Russian aviation. Russian Aviation Il 96 flight technical characteristics

Il 96 is designed on the basis of the previous Il-86 model. This is a domestic wide-body passenger airbus. It is designed to operate medium and long-haul flights. Its development began in the 80s of the twentieth century. Already in 1988, the world saw the first copy of this aircraft.

According to the established test program, the airliner made several long-distance flights. One of the indicative ones is the flight “Moscow - Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky - Moscow”. It did not provide for an intermediate landing. The length of the flight was 14,800 km at an altitude of up to 12,000 m. The aircraft covered this distance in 18 hours and 9 minutes. At that time, this was a record figure for passenger aircraft produced in the USSR.

Based on the results of numerous tests of flight characteristics, the aircraft was issued a certificate in 1992. All tests were carried out on Aeroflot's free air routes.

Good to know! Due to a lack of finances, operational tests were carried out together with commercial cargo flights.

Features and benefits of the aircraft

The diameter of the fuselage of the Il-96 aircraft does not differ from its predecessor. Only its length has changed, which is 5 m shorter. The wings of the Airbus are swept with a large aspect ratio. They are equipped with supercritical profiles and vertical ends.

Interesting fact! Such design features made it possible to increase aerodynamic characteristics.

The shape of the tail section is the same as that of the Il-86. The designers increased the length of the vertical tail. This was done in order to ensure flight safety in the event of a failure of one of the Airbus engines.

The chassis is mounted on three supports, which are equipped with a trolley with four brake wheels.

Note. Two non-braking wheels are mounted on the front landing gear. This increases speed as the aircraft accelerates on the runway.

The IL-96, like its predecessor, is equipped with four PS-90A turbofan engines. An automatic fuel system is installed. If necessary, you can control it manually.

The fuel is stored in nine tanks, one of which is located in the center of the fuselage. The rest are in the wing consoles. Fuel consumption, as well as its balance, is controlled using special devices. The design of the airliner provides consumable compartments for each engine. They always contain fuel.

Advantages:

• significant flight range;
• optimal maximum load indicator;
• high speed;
• reliability and safety.

The airliner is equipped with two decks. The first one is located luggage compartment. On the second is the passenger compartment.

Specifications

The weight of the airliner is 117,000 kg. It is lighter than the IL-86. Weight at maximum load exceeds 200,000 kg. The hull length is 55.35 m, the height is 17.55 m. The wing area of ​​the Il-96 is reduced and reaches 391.6 sq.m. The aircraft is designed for flights at altitudes of up to 12,000 m and distances of no more than 9,000 km. Maximum speed Airbus at zero load - 910 km/h, and cruising - 850 km/h.

Cabin capacity is 230-300 passengers. How many seats are in the liner depends on its modification.

Il-96 equipment

The aircraft's fuel efficiency has been improved through the use of dual-circuit engines. The body is made of new alloys and composite materials. This made it possible to reduce the main load on the chassis, as well as improve aerodynamic characteristics.

For safety purposes, the aircraft is equipped with the following devices:

• Russian digital aviation complex with 6 multifunctional displays;
• EDSU (electrical remote control system);
• modern multifunctional navigation system;
• satellite communication devices.

An electric pulse anti-icing system with cyclic action is also built-in. It is designed to protect the leading edges of the wings, stabilizers and fin.

Il-96 passenger compartment diagram

There are two layouts of this aircraft: mono-class and three-class. The cabin of the first type of airliner has 300 passenger seats. They belong to economy class. The distance between the seats is 87 cm.

The second type aircraft has three compartments in the cabin:

• 1st class;
• Business Class;
• Economy class.

First grade increased comfort. It houses 22 chairs in a 2+2+2 layout with two aisles. The distance between the rows is 102 cm. During the flight, you can recline the seat back and not disturb your neighbor. In this class, the seats in the last row are considered comfortable.

Business class accommodates 40 passenger seats. Arrangement: 2+4+2 with two aisles. The distance between the seats is 90 cm. In this compartment, it is better to choose seats in the first row on the sides of the cabin.

In economy class there are 173 seats, the distance between which is 87 cm. In this compartment it is not possible to fully recline the seat back. Seating arrangement: 3+3+3. The exception is the rows in the first row of a given compartment. It has 2 chairs in the center and on the sides of the cabin.

Good to know! There are the same number of seats in the rear of single- and three-class airliners.

Versions of Il-96

Il-96-300 is a basic aircraft. He “entered service” at Aeroflot in 1993. The airliner is equipped with powerful domestic engines. A total of 20 units of such equipment were produced.

On its basis, the Il-96-300PU was designed. This airbus is designed to transport the President of the Russian Federation. It has no differences in technical characteristics from the base model. Two airliners of this series were produced: in 1995 for B. Yeltsin and in 2003 for V. Putin.

Il-96-400 is a modernized Il-96-300. The aircraft can fly at altitudes of up to 13,000 m. The maximum cabin capacity is 435 passengers. Maximum take-off weight - 270 tons.

Good to know! Aircraft of this model have never been produced. Since 2009, there have been no orders for their production.

Il-96-400T is a cargo version of the Il-96-400 airliner. It was created by modernizing the Il-96. Flight characteristics remained similar to those of a passenger aircraft.

Other models have been developed:

1. Il-96M is the first Russian airliner, which was designed in cooperation with foreign companies. It has an extended fuselage.
2. Il-96MD is an airbus with two foreign-made engines. In airlines it was replaced by the more functional and fast Boeing.
3. Il-96MK is an aircraft equipped with four NK-92 engines. Their thrust reaches 20,000 kgf.

In 1997, the Il-96T cargo airliner was released. He participated in various exhibitions.

Safety of the Il-96 aircraft

During 22 years of operation, not a single passenger or crew member died during travel. The aircraft was equipped with multi-channel backup systems with automatic control. They independently switch communication channels and send signals to additional devices in the event of a breakdown of any aircraft device.

A crew warning system about engine failure is also installed. It can be controlled manually. The safety of the aircraft is affected by the fuel control system and untimely notification of the breakdown of one of the engines.

Where is the IL-96 produced?

The airliner was designed in the late 80s of the 20th century at the Design Bureau named after. Ilyushin. Serial production of this model began in 1993 at the aircraft manufacturing plant in Voronezh. The first copy was released in 1988 by the Design Bureau in Moscow on Leningradsky Prospekt.

Cost of different models

The price of IL-96 of various modifications is constantly changing. Models are being improved. The approximate cost of the basic IL-96 is 1.320 billion rubles. The newer version (Il-96-400) exceeded this figure by 200 million rubles.

