Yakovlev MC-21

Yakovlev MC-21

Like the Chinese the Yakovlev MC-21 (formerly Irkut MC-21) was developed in Russia to be less dependent on western-built jet airlines. It is quite large, about the size of an A321, and externally quite similar. Like similar aircraft the MC-21 has rectangular cabin windows, large diameter turbofan engines, two wheel main and nose gears and a regular tail with small curved dorsal fin. One key feature of the MC-21 are the four large cabin doors annex emergency exits on each side. Furthermore, it has six cockpit windows and lacks bent-up wing tips or winglets. (photo is modified original from WikiMedia, by Dmitry Terekhov)

Different versions

The variants of the MC-21 only differ in the shape of the engine nacelles.

MC-21-300

Originally, the MC-21 had western built engines, as technology had not advanced enough in Russia yet. These Pratt & Whitney engines of the MC-21-300 have slightly longer core exhausts than those of the Aviadvigatel PD-14.

A full view of the Pratt & Whitney powered MC-21-300. (photo: Dmitry Terekhov/WikiMedia)

MC-21-310

Given the sanctions on western technology, including engines and avionics, the MC-21-310 is the complete Russian version of the MC-21. The PD-14 engine have slightly shorter core exhausts than those of the P&W engines of the 300 series.

This photo with both the MC-21-300 and MC‑21‑310 allows a good comparison of the engine nacelles. (photo: Rulexip/WikiMedia)

Confusion possible with

Airbus A320 family

The Airbus A320 family looks very similar to the MC-21, in particular A321neo with its big engines. The A321 however has different cockpit windows and tall winglets, or small winglets up and down the wing tips.

Comac C919

Like the MC‑21 the Comac C919 can be seen as a Chinese version of the A320. To distinguish the C919 from the MC-21 it is best to look at the cockpit windows, as the C919 has only four. Additionally, the C919 has two small emergency exits over the wings, and curved up wing tips. (photo: Ken Chen/WikiMedia)

Airbus A220

Formerly known as the Bombardier CSeries, the Airbus A220 has the same basic configuration as the MC-21, but four cockpit windows with a V-shaped lower edge of the side window. The A220 has a flat tail cone and canted winglets as main recognition points.

Boeing 737

To distinguish a Boeing 737 from the MC-21 look at the cockpit windows: these are the same as or similar to that of the Boeing 707 and 727. The older versions still have the two "eyebrow" windows above the normal cockpit windows. Also the nose is more pointed, the nose gear doors longer, and most 737s have a large, triangular dorsal fin.