Three models of new Russian passenger aircraft were tested in Arkhangelsk at the same time. These are the IL-114-300, an import-substituted Superjet and the MC-21-310. In mid-March 2026, they will operate flights from the local airport under the certification program under icing conditions.
The test flights from Arkhangelsk Airport involved vehicles with tail numbers 54116 (IL-114-300), 97023 (Superjet) and 73057 (MC-21-310). About the MC-21 Technosphere participating in the tests. Russia" told us earlier here .
The IL-114-300 aircraft No. 54116 was built in 2025 and is actively used in the flight program. This is the first aircraft that received a serial car interior at the end of last year. During the trials in Arkhangelsk in March 2026, it aroused great interest among local aviators. In particular, it was reported that they are interested in operating the IL-114-300 on routes from Arkhangelsk to Murmansk, Naryan-Mar, Petrozavodsk, St. Petersburg, as well as in such destinations as Novaya Zemlya, Solovetsky Archipelago and Kotlas. Some of these routes are seasonal in nature, and a car with a sufficiently large passenger capacity is required — the 66-seat Il-114-300 cabin is more relevant here than ever. In addition, the aircraft has already been successfully tested for operation in a northern climate.
 |
| IL-114-300. |
| Source: UAC |
Against this background, the detractors of our new regional turboprop aircraft revived, who began to throw in the latest "horrors" about the "sharp rise in price" of the IL-114-300. Moreover, data is provided on the rise in price of experimental machines, which in any case will always be "golden". The price of a finished aircraft at the start of normal mass production will logically be lower. Moreover, the government has already invested quite a lot in the creation of new aircraft, and will not leave any emerging work issues related to the start of their operation in the fleets of air carriers. So we are not listening to the clickers and negativists, and we are setting ourselves up for the planned commissioning of the first three Il-114-300s in 2026.
The import-substituted superjet, No. 97023, which took part in flights from Arkhangelsk in March 2026, began flying in April last year. The car is equipped with Russian PD-8 equipment and engines. The board is named "Yuri Ivashechkin" in honor of the first general designer of the SSJ-100 aircraft. And this is how this car looks in the latest photos from Arkhangelsk.:
 |
| SSJ-100. |
| Source: UAC |
In conclusion, one more photo from the airport, where you can see our new cars in the neighborhood. We are waiting for the completion of their tests and the start of operation on the routes of a large country.
 |
| MS-21-310. |
| Source: UAC |
Evgeny Belkin