Aircraft modernization

The IL-96 was first modernized in 1993. The new model was named Il-96M. She has an elongated body. It is equipped with American PW-2337 engines. The aircraft flies over distances of more than 12,000 km. Its cabin accommodates 435 passenger seats.

In 2000, the IL-96 was improved again. The Il-96-400 aircraft was assembled at its base. It has a fuselage like the Il-96M. The aircraft was equipped with PS-90A-1 turbojet engines. This improved his flying and specifications. It can fly at an altitude of about 13,000 m.

The airlines have at their disposal the Il-96-300 aircraft and the Il-96-400T cargo model. The passenger version of the latest airliner is not in demand at present. There are no orders for its production.

For several decades, the domestic IL-96 aircraft has demonstrated high reliability indicators. The whole world recognizes it as one of the safest airliners, during the operation of which not a single person died.

Numerous modifications, when presented to the public, amazed with their ergonomics, technical and flight characteristics, but some of them did not enter serial production, and production was frozen.

History of creation

Work on the creation of a domestic wide-body aircraft, intended for passenger air transportation, were carried out back in the early 70s of the last century.

At that time, it was used for long-distance flights.

Its significant drawback was its low capacity, which increased the load on the runways. In addition, it was significantly inferior to foreign analogues in terms of comfort and safety. This was the main reason for starting work on the next generation of models being designed.

OKB im. Ilyushin carried out the development of a modern high-capacity passenger aircraft. It was decided to create new project for long-distance transport, labeled 86D, it was practically no different from the basic version, but did not make it onto the assembly line. By the end of the decade, the task is set to design a new model that will compare favorably with its analogues.

The design of the aircraft was significantly changed, which became the reason for increased technical superiority over earlier domestically produced models.

However, the technologies of that time were developing so rapidly that after each completion of work, the designers started the project again, since the project they had just created was already lagging behind its foreign competitors.

The first model IL-96 300 flew only in the fall of 1988, and received certified recognition after four years of testing.

Short description

The fuselage of the IL-96 300 aircraft has a diameter of 6.08 m, capacity depending on the location of passenger seats from 235 to 300 people. In the standard version, with 300 seats, the compartment is divided into 2 salons. One has 234 seats, the other front has 234.

Models with a smaller passenger capacity have a compartment divided into 3 parts: first, business class and economy. Comparing the level of comfort with foreign analogues, the domestic version is in no way inferior.

The 60-meter wingspan of the model with wing flaps occupying part of the lower edge and double-slotted flaps exceeds the size of the early IL-86. The lower part is occupied by cargo decks for transporting aircraft containers and piece cargo.

3 main landing gear under the center section of the aircraft and a front strut of the same diameter, hold the aircraft on runway and accelerate it during takeoff.

Sleeping area on an airplane

The description of the characteristics of the IL-96 300 flight and navigation system was striking in its intelligence. With its help, it is possible to fly a model airplane with three people, without a navigator.

For the first time, an electronic flight control system VSUP 85 4, new electronic displays and indicators, EMDS, and an electric pulse anti-icing system were installed.

Passport details

Aircraft with two engines in each wing had a length of 55.346 m, a height of 17.457 m, a wingspan of 60.106 m, a fuselage diameter of 6.079 m. And as mentioned earlier, 4 power plants of PS-90A turbofan engines with a maximum thrust of 16,000 kgf.

The maximum weight allowed for takeoff of this aircraft model is 250 tons, and the payload is no more than 40. The volume of the airliner’s fuel tanks is 150,000 liters.

Concerning flight characteristics, here the model has an optimal speed of 860 km/h, a recommended altitude above sea level between 9,100 to 13,100 m, and a range with a maximum payload of no more than 9,800 km.

According to the tests carried out, the service life of the IL 96-300 aircraft, as well as the IL-96 400, can withstand 25 years of operation or 10,000 flights, which translated into time spent in the air is 70,000 hours.

This period of use of the airliner was regulated by the developer: the Ilyushin Design Bureau.

The lineup

The IL-96 300 aircraft and the next 400 series were initially designed as passenger aircraft. They were intended for medium-range flights.

Il-96 cockpit

However, fate acted differently; at the moment, the early version of the airliner is practically not in use, and the next one, more modernized and equipped with electronics, has completely passed into the hands of the military.

However, several modifications were developed and released on their platform, which are still flying today.

300 series models

Since the first recognition, 22 IL-96-300 aircraft have been produced.

Many of them are in use today:

• IL-96 300PU - is a special project intended for transporting the President of the Russian Federation, a total of 5 copies were assembled. From the outside, it is practically no different from its passenger counterparts, except for a small gutter in the upper part. It has equipment that allows it to control the country’s armed forces and is equipped with a “nuclear suitcase.”
• IL-96 300 96 T - developed on the basis of its predecessor in 1997. It was repeatedly shown as a cargo airliner of Aeroflot, although it never had anything to do with the air carrier. The only copy flew once; during testing, no orders were received, so the aircraft was converted into the IL-96 400 T.

Today, production of the 300 series continues, due to the fact that it is used to transport the first person of the state.

The Voronezh plant delivered the last board in 2015; at about the same time, another government order was received with receipt at the end of 2018.

400 series models

The modernized, more advanced Ilyushki-96 400 received greater recognition. They are successfully operated by the Ministry of Defense and Aeroflot.

However, not all modifications of the aircraft were in such demand. Some of them never became popular and were not produced beyond one trial copy.

Modifications marked with this series are presented below:

• IL-96 400 - recognized as an improved, modernized version of its predecessor. Received a new PS-90A-1 power unit with corresponding improved traction. It features a long fuselage, lower fuel consumption, and new avionics.
• IL-96 400T is a cargo version of its prototype, which has retained its flight and technical characteristics. Production has been carried out since 2007 in Voronezh. The first 3 copies were successfully operated by the local airline Polet, which operates international cargo flights. In July 2014, they were written off and dismantled for recycling. Currently, it is planned to resume serial production for the state order received from the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation.
• IL-96 400TZ – The RF Ministry of Defense entered into an agreement for the supply of 2 units equipped with universal UPAZ-1 aviation refueling devices, installed on early versions of the IL-78 aircraft. It is planned to use them to transport fuel within a radius of 3,500 km.
• IL-96 400 VKP - replacement of the outdated model IL-86 VKP ( air station strategic management of the 3rd generation) for the RF Armed Forces.
• IL-96 400 M is the first domestic aircraft development together with foreign representatives. Serial production was not carried out; the only one created in 1993 differed from the prototype in its long fuselage, Pratt & Whitney power unit, and foreign avionics. In 1997, it received a certificate in America and was shown many times at world air shows as an aircraft labeled IL-96 400 with a new power unit.
• IL-96 400MD - equipped with American engines used in given time on " ".
• IL-96 400MK – 4 NK-92 turbojet engines.

