Russia's United Engine has embarked on a third phase of flight tests with the Aviadvigatel PD-14 for the Irkut MC-21-300.

The powerplant is being carried on an Ilyushin Il-76 testbed which has been flying from the Gromov institute at the Zhukovsky airfield near Moscow.

First- and second-stage testing has taken place over the past two years, exploring performance at a comprehensive range of cruise altitudes and airspeeds as well as different engine operating modes.

These tests have confirmed basic operating parameters of the powerplant, says United Engine.

It states that the third phase will be conducted in co-operation with certification specialists, and will formally confirm the findings of the pre-certification efforts. Ground tests will continue in parallel, it adds.

United Engine claims that the engine is able to match the performance of foreign competitors and – in terms of noise and emissions – is even "superior" to them.

Source: Cirium Dashboard