Heavy military transport aircraft Il-76TD: specifications

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

IL-76 is a heavy military transport aircraft, a model that has been flying for more than a quarter of a century. On its basis, various modifications were created, both civilian and military. The ship itself was also modified, new features were added, and existing ones were expanded. Despite the rather serious age, new versions are still being designed on the basis of this machine.

The TD model has become one of these modifications. OKB Ilyushin presented it in 1982, a few years after the start of production of the prototype. Two characters in the name stand for "distant transport". Other details that distinguish this version will be discussed below.

History of Creation

In the mid-60s of the last century, the Ilyushin Design Bureau received an order to develop a transport aircraft. The work was carried out for several years, and ended at the turn of the 70s. Already in March 1971, the first prototype Il-76 took to the air. In the same year, at the air show in France, it is presented to the general public.

In 1973, the model enters mass production. The first cars were assembled at the aircraft factory. Chkalov in Tashkent. A few years later, in 1976, the aircraft was also accepted by the military. From that moment on, Tashkent became the main manufacturer of this model. In those same years, the war broke out in Afghanistan, and, according to unofficial information, 95% of the transportation of vehicles and personnel during the hostilities was transferred precisely by the novelty of the Soviet aircraft industry - the Il-76.

Today, more modern modifications of this aircraft still form the basis of Russia's military transport aviation. And although the aircraft belongs to the cargo fleet, it was during the years of Afghanistan that it acquired a pair of small 23 mm cannons located in the tail section.

Description

The Il-76 transport aircraft became the first aircraft for the Soviet Union, the main power plant of which was turbojet engines. The rest of the car was assembled according to the usual principle for heavy aviation: swept wings and a T-tail with one keel. A distinctive feature is the complete sealing of both service and cargo compartments. The aircraft has three cargo hatches, of which one is in the stern and two in the front. This arrangement allows you to release troops immediately in 4 streams (the rear hatch of several wings), but in practice this was not used. In most cases, the landing was thrown only from the front hatches, while heavy equipment was released from the rear with the help of parachutes.

At the same time, like any aircraft of this type, the IL-76TD hasspecial equipment located in two tiers, four electric hoists and, of course, several cargo winches. The design of the rear hatch is standard, in three wings, two of which open to the sides, and the central one goes down, forming a kind of ladder for entering or rolling in. In addition, there are several roller tracks in the cargo hold to facilitate the movement of large containers.

The aircraft has 4 powerful engines placed on pylons under the wings. When viewed from the front or from above, it is clearly visible that the wings are located above the fuselage, in a kind of ledge, which, together with the front one (which is a little lower), is a characteristic difference of the prototype, which is also present in its modifications, including the civilian version of the Il-76TD. A powerful landing gear system, arranged according to a five-point pattern (4 under the wings, 1 under the nose), allows landing not only on concrete strips, but also on the primer.

Modifications

Before proceeding to the modifications, it should be noted that the model we describe was born earlier in real life than on paper. Initially, these letters were received by a military aircraft with reinforced fuel tanks, as well as new engines. Then, after some time, when the designers began to make civilian versions, one of the new options received the old name.

• IL-76 - military transport aircraft. Served as a prototype for a whole series of subsequent trucks.
• IL-76T - in this modification, an additional fuel tank was added. The version has becomeexperimental, but increased fuel capacity could significantly increase the flight range.
• IL-76TD - received D-30KP-1 turbofan engines. Otherwise, it completely repeats the previous development.
• IL-76TDP - also repeats earlier designs. The main application is forest fire fighting, for which the cargo hold has been slightly modified and a water discharge system has been installed.
• A-50 - this development is based on the same prototype with an additional fuel tank. The AWACS (Airborne Early Warning and Control) system was installed on the aircraft.
• IL-76M - a combined version specially for the Air Force. In the technical part, it repeats the T version, but has cannon armament, as well as the capabilities of the A-50.
• IL 76MD - military version above the indicated TD. New engines and military "stuffing". Could carry medium tanks or military units of up to 200 people.
• IL-76LL - this version was assembled in single copies and was a flying laboratory for the development and testing of new engines. The developers of the Ilyushin Design Bureau themselves acted as customers.
• IL-78 - tanker aircraft. Minimum armament, minimum load. Two additional fuel tanks.
• Adman1 - A-50 version built for the Iraqi Air Force. Had an additional radar.
• Adman2 - vehicles were also sent to the Iraqi Air Force. This aircraft was engaged in the control and guidance of fighters.