As of 2017, a total of 30 aircraft were produced. Moreover, the most popular products of the Voronezh Joint-Stock Aircraft Manufacturing Company were in the period from 2004 to 2009.

At this time, 6 airliners were assembled.

The most famous facts

The so-called double-decker domestic airliner is a living legend of the Russian and Soviet aircraft industry; many stories and stories are associated with its operation. interesting facts.

Some of them are contradictory and negatively characterize the aircraft, while others, on the contrary, are positive, extolling the IL-96 model over foreign analogues.

The most common of them are presented below:

The IL-96M model, which is a joint development with American designers, is considered an impeccable leader among domestic passenger airliners last decade.

This is the largest IL aircraft, its passenger capacity reaches 435 people, maximum weight allowing take-off - 270 tons, flight length - 12,800 km at one refueling.

The president's plane, marked "IL-96 300PU", stands for "Control Center". From here you can monitor the situation in the world; the plane is equipped with an air defense system, a heat gun, and the fuselage is covered with materials that ensure the reflection of radio signals from tracking systems.

Inside the model there is everything you need for comfortable movement, and, if necessary, life for some time. However, despite the increased safety measures of the airliner, 2 out of 3 negative incidents in its long history are associated with it.

The first incident with an airplane occurred on October 5, 2004 at Lisbon airport. During takeoff, there was a collision with a flock of pigeons, which resulted in an unexpected cancellation of the flight. After inspecting the technical condition of the model, it was discovered that condensate had accumulated on the SCR tubes and had gotten into the dashboard of the airliner.

This affected the sensor readings and caused the stop. Subsequently, the latest version was recognized as official.
The Portuguese incident occurred without the presence of the President on board the plane, but on 08/02/2005 in Turku (Finland), he was forced to transfer to a reserve plane.

The cause was a malfunction of the steering system. The subsequent proceedings led to a ban on flights of all modifications of the IL-96 300, which lasted 42 days. One of the parts of the airliner's braking mechanism turned out to be defective, and therefore the entire braking system systematically failed.

This happened due to a discrepancy between the model design and the original drawings.

Huge airline losses caused the resignation of VASO General Director Vyacheslav Salikov.

On 06/03/2014, an out-of-service IL-96 300 airliner, parked in the technical parking area of ​​Sheremetyevo Airport, caught fire. Spontaneous combustion occurred in the cockpit, there were no injuries, and the frame was sawn into scrap metal.

More negative situations have not been observed in the long-term history of using the board.

The main reason that the IL-96 models have not received their worldwide recognition is the unfortunate timing of development. The main work took place at a time when the country was at the turn of the century and was in an unstable situation.

This is precisely what prevented the airliner from taking a leading position in the world market and losing American plane"Boeing 777", notable for its accident rate.

Video

We can imagine the president's working day Russian Federation. As we know, he is forced to travel around the globe. The week is scheduled hour by hour: today he needs to go to America, in a few days to Australia, and he also solves numerous problems in the Russian Federation. It turns out that the fastest way to travel is by plane. Air Force One serves for Putin not only as a means of transportation, but also as a mobile control center for a huge state and at the same time an “office in the air.”

Since the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, high-ranking officials have been using airplanes as a means of transportation. A special aviation group was created. It provided aircraft and controlled the state of the “aerial residence” of the head of state.

Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin used the S-47 aircraft for his work (this is a copy of the Li-2). During the flight, he was accompanied by twenty-seven Red Army Air Force fighters.

Nikita Sergeevich Khrushchev made business trips mainly on the Il-18. He loved to travel. What the world remembers most is the trip to the United States of America in 1959. Then, for the flight, the Secretary General chose a Tu-114 aircraft, this is the largest aircraft in the world. He did not fly alone, but with his family and 63 accompanying persons.

The guests who arrived in America could not immediately and normally descend to the ground, since the air base did not have a ladder long enough to reach the doors of the tall Tu-114. A fire truck with a huge ladder was needed to receive Russian guests. Soon, aircraft designers created the Il-62 especially for him; it was Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev’s favorite plane; Yuri Vladimirovich Andropov, Konstantin Ustinovich Chernenko and Mikhail Sergeevich Gorbachev also flew it on their work trips. During its entire operation, the aircraft has never let its VIP passengers down.

Putin's aircraft fleet

What planes does Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin fly on? The aircraft fleet of the Russian head of state consists of 8 airplanes and 2 helicopters. He mainly uses the flagship Il 96-300PU (“control point”) for flights. This is a very large aircraft, it has everything you need for efficient work and good rest.

This aircraft is equipped with a complete set of electrical equipment. This is an excellent platform for managing the country and the army of our state. The Il-96-300 PU has all the appropriate means of communication, not excluding satellite ones, so it is impossible to hack the control system of the presidential aircraft.

The main advantage is that absolutely no one has any idea which route the presidential plane will take. And he can also choose any other equipment for air travel, for example, such brands aircraft:

• TU-154M;
• TU-134;
• IL-62M;
• YAK-40;
• Il-96-300 (main);
• IL-62 (reserve).

To be on the safe side, Air Force One always has another plane accompanying the head of state, this is what all presidents do. And Putin chooses the plane that will meet the conditions, the nature of the trip, and the flight distance. For example, for India one brand of aircraft is used, but for Yakutia a completely different one is needed.

Putin usually uses planes designed specifically for presidential flights on working visits, but it has also happened that he had to fly in a fighter jet. Or when you need to transfer to a helicopter, this is the Mi-8. The aircraft must carry a commander and two changes of crew, and is also served by a flight attendant of five men and five women.

In 2012, the Rossiya flight squad received another addition, another Il-96-300 with tail number RA96020, and in 2013 another one, which was ordered with tail number RA96021.

Presidential plane

Press employees are always interested, not only in what aircraft the Russian President is flying (by the way, photos of the presidential Il-96 are constantly published on the pages of the Russian press), but also how to get exactly such a job, but there is naturally a tough selection.

The commission selects for work in the State Customs Committee "Russia": according to age, level of qualifications, the candidate must be responsible, diligent, trustworthy, and disciplined. Newcomers, as a rule, do not get on board number 1; first they need to go through all the steps of the career ladder and achieve the highest level of professionalism. This presidential plane is operated by Rossiya Airlines.

