Russian aviation executives said the Irkut-led MC-21 narrowbody airliner development program is proceeding according to schedule. At a Paris Air Show briefing on Tuesday, program officials said the design is frozen on the first aircraft in the series, the MC-21-300, and parts manufacturing has started.

Irkut plans to build the 212-passenger MC-21-300 and 165-passenger MC-21-200 with two engine options, the Pratt & Whitney PW1400G or the United Engine PD-14. At the 2010 Farnborough Airshow, Irkut signed a memorandum of understanding with Ilyushin Finance for the sale of 50 MC-21s, its first announced order.

At present, Irkut parent company United Aircraft reports that Russian and foreign companies have signed contracts for more than 250 MC-21s, including 135 covered by firm commitments. Executives said the total development program cost is about $5 billion, of which the Russian government is providing $2.8 billion. Internal funds from Irkut and other program participants amounts to $1.7 billion. Sberbank, Russia’s largest bank, is the main project bank supplying financing.

Since last year’s Farnborough show, the MC-21-300 design has been frozen, parts manufacturing has started and technical documentation has been transferred to serial production facilities, executives said. Production will take place at the Irkutsk Aviation Plant, which has undergone modernization.

The manufacture of four aircraft for flight and static testing is under way, with the aircraft’s first flight planned in 2015. EASA certification and the start of deliveries are planned in 2017.