IL-96-400 aircraft: description, specifications and features

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

IL-96-300 and IL-96-400, as the name suggests, are two modifications of the same aircraft created by Russian designers. The second version was supposed to be a logical continuation of the first, but for a number of reasons it turned out to be a completely different car. Planes differ in interior, technical parameters, flight characteristics and… fate.

Initially, these were liners for transporting passengers, respectively, over medium and long distances. But now the 300th model serves only in the presidential detachment, and the 400th … Actually, first things first. Technical characteristics, features and photos of the IL-96-400 model we will consider.

History

In the early 1980s, the Ilyushin Design Bureau was developing a medium-range aircraft named Il-86. The machine was created according to the accepted standards of the time. Unlike the earlier 62 and some Tupolev designs, the 86's engines are on pylons under the wings. This is a wide-body aircraft with modern (at that time) engines and systems.management. One thing: this machine cannot completely replace the obsolete IL-62 yet.

At the end of the 80s, data on the IL-96 passenger aircraft appeared. This development should also belong to the wide-body type, but become a long-range machine. The basis of the new aircraft should be 86, but with appropriate amendments regarding speed, fuel tank capacity, and the possibility of a long flight. In 1988, the first flight tests were carried out, and in 1993 mass production began. In 2009, the production of the model was announced as unpromising. Over the years, only 22 (according to other sources 28) cars saw the light. Of those remaining in operation, some of the aircraft operate in Cuba, and several more modified versions are used by Rossiya airlines to serve the top officials of the state.

Model 300

After the start of mass production, the new model, which received the index 300, goes to Aeroflot. For a car that can compete with the leading developments of Boeing and Airbus, the team of developers receives the State Prize. And although this aircraft was cheaper, safer, and in some respects even surpassed the designs of the Americans, domestic carriers bought the Boeing. At the same time, the motivation for such a purchase sometimes took the most ridiculous forms. For example, that there are two crew members on a Boeing, and three on an IL. Or that the Boeing is safer, even though design tests of our design have proven otherwise.

The detailed technical characteristics of the IL-96-300 aircraft are practically the same as the 400 version, just note that the presence of this airliner allowed Aeroflot to make direct flights from Moscow to any city in the Americas, and at the same time carry up to 300 people (single-cabin layout).

Birth 400

The first truck in the line was IL-96T. He was born in 1997 as part of a Russian-American treaty. Russia provided the glider, and the Americans provided 4 Pratt-Whitney engines (the same used by the Boeing 777) and on-board avionics from Collins. The aircraft received a slightly lengthened fuselage, cargo equipment, and even passed certification according to the American FAR25 standards. But it never went into further production. It was on its basis that the first 400th was subsequently designed. The aircraft was equipped with Russian avionics and Russian engines.

Model 400

At the turn of the century, developers produce an airliner capable of flying 500 km further, and at the same time taking 435 people on board. But the difficult financial situation in Russia practically puts an end to the passenger aircraft, however, a transport version is being designed on its basis. Passenger doors are being changed, cargo doors are being added, and in 2007 the next development of the Voronezh enterprise, IL-96-400T, is demonstrated at air shows. This is not a new development, as flight performance remains unchanged. The plane has been idle for two years, changing owners like gloves, but in 2009 the machinethe Russian company Polet became interested, and the first three aircraft are sent to it (two were assembled earlier than 2007 and existed as experimental samples). Thus, April 23, 2009 is considered to be the date of commencement of operation. Karpov, the president of Polet, plans to increase the number of cars to 6, but in 2013 the carrier is declared bankrupt. Voronezh assembled the fourth aircraft, but, for obvious reasons, it was never bought by the company.

But another buyer became interested in the transport version - the Russian Air Force. To date, there are rumors of 30 transport aircraft and the same number of Model 300s. Official sources from the Ministry of Defense say that the program is planned for 10 years, with the expectation that the last aircraft will be received in 2024.

Lineup

During its difficult life, the IL-96 has undergone several modifications. In addition to the main models - 300 and 400, several more variants were released, most of which were either converted to other versions or left as a prototype. These include:

• IL-96T - the first prototype of the modern 400 model. The only item in the entire line to wear American equipment for a while.
• IL-96M - the second prototype. The main difference was the lengthened fuselage.
• IL-96-300 - a passenger model of a wide-body aircraft. For almost 20 years, these models were used in a limited number by Aeroflot (according to unofficial data, the company hadonly 6 cars).
• IL-96-400 and 400T - passenger and transport aircraft models, respectively. Either up to 92 tons of luggage, or over 400 people.
• IL-96-400TZ - the model was redesigned from the previous version. The Russian Air Force became interested in the tanker. It was in this version that the 400th model was ordered, for the planned replacement of IL-78.
• IL-96-550 - a prototype double-deck aircraft. Boeing 747-400 analogue. Whether there will be further development is not yet known.

The list specifically does not include several more models of the "PU" (control point) category, these modified 300 and 400 models that serve in a separate detachment of the Rossiya airline and are referred to as "Aircraft No. 1" according to the international classification

Features

The Russian aircraft IL-96-400 in the process of creation received several features that distinguish it from aircraft of other companies.

The tanker aircraft that interested the military is a two-in-one model. Additional fuel tanks located in the fuselage are connected to the main fuel system and can accommodate 62 tons of additional fuel. An aircraft can deliver this stock over a distance of 3,500 km. If there is no need for a tanker, it is easy to convert it into a regular transporter. The flight range will not change, but cargo can be accepted up to 92 tons.

The second feature of this airliner concerns flight safety. The 96th became the only aircraft in the world that is capable of normalland even if all 4 engines on board fail. Such a check was carried out during the first tests by Russian test pilots. In flight, all 4 engines were turned off, after which the plane was safely landed according to the usual landing pattern.

Technical parameters

Below, consider other features and parameters of the IL-96-400 aircraft. Transport Version Specifications:

• length - 64 m;
• height - 15.7m;
• width - 6.1m;
• wing span - 60.1m;
• wing area - 392 sq. m;
• take-off weight (max) - 270 tons;
• cruising speed - 850 km/h;
• ceiling - 13100 m;
• range - 10000 m;
• commercial load - 92 t;

• passenger capacity - 435 people (for one class of accommodation);
• RWY for takeoff - 2600m, for landing - 1980m.

Fly ban

The history of this aircraft was not without a short-term, but nevertheless brought great losses to Russian carriers, a ban on flights. The decision was made as a result of an incident in August 2005, when, when departing from Finland, the presidential plane could not gain the speed necessary for separation. According to the chief designer, this decision was unlawful. The fact is that the characteristics of the IL-96-400 aircraft provide for possible failures of the units for various reasons. Hydraulics has a reserve that exceeds consumption by 4 times. This reserve is quite enough to maintain the normal braking mode.for all 12 wheels of the liner, even if the system fails on one or two wheels. Their functions will switch to others.

Conclusion

For a number of reasons, the IL-96-400 aircraft, originally designed as a long-range airliner, was transferred to military service. At the same time, due to the passenger past, the Air Force is getting a car that is capable of performing several tasks: from an ordinary transporter to an escort aircraft. Had the situation turned out differently, these steel birds would have flown across the territory of the former Soviet Union for medium and long distances. After all, the entire 96 line was originally planned as a replacement for two machines: Il-86 and Il-62.