Putin's plane

The presidential aircraft IL-96-300 PU with tail number RA96012 has an unusual design, Holland offered painting services for the aircraft, interior decoration was done in Switzerland, it is made of walnut veneer, inlaid with precious stones, armored glass, the walls are decorated with tapestries, engravings on historical themes , plant works of art. Diamonite Aircraft Furnishings Ltd specialists were involved in the planning and technical arrangement of the premises on board the aircraft. The interior is dominated by light colors, but more in the color of the flag of the Russian Federation.

The rich decoration of the aircraft is not a toy for personal use, not for showing off; guests from abroad, diplomatic meetings, and authorized media representatives are often on this board.

The plane of the head of state is a special symbol; it creates a special reputation of the Russian Federation for foreign guests. There are no “gold toilets”; the decoration of the rooms is in the “sovereign” style. Nobility, beauty, quality, comfort, without unnecessary “tinsel”, vulgarity and flashy luxury.

The Presidential board is a comfortable flying office for business trips around the world; it is not an expensive toy like the eastern princes, who have swimming pools and concert halls with an orchestra. And the high cost of Air Force One is most associated with secret electronic equipment and the provision of special flight safety measures.

Putin’s Il-96-300 office can be called the “Flying Kremlin”; there are meeting rooms, a conference room, and luxury salons for accompanying persons and guests.

On board the aircraft there is everything necessary for governing the state, there are computers, office equipment, satellite communication systems, special communications, radio-electronic equipment at hand, a lower stairway is built in (so that the story of 1959 with Nikita Khrushchev does not repeat itself) and the engines are modernized (PS-90A).

Also on board there is a small gym, lounges for selected guests, a refectory, a bar room, shower cabins, a medical room, where, in addition to emergency medical care can perform resuscitation.

The technical specifications inspire confidence. The dimensions of the aircraft also leave no one indifferent: the wingspan is 60 meters, the length is 55 meters, and the height is more than 17 meters. Take-off maximum weight 230 tons. Fuel reserve is 150400 liters. The flight speed is about 900 kilometers per hour, when landing - 270 kilometers per hour. Over 20 years of operation, the aircraft made about 12 thousand landings.

The aircraft landing gear has three main supports, which are located behind the center of mass, and a front support. Each of the three is equipped with a four-wheeled cart with brake wheels, and the front one has two non-braking wheels. All fourteen wheels have the same dimensions of 1300x480 millimeters.

The aircraft's power plant is four PS-90A turbofan engines (designed by P.A. Solovyov). The fuel system is automatic, but if necessary, you can use manual control. The fuel is in 9 tanks, of which 8 are located in the wing consoles and one in the center. For each of the four engines the system is designed separately. The consumable compartments are constantly filled with fuel, which ensures its reliable supply to the engines in all flight modes.

Safety first

Il-96 is a reliable aircraft. During their operation, which is more than 20 years, such aircraft have not had a single serious accident, but the news often talks about plane crashes of other brands of aircraft.

Firstly, about 30 aircraft of this brand were built and excellent craftsmen worked on each one individually; secondly, they are prepared for specific operators, and from this it follows that the quality of service is always at its best. The state of the aircraft is monitored by a detachment from the Presidential Administration Department, and this is more reliable than any private airline.

Currently, the special squad has four Il-96-300 of different modifications. The main one is the Il-96-300PU(M), an updated model.

The Il-96-300 presidential aircraft is protected not only from the ground, but also in the air. Many dispatchers and a large number of Air defense controls the moment during takeoff and landing of Air Force One, because that is when terrorists mainly try to attack.

In the air, Air Force One is protected by a cover team, and these, as you know, are experienced, qualified pilots. There are also additional security measures. For example, if a missile was torpedoed to destroy an aircraft, then its own on-board device will eliminate the attack using an anti-missile. The airliner is also protected by neutralizing heat traps; in addition, it has a camouflage coating on the aircraft body, thanks to which it becomes invisible to missile guidance systems. It turns out that if a missile is torpedoed from the ground, the plane will destroy it.

In contact with

Il-96 is a wide-body passenger aircraft, the creation of which began at the Ilyushin Design Bureau back in the late 70s of the last century. This aircraft became the first aircraft of this class developed in the Soviet Union. The Il-96 made its first flight in 1993.

Serial production of the Il-96 aircraft was launched at the Voronezh Aviation Plant; a total of 30 airbuses have been manufactured since its start.

Currently, the Il-96 is operated by the Special Flight Detachment "Russia", which includes the presidential flight. Since 1996, Russian leaders have been flying on the Il-96-300PU, a modification of the airliner created specifically for the head of state. In 2003, a new aircraft of this modification was built for Putin.

IL-96 is rightfully considered one of the most reliable passenger aircraft in your class. Since the start of operation, not a single accident has occurred with these machines that would have resulted in casualties. True, the total flight time of these aircraft is much lower than that of their foreign counterparts.

The Il-96 is also operated by the Cuban company Cubana. In 2014, Aeroflot wrote off the last six Il-96s, citing the high cost of operating them.

We can say that this plane was very unlucky, because the moment of its birth occurred during the period of the collapse of the country and economic crisis, when the domestic aviation industry was literally surviving and had no time to renew its aircraft fleet. At the end of the 90s, an attempt was made to modernize the aircraft, which resulted in the appearance of the Il-96-400 modification. However, it did not interest domestic air carriers too much; there were no orders for it from airlines.

Il-96 can be called one of the most famous and discussed domestic passenger aircraft. With enviable frequency, interviews with high-ranking Russian officials appear in the press with promises of an early resumption of production of the Il-96 aircraft. But things are still there.

If we talk about the latest news related to this aircraft, then at the beginning of this year, Deputy Prime Minister Rogozin visited the Voronezh aircraft plant and promised government support to aircraft manufacturers. According to the official, the Il-96-400 is quite capable of meeting the needs of domestic airlines for long-haul wide-body aircraft until the new Russian-Chinese airbus is ready.

Earlier, Industry Minister Manturov promised to allocate 50 billion rubles to resuscitate the production of Il-96. True, according to him, it is first necessary to solve the problem of excessive fuel “gluttony” of the machine, because according to this characteristic, the Il-96 cannot compete with the Boeing-767 and 777 or the Airbus 330 - its main competitors.

