When the European Union (EU) and the US imposed trade sanctions on Russia in 2014 (which the EU is now looking at lifting) this led to Russia reviving its internal aviation industry, as 90% of the planes they used were Boeings and Airbuses leased from the West, according to Moscow Times.
And the result of this local manufacturing resurgence has just been unveiled, as the Irkut aircraft company spotlighted its first MC-21 medium-haul passenger plane last week.
The prototype can carry up to 211 passengers.