Custom designs

In addition to the LL version, which was created for developers, several more non-standard ones were releasedvariations. According to unofficial information, they existed in 1-2 copies and did not receive their own character-digital name. The IL-76T, an aircraft with an increased fuel supply, served as a prototype for everyone. Among them were a flying hospital, a laser weapon carrier, and even a weightlessness simulator designed specifically for astronauts.

Capacity

When developing any modern aircraft, no matter what type, designers must take into account many external and internal parameters, otherwise the ship simply will not be able to take off. When the development is completed and mass production has begun, airlines-buyers will pay attention to other features, but one of them will be common to both designers and carriers.

This is the carrying capacity. Il-76TD, in the course of numerous upgrades, was able to carry one and a half times more than its prototype. The first machines had a figure of 28 tons. The latest developments have 42, and in new modifications - up to 60 tons.

Crew

Like most of the Soviet transport aviation, the aircraft received circular glazing in the bow. The upper part, where the main control was located, and the lower part - the navigation cabin. The crew of the Il-76TD included 5 people. This is the first pilot (aka PIC), co-pilot, flight engineer and radio operator. The team also included a navigator. The first aircraft and purely military versions have two more in the crew - these are riflemen. It is the chart room that the aircraft owes a somewhat unusual appearance to the bow.

Refill

Special mention deserves the fuel system. In an ordinary civilian airliner, regardless of the number of engines, there are two, sometimes three tanks. The standard instruction for the technical operation of the IL-76TD mentions 12 tanks, divided into 4 sections (according to the number of motors). Each of them also has its own division into the main, additional and spare tanks. Thus, the pilot has a fairly flexible ability to control fuel consumption and can respond in a timely manner to any unforeseen situations. The total capacity of all tanks exceeds the mark of 100,000 liters of fuel.

Features

We have considered individual parameters of the Il-76TD aircraft. Specifications will be summarized in a general list.

Given that many aircraft have already been flying for more than a quarter of a century, let's start with the fact that the service life declared by the developers is 30 years. True, it is worth noting that new modifications still roll off the assembly line, only not in Tashkent, which today is considered abroad, but in Ulyanovsk.

• Wingspan - 50 m.
• Wing area - 300 sq. m.
• Length of aircraft - 46.5 m, cargo compartment - 24.5.
• Height (along the keel) - 14.7 m; cargo compartment - 3, 4 m.
• Width - 3, 45 (cargo compartment).
• Volume - 321 cu. m.

Note that the fuselage in the section represents the correct circle, it must also be said that the aircraft has the possibility of installing a second ramp, while the length of the cargo compartment is slightly, but reduced.

Flyingdata:

• Minimum takeoff weight - 88 tons, maximum - 210.
• Cruising speed - 800 km/h, maximum - 850.
• Flying range - 4000 km, maximum - 6000.
• Practical ceiling - 12,000 m.
• Landing speed - 210 km/h.
• Length of runway for takeoff (mini) - 850 m, for landing - 450 m.
• Engines - 4 (TVD D-30KP-2).
• Traction force - 12,000 kgf each.
• Fuel in all tanks - 109,000.5 liters.

Fly ban

The beginning of the new century was marked by a black stripe in the development of the 76th model. In 2000, ICAO (an international organization in charge of all civil aviation) tightened the requirements for modern aircraft. For a car that does not meet the new standards, airports in Europe, North America, Japan and even Australia were closed. The main claims against the IL-76 were noise and air pollution.

The result of the modernization of the equipment was a version that received in addition to the main index 90VD. Aircraft of a new class fly around the world without restrictions, delivering cargo to various parts of the world.

Currently

From the moment of the first takeoff, the 76th served in the Union Air Force for 15 years and continues to serve the CIS countries. Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and other countries have new versions. Several hundred cars were assembled for export. In addition to the army, there are several structures that today use the Il-76TD. Ministry of Emergency Situations, rescue services, law enforcement agencies, as well as some airlines that deal only with cargotransportation. There is even an unofficial classification: the An-124 is the heaviest, one of the 747 Boeings is the longest, and the Il-76 is the most versatile.

Conclusion

Il-76TD is a civilian cargo aircraft, which is not as well known as Antonov's developments, but, nevertheless, due to its ability to land on both unpaved and concrete strips, it has become no less widespread. Despite its more than venerable age, this model has served and will certainly serve as a prototype for newer, modern, but not losing the elegant appearance of conventional and military "trucks".