Despite all the difficulties of the early 90s, the new Il-96 had good prospects. At that time, foreign companies were seriously interested in the car. A modification of the Il-96M with Pratt&Whitney engines and advanced Western avionics was developed specifically for promotion abroad. In 1993, a prototype of this aircraft already flew, and soon it received Russian and American certificates. Why was this project never brought to fruition? And does he have a chance to take his rightful place in the sky?

History of creation

Work on the creation of a Soviet wide-body passenger plane began in the first half of the 70s. At that time, most long-haul transportation in the Soviet Union and socialist countries was carried out on the Il-62 airliner. However, this aircraft, built in the early 60s, at that moment could no longer cope with the significantly increased passenger traffic. Due to its low capacity, the number of flights had to be increased, which created excessive pressure on airports. In addition, this aircraft was significantly inferior in terms of comfort to its Western counterparts.

A wide-body passenger aircraft is a machine with a fuselage diameter of 5-6 meters. These sizes allow you to place from 6 to 10 chairs in one row. It should be noted that the advent of long-range wide-body passenger airliners almost immediately made narrow-body aircraft unprofitable. They had to be transferred to routes with low passenger traffic. An analysis carried out in the USSR in the mid-70s showed that within ten years Aeroflot would not be able to provide transportation on long-distance routes without a spacious wide-body aircraft.

At this time, in the OKB im. Ilyushin were developing a new large-capacity passenger aircraft, the Il-86. It was on the basis of this machine that it was decided to build a new long-range passenger aircraft. It received the name Il-86D. It differed little from the basic modification: only the wing area increased and power point, which consisted of more fuel-efficient engines with a higher bypass ratio. The idea of ​​​​creating two aircraft with a high degree of unification seriously reduced the development time of new aircraft, reduced their cost, and in the future should have significantly simplified maintenance.

However, the IL-86D was never realized in metal. At the end of the 70s, on its basis it was decided to create a new long-range passenger aircraft - the Il-96 aircraft. Changes were made to the design of this machine, which significantly increased its technical excellence.

At the turn of the 70s and 80s, aviation technology developed so rapidly that after completing work on the Il-96, the designers had to take up the work again and create a fundamentally new project, because the aircraft they created was already seriously at the start of its career. lagged behind Western counterparts. The new promising airliner received the name Il-96-300, and during its development the components and assemblies of the Il-86 airliner were no longer used.

The first takeoff of the Il-96-300 took place in September 1988, testing continued until the end of 1992, after which the airliner was certified. In 1989, the aircraft was demonstrated at the Le Bourget air show. If we talk about the flight performance characteristics of the new aircraft, it can be noted that the designers managed to reach a new level in comparison with the aircraft created at the Design Bureau named after. Ilyushin earlier. For example, the fuel consumption of the Il-96-300 per passenger kilometer was two times lower than that of the long-haul Il-62.

For their work on the creation of a new aircraft, the OKB team named after. Ilyushin was awarded the State Prize.

The first Il-96-30s were transferred to the Domodedovo air squad, and commercial operation of the airbus began in 1993. Initially, the airliners were mainly used for flights on international routes.

A serious blow to the further development of the Il-96 project was the decision of the Russian government to remove duties on the import of foreign high-capacity aircraft into the country. Aeroflot openly lobbied for him, promising to purchase a large batch of Il-96 if duties were reduced. The decision was made, but the purchase of domestic aircraft never took place.

In 2000, a new modification of the airliner was developed - Il-96-400, which had a larger passenger capacity and an increased flight range. However, domestic air carriers were not interested in this aircraft; only a few Il-96-400Ts, the transport version of this aircraft, were purchased.

In the mid-2000s, three Il-96-300s were sold to Cuba, and one of them was made in the “presidential” version. Now not only Putin flies on the Il-96, but also the top management of Freedom Island.

IN different years Negotiations for the supply of the aircraft were conducted with China, Syria, Iran, Peru and even Zimbabwe. They were not particularly successful.

In 2009, the government announced the need to phase out the Il-96-300, allegedly due to the fact that it cannot compete on equal terms with the latest European and American analogues.

In 2014, Aeroflot decommissioned all of the company's Il-96 aircraft.

However, already next year, the Ilyushin Aviation Complex OJSC announced plans for the next modernization of the Il-96 and the resumption of its serial production. Next year, representatives of the enterprise reported that they were improving the fuel efficiency of the airliner and planned to bring it to the level of modern Western analogues. The General Director of the Voronezh Aviation Plant said that the Il-96-400M will be ready by 2019. And the government has already promised to allocate funds for this project.

In February of this year, a message appeared in the media that a firm contract had been signed between the manufacturer and UAC to carry out design work on the Il-96-400M. The aircraft prototype is scheduled for production in 2019.

Description of design

Il-96-300 is a cantilever wide-body low-wing aircraft with four engines, vertical tail and swept wings.

The fuselage of the aircraft has a diameter of 6.08 meters; depending on the layout of the passenger cabin, it can accommodate from 235 to 300 passengers. With a standard layout (300 seats), the passenger cabin is divided into two salons, with 66 seats in the front cabin and 234 seats in the rear cabin. They are arranged in a row of nine seats with a pitch of 870 mm and two aisles of 550 mm. Aircraft with a passenger capacity of 235 people have a passenger cabin divided into three cabins: first class (22 seats with a distance between rows of 1020 mm), business class (40 seats) and economy class (173 seats). The IL-96 cabin is in no way inferior to the best foreign analogues in terms of comfort for passengers.

The lower deck of the Il-96-300 is occupied by cargo compartments. There are three of them, the first two can accept nine standard ABK-1.5 aviation containers, and the third is intended for the transportation of piece cargo.

The IL-96 has a wing with a span of more than 60 m and an area of ​​391 m2 with large vertical tips at the edges. In area it significantly (by 70 m2) exceeds the wing of the Il-86 and is equipped with complex mechanization. It consists of slats that occupy the entire length of the leading edge and double-slotted flaps.

The vertical tail of the aircraft is also significant; it is one and a half meters higher than that of the Il-86. This feature of the airliner allows it to maintain stability in flight even if one of the engines fails.

The IL-96 has four landing gear: three main ones, located under the center section, and a nose gear. Each of the main struts has a four-wheel trolley with brake wheels, and the front strut has two non-brake wheels. The size of all aircraft landing gear wheels is the same.

The power plant of the airliner consists of four PS-90A turbofan engines with a high bypass ratio, which can create a thrust of 16 thousand kgf. They are installed in pylons that are attached to the wing consoles. PS-90A is made according to a two-shaft design, there is a reverse. The engine is equipped with a four-stage low-pressure turbine and a two-stage high-pressure turbine. PS-90A is distinguished by a modular design, which facilitates its maintenance: if necessary, one or another module - out of eleven available - can be quickly replaced.

