The much-anticipated MC-21 aircraft, touted to become a direct rival of the Boeing-737 and Airbus 320, has been rolled out for official presentation in Irkutsk, Russia. Serial production of the medium- and short-range passenger jet is planned for 2017.

Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation, the umbrella organization that owns Irkut Corporation – the actual developer of the plane – held an international presentation of the new aircraft on Wednesday. Building the jet reportedly cost 100 billion rubles (approximately US$3.5 billion).

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