Russian aviation. Russian aviation IL 96 aircraft cargo version technical specifications

We can imagine the working day of the President of the Russian Federation. As we know, he is forced to travel around the globe. The week is scheduled by the 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 so happens that the fastest way to travel is by plane. Board number 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 as an "air office".

High-ranking officials have been using airplanes as a means of transportation since the beginning of World War II. A special aviation group was created. She provided aircraft, monitored the state of the "air residence" of the head of state.

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

Khrushchev Nikita Sergeevich made business trips mainly on the Il-18. He was very fond of traveling. Most of all, the world remembers the trip to the United States of America in 1959. Then the Secretary General chose the Tu-114 aircraft for the flight, this is the world's largest aircraft. He flew not alone, but with his family and accompanying persons in the amount of 63 people.

The guests who arrived in America could not immediately and normally get down to the ground, since the airbase did not have a ladder long enough to reach the doors of the high Tu-114. They needed a fire engine with a huge staircase to receive Russian guests. Soon, aircraft designers created the Il-62 specially for him, he was the favorite plane of Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev, Yuri Vladimirovich Andropov, Konstantin Ustinovich Chernenko and Mikhail Sergeevich Gorbachev also flew on it on their working trips. Over the entire period of operation, the aircraft has never let down its VIP-passengers.

Putin's aircraft fleet

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

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

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

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

For safety net, one more plane must fly overboard, accompanying the head of state, as all presidents do. And Putin chooses the plane on which the conditions, the nature of the trip, the distance of the flight will correspond. For example, India uses one aircraft brand, while Yakutia needs a completely different one.

Putin usually uses planes designed specifically for presidential flights on working visits, but it has happened that he had to fly a fighter jet. Or when you need to transfer to a helicopter, this is the Mi-8. A commander and two crew shifts must fly on board the aircraft, as well as flight attendants of five men and five women.

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

Presidential plane

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

The commission selects for work in the State Customs Committee "Russia": by age, level of qualifications, the candidate must be responsible, executive, trustworthy, disciplined. Newcomers, as a rule, do not get on board number 1, first you need to go up all the steps of the career ladder and reach the highest level of professionalism. This plane of the President is operated by the State Transport Company Rossiya.

Putin's plane

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

The rich decoration of the plane is not a toy for personal use, not for bragging, guests from abroad, diplomatic meetings, 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 "toilet bowls made of gold", the decoration of the rooms is designed in a "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 on a three-story board. And the high cost of board number one is most of all associated with secret radio electronic equipment and the provision of special flight safety measures.

The "flying Kremlin" can be called the Il-96-300 Putin's office, there are meeting rooms, a conference hall, luxury salons for accompanying persons and guests.

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

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, they can perform resuscitation.

The technical characteristics inspire confidence. The dimensions of the aircraft also do not leave you indifferent: the wingspan is 60 meters, the length is 55 meters, and the height is more than 17 meters. Takeoff maximum weight 230 tons. Fuel capacity 150400 liters. The flight speed is about 900 kilometers per hour, while landing - 270 kilometers per hour. For 20 years of operation, the aircraft made about 12 thousand landings.

The aircraft landing gear has three main legs, which are located behind the center of mass, and the front leg. Each of the three is equipped with a four-wheel bogie with brake wheels, while the front has two non-brake wheels. All fourteen wheels have the same dimensions of 1300 × 480 millimeters.

The power plant of the aircraft is four PS-90A turbofan engines (designed by P.A. Soloviev). 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. The system is designed separately for each of the four engines. The service 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 work, which is more than 20 years, such aircraft did not have a single serious accident, but the news often speaks of plane crashes of other aircraft brands.

Firstly, about 30 aircraft of this brand were built and excellent craftsmen worked on each 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 of the Presidential Property Management Department, and this is more reliable than any private airline.

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

Il-96-300 presidential aircraft are protected not only from the ground, but also in the air. Many controllers and a large number of air defenses control the moment during takeoff and landing of board number one, because it is then that the terrorists are mainly trying to attack.

In the air, board number 1 is under the protection of a cover link, and these, as you know, are experienced, qualified pilots. There are also additional security measures. For example, if a missile is torpedoed to destroy an aircraft, then its own on-board device will eliminate the attack using an anti-missile. Also, the airliner is protected to neutralize heat traps, in addition, it has a camouflage coating on the aircraft body, thanks to which it becomes invisible to missile guidance systems. It so happens that if a missile is torpedoed from the ground, the plane will destroy it.

In contact with

On July 9, 1990, the first serial Il-96-300 airliner took to the skies for the first time. It was the "dream liner" of the Soviet aircraft industry, which Aeroflot