For the first time in the history of Soviet aircraft construction, the aircraft's power plant was equipped with an electronic control and monitoring system "Diagnoz-90", which had two channels. This system automatically monitors fuel consumption and protects engines from surge. They plan to equip the promising Il-96-400M with a new PD-35 engine, which is currently being developed.

The Il-96-300 was equipped with the latest (for its time, of course) flight and navigation system, which made it possible to abandon the navigator and make do with a crew of three people. The IL-96-300 is the first Soviet aircraft to be equipped with the VSUP-85-4 electronic flight control system - in addition to traditional analog instruments, electronic indicators also appeared in the IL-96-300 cockpit. This aircraft is equipped with an EMDS system.

The Airbus fuel system is in many ways reminiscent of a similar system in the Il-86. The fuel is located in nine caisson tanks, from where it is pumped into the pre-consumption tank and, further, into the supply compartment, which each engine has. Four tanks are located in the wing consoles, another is located in the center section.

Il-96-300 is equipped with an automatic air conditioning system. Air is supplied to the cabin from the engines.

The aircraft is equipped with an electric pulse anti-icing system. The air intakes are heated by air supplied from the compressor chamber.

Modifications

Since the start of mass production of the Il-96 aircraft, several modifications of the aircraft have been developed. Below are the main ones:

• IL-96-300. Basic modification, equipped with four PS-90A engines. The airliner first took to the skies in September 1988 and entered service with Aeroflot in 1993. A total of twenty aircraft of this modification were produced; in 2009, it was decided to withdraw it from production. This machine has a maximum flight range of 13.5 thousand km, it can carry up to 300 passengers;
• Il-96-300PU/PU(M1). “Presidential” modification of the airliner, which was specially developed on the basis of the Il-96-300 for transporting the country's top officials. A total of five aircraft of this modification were built. The letters “PU” in the designation of the machine mean “control point”. In terms of its characteristics, it practically does not differ from the basic version of the aircraft; the flight range of the aircraft is slightly increased. In essence, the Il-96-300PU is an air command post that allows you to control the country and the armed forces during a nuclear conflict. Externally, this airliner is practically no different from a regular production aircraft. This machine was manufactured in 1995 for the first Russian President Boris Yeltsin. The second Il-96-300PU was created for Vladimir Putin; it first flew in 2003. The last aircraft of this modification was manufactured at the end of 2019;
• IL-96-400. A modification of the aircraft that was developed in 2000. The vehicle has a longer fuselage compared to the Il-96-300, it is equipped with PS-90A-1 engines (17.4 thousand kgf thrust) and more advanced avionics. This liner can accommodate 435 passengers;
• IL-96-400T. Transport version of the Il-96-400 airliner. The first aircraft was assembled in 2007; a total of four aircraft were produced. In 2014, it was decided to convert one of the Il-96-400Ts into an air control center for the needs of the FSB of the Russian Federation. In 2019, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced the purchase of two aircraft in the tanker modification. If the operation of these aircraft is successful, then the military department is ready to order 30 more aircraft;
• IL-96-400TZ. This is a tanker aircraft based on the Il-96-400T. It will be capable of transmitting 65 tons of fuel over a distance of 3.5 thousand km;
• IL-96VKP. This modification of the airliner is a strategic air command center. Currently, Ilyushenites are working on its creation; in the future, this aircraft will replace the Il-86VKP;
• Il-96M. Modification of the base model Il-96-300 with an extended fuselage, Pratt&Whitney engines and Western avionics. The prototype of this aircraft first took off in April 1993 and was later repeatedly demonstrated at various air shows. In 2009, cut into scrap;
• IL-96MD. Modification of the aircraft equipped with Pratt & Whitney PW4082 engines;
• IL-96MK. Modification with four NK-92 engines.

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On July 9, 1990, the first production airliner Il-96−300 took off for the first time. It was the “dream airliner” of the Soviet aviation industry, which Aeroflot was eagerly awaiting. However, when the plane was ready for operation, Russian air carriers turned to the manufacturers of foreign aircraft. This happened largely due to the intrigues of these same manufacturers, supported by domestic officials.

At that time, we had a top-class airliner - a wide-body comfortable Il-86 aircraft that could accommodate up to 350 passengers. However, it was a medium-range vehicle, and it was necessary to fly long distances on the obsolete Il-62.

The new car was required to have a range of at least 9,000 kilometers. And in 1988, the prototype took off for the first time. Two years later, testing of the first production IL-96−300 began. And three years later, the aircraft was certified and released on long-distance routes, connecting Moscow with cities in Asia and both Americas. For the creation of an airliner capable of competing with Boeing and Airbus, the development team was awarded a State Prize.

However, there was no real competition. The IL-96 was literally “eaten” by American firms and local officials who were not interested in the development of the domestic aviation industry. Rather, even those interested in its collapse. As a result, the Voronezh Aviation Plant produced only 28 such aircraft. Most of them are operated by the “presidential” air squadron. Several cars were sold to Cuba.

Let's remember this story and find out the current state of affairs...

In the 70s, on the basis of the country's first wide-body IL-86, the development of a new vehicle began, capable of covering distances of up to 9,000 km with the same passenger load. The development was called Il-86D and differed from the basic vehicle in having wings with an increased area and NK-56 engines. The first flight, which lasted 40 minutes, was made by the experimental Il-96-300 aircraft (tail number 96,000) on September 28, 1988 from the Frunze Central Airfield on Khodynskoye Field. Crew under command Honored Test Pilot of the USSR Hero Soviet Union Stanislav Bliznyuk flew it directly over the central regions of Moscow. The difficulty was that the car, assembled in the OKB workshops, had to either be disassembled in order to be transported in parts to Zhukovsky, or take the risk of being lifted from the Central Airfield, where the length of the runway was only 1800 m. Bliznyuk insisted on the second option.

