential customers and future passengers one of the most important competitive advantages of the Russian airliner, with increased level of comfort”. Yuri Slyusar, President of UAC and Irkut Corporation, added that in 2019 the fourth MC-21-300 prototype, built at the Irkutsk Aviation Plant, would join the flight tests.
Also in April, the MC-21-300 test aircraft, fitted with a passenger cabin made non-stop flight from Irkutsk to Ulyanovsk Vostochny airport, where the aircraft was given a paint scheme according to new production technologies, after which it flew on Ramenskoye airport (Zhukovsky, Moscow region) to continue flight tests. This aircraft was piloted by a crew of Hero of Russia, honoured test pilot Roman Taskaev and 1st class test pilot Vasily Sevastyanov. As Roman Taskayev later stated, "The flight was normal and without complaint".
Various Ulyanovsk enterprises are major participants in the MC-21 programme : Aviastar-SP Plant produces the fuselage panels, empennage and many other units for MC-21-300 aircraft while the AeroComposit-Ulyanovsk Company produces the wing made of composite materials.