“Many years have passed since that first takeoff. Once, in a conversation with me, Bliznyuk admitted: having felt that the acceleration of the plane had clearly slowed down, he decided to count to three, and then decide to abort the takeoff, which was tantamount to disaster. I knew about three seconds, but in this conversation Stanislav Grigorievich admitted that he counted to four. These seconds, when you remember the past, instantly, like an excerpt from a movie, flash through your head, causing an unpleasant feeling that remains for the rest of your life... At the Central Aerodrome, I had to meet the landing of Il-76 and Il-38 aircraft. I’ll be honest - you don’t feel any pleasure from it, only the acute joy after the plane stops serves as good compensation for what you experienced.” ( G. V. Novozhilov. From the book “About myself and airplanes”)

During testing, the Il-96 performed several long-range flights, including Moscow-Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky-Moscow without landing in Petropavlovsk. The plane covered the 14,800 km route in 18 hours and 9 minutes. On June 9, 1992, an Il-96 flew from Moscow to Portland via the North Pole, spending 15 hours in the air. The aircraft was tested in Yakutsk at −50°C and in Tashkent at +40°C. Based on the test results, on December 29, 1992, the aircraft was awarded an airworthiness certificate. For six months, new cars were “tested” on Aeroflot routes, and due to lack of funding, operational tests had to be combined with commercial cargo transportation - they carried radio equipment. The work of the Ilyushin Design Bureau team on the Il-96−300 was awarded the State Prize of the Russian Federation.

On April 6, 1993, a modified Russian-American Il-96MO aircraft (experimental) with four Pratt & Whitney PW-2337 turbojet engines and Collins flight and navigation equipment took off from the Moscow Central Aerodrome. This extraordinary event was preceded by the efforts of not only aviation specialists of the two countries, but also the leaders of the USA and the USSR, which began many years ago. The idea of ​​​​building a joint long-range aircraft was approved back in 1973, when the tension of the Cold War subsided, but if at that time the designers were going to take the Lockheed Tristar as the basis for the development, then by the time the project was implemented there was already a ready-made Il-96−300. Moreover, the idea was warmly supported by the famous American billionaire businessman A. Hammer. It was like this: our airframe plus their engines and electronic equipment.

In fact, the first international commercial project was born in civil aviation, designed to combine the best elements of domestic and foreign production in terms of technical and economic criteria. As a result of this work, on August 11, 1992, at the first aviation exhibition in Zhukovsky CEO TsUMVS (Central Directorate of International Air Transport (now Aeroflot) V. Potapov, G. Novozhilov and General Director of VASO (Voronezh Aircraft Manufacturing Association) A. Mikhailov signed the decision “On the acquisition of Il-96 M, Il 96M\T aircraft with PW-2337 engines and a set of navigation equipment from Collins.” And the conversation was nothing less than the development, construction and delivery of 20 aircraft to Aeroflot. Moreover, both participating countries agreed to “share the risks,” i.e. everyone took payment for their own work. Has the process started?

It's not like that, guys.…

Work on creating a joint vehicle, which began in the third quarter of 1990, was scheduled to be completed in the first quarter of 1993. The reader knows that during this period a lot has changed in the relations between our countries. First of all, the Soviet state collapsed. However, in early 1993, at the request of the vice presidents of Collins and Pratt & Whitney, in the presence of then capital mayor Yu. Luzhkov A presentation of the Il-96MO took place at the Ilyushin Design Bureau. And again Bliznyuk masterfully performs a takeoff from the Central Airfield. And flight tests of the Russian-American flying brainchild began, and then in June of the same year its debut flight at Le Bourget in Paris. “This is the first time the West has bought a Russian plane. "Ilyushin and Pratt Whitney announced yesterday that Partners, headquartered in Amsterdam, has ordered five Il-96 T "trucks" with an option for five Il-96 M cargo or passenger. Deliveries will begin in 1996" ( from an article in the daily issue of "Fligt" at the Le Bourget exhibition on June 17, 1993).

“In view of the significance of the project for the production of the Il-96M wide-body aircraft, I ask you to include it in the list of priority works for cooperation with the United States” (resolution President B. Yeltsin dated July 20, 1994, sent to the Prime Minister V. Chernomyrdin).

The matter remained “small” - the US Eximbank was supposed to provide a loan of about a billion dollars for the project, guaranteed by the Russian government. But... “Boeing is concerned that the American loan is helping to create another competitor in the placement of capital investments. Boeing Board Representative Franz Schronz addressed this issue to high officials and the presidential administration B. Clinton" (“Aviation Week” dated April 3, 1995).

The Russian partners from Pratt & Whitney tried to argue in the US Congress: “Such concerns about competition with Ilyushin in the long term are simply a cover for Boeing and McDonnell Douglas, seeking to reserve market share for their commercial aircraft in the former Soviet Union.” . How far they looked then!

Not intending to surrender to the mercy of the overseas victors, Genrikh Vasilyevich Novozhilov, on the day of the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Victory in the Kremlin, seeks a meeting with US President B. Clinton to remind him of the joint agreement on the construction of the Il-96M. The result was a document sent soon from America, in which “the US President confirmed that the US Expert Import Bank (EXIMBANK) was considering an application for financing this project.”

In June 1996, a meeting was held with Russian Prime Minister V. Chernomyrdin on the issue of state support for the creation and certification of a Russian-American aircraft and equipping the Aeroflot-Russian International Lines airline with it. From the information for the meeting: “American engines and components were supplied free of charge. The total investment volume of American partners in the form of supply of equipment, engineering and financial support amounted to about 150 million US dollars... The issue of financing the Russian part of the project, i.e. 500 million dollars, has not been finally resolved, although there is agreement from a number of Russian banks.”

On March 31, 1998, an AR MAK type certificate was received for the Il-96T aircraft. Now the cargo version of the joint Russian-American aircraft has become available for sale.

After receiving a certificate from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for the same aircraft, the Ilyushin team reasonably considered that the main problem had been solved. Now serial production and the creation of the passenger Il-96M on its basis were to begin. It's just a matter of creating the interior. And then it began...

On June 28, 1998, VASO visited Prime Minister of the Russian Federation S. Kiriyenko. During the visit, an agreement was drawn up, signed by representatives of the plant, the Ilyushin company and the general director of Aeroflot V. Okulov. It confirmed an order for the production of 20 aircraft, including 17 Il-96M. The agreement also included a signature Chairman of the Board of the National Reserve Bank A. Lebedev.

But then a memorable default occurred. The country's GDP decreased, the banking system ceased to function, and payments stopped. Hard times have come for the Ilyushin residents. For some reason, the scheme for delivering aircraft to the customer has changed dramatically. Now, in order to reduce taxes for Aeroflot, the aircraft had to first be sold to a foreign leasing company. And only from her can you end up in Sheremetyevo on lease.

In connection with this, a pile of all kinds of bureaucratic formalities grew. For the most part - impossible. What prompted the management of Aeroflot to abandon the Il-96T at the beginning of 2000. The outbreak of NATO's war with Yugoslavia also played a negative role. Having learned about which Russian Prime Minister Yevgeny Primakov, who flew on an Il-62 to the USA for negotiations with Vice President Gore, made a sharp turn over the Atlantic.

In his book “Minefield of Politics,” Evgeniy Maksimovich wrote about it this way: “On March 20, 1999, a meeting of the Russian-American commission was scheduled, which was headed by Gore on the US side, and on our side by constantly replacing each other’s heads of government. Our government inherited the unresolved problem of US funding for a joint project to create the Il-96M\T aircraft.”

The “loop over the Atlantic” scared the “money people” who worked with us... There was no doubt that an opinion had emerged in these circles: work on the Il-96T project was hardly worth continuing. I note that the government of the Russian Federation also refused to give guarantees to Eximbank for the loan." (From the book by G. Novozhilov "About myself and airplanes").

By the end of August 1999, the only copy of the Il-96T (or rather, the airframe with all Russian-made components) with tail number RA-96 101 was sold for VASO debts and became the property of bankers. By the way, it had previously been repeatedly demonstrated at air shows in Aeroflot’s signature livery, although the airline abandoned it. This is how the story of the Russian-American project ended sadly. Truly, “happiness was so possible...”

Boarding

Well, what about the IL-96−300? The first such aircraft entered service at Aeroflot in 1993. Currently, these planes are only available in the Rossiya State Transport Company as VIP transport and in Cubana (the leader of Cuba also flies on it). In total, the Voronezh enterprise produced 20 aircraft, including experimental ones.

On August 11, 2009, it was announced that the Il-96−300 aircraft would be discontinued as “unpromising.” And before that, Dmitry Medvedev visited the VASO plant. After getting acquainted with the plane, he said: “This is a good plane. You go inside and feel that we still have power in the country. Well done! Congratulations again! Our cars are the best, of course. Simply handsome!”

Experts' opinions

Sergei Knyshov, commander of the Il-96, did an internship in the USA on Boeing, but prefers to fly only on the Il-96:

If we compare two long-haul aircraft: Boeing-767 and Il-96-300, then an American with two engines carries 200 passengers and consumes 6 tons of fuel. The IL-96 carries 300 passengers and 15 tons of cargo with a consumption of only 7 tons. Divide tons by kilometers - and everything will become clear to you. In addition, the Il-96 is a magnificent car: a spacious cabin, large screens - a blind person will see everything. The diameter of the fuselage is 6 meters, like a subway tunnel. You feel like you are in a normal, reliable airliner with four engines. By the way, in its entire history, the IL-96 has not been involved in a single accident. Didn't kill a single person.

Anatoly Knyshov, test pilot, Hero of Russia:

When in the 90s I flew to the States on an Il-96 and had fuel left in my tanks for another three hours of flight, the Americans were terribly surprised. A representative of their aviation authorities then directly stated: for some reasons, this type of aircraft is unattainable for us. It's strange that Russia is still able to create a competitive product. On the IL-96, on instructions from the general designer, I made six landings simulating the failure of all engines. No one has done this on any foreign type. And on the IL-96 even a crew of average training level can do this.

Genrikh Novozhilov, chief designer of the Il-96:

I am often asked to compare two aircraft: ours and the Boeing 767. There is an official assessment conducted by the State Research Institute of Civil Aviation. These aircraft are not inferior to each other in terms of performance. Ours is bigger. If you look at the monthly flying hours at Aeroflot, the Il-96-300 sometimes has more flight hours than the Boeing. And in terms of the number of landings per month, we surpass the Boeing 767, because the Il-96-300 is not always operated on the ultra-long routes for which it was created."

Last year, Aeroflot OJSC put up all six Il-96-300 aircraft for sale. “In connection with the planned phased decommissioning of Il-96-300 aircraft, Aeroflot invites all interested parties to submit their proposals for the acquisition of aircraft of this type,” the air carrier said in a statement.

The company does not disclose the cost of the aircraft, explaining that this is a matter of negotiation. The last flight under the Aeroflot flag, the Il-96-300, was carried out on March 30, 2014 from Moscow to Tashkent.

As an Aeroflot representative explained to Interfax, the planes are old, have high fuel consumption and cause complaints from passengers due to the low cabin comfort. All Aeroflot Il-96-300 were produced in 1991-1995.

Deep modernization

A new chance for this beautiful car appeared a year ago. And, apparently, it will be implemented. But the “reborn” Il will no longer be a civilian, but a military machine.

At the end of the last century, the Ilyushin Design Bureau released the Il-96−400 aircraft - a new modification passenger airliner, accommodating not 300, but 435 passengers. Cuba intends to purchase it in limited quantities. The transport Il-96−400T will soon appear on the basis of the "four hundredth". It has a dual purpose and can be used in both civil and military aviation.

But most of all, the Ministry of Defense became interested in the modification of the Il-96-400TZ. This is a tanker that should replace the Il-78M in 10 years. In terms of its parameters, it significantly surpasses the obsolete Ilyushin tankers that have been in use in the Air Force since the late 70s.

The main advantage is carrying capacity and range. Il-96−400TZ is capable of delivering 65 tons of fuel over a distance of 3,500 km. While the modernized modification of the Il-78M-90 carries up to 40 tons of aviation kerosene over a distance of 3000 km.

IN currently The Department of Defense has targeted 30 tankers. There is a good chance that other armies will be interested in the new vehicle. For example, in Indian. The clean transport aircraft Il-96−400T also has significant export potential. By the way, the Il-96−400TZ can easily be transformed into a regular transport aircraft with a payload capacity of 92 tons.

The Ministry of Defense also has plans to purchase 14 more passenger Il-96−300s by 2024.

The upcoming purchase of a significant number of Il-96−300 and Il-96−400T will also play a beneficial social role. Since the capacities of the Voronezh Aviation Plant are almost completely occupied with servicing other orders, the plant has already begun hiring new specialists, that is, additional jobs are appearing.

Flight characteristics of Il-96−300 and Il-96−400T

Length: 55.35 m - 63.94 m

Height: 17.57 m - 15.72 m

Wingspan: 57.66 m - 60.11 m

Wing area: 350 sq.m. - 392 sq.m.

Maximum take-off weight: 250 t - 270 t

Engine power: 4×16,000 kgf - 4×17,400 kgf

Cruising speed: 850 km/h - 850 km/h

Ceiling: 12,000 m - 13-spoiler>
Record aircraft P-42. Maybe someone else doesn’t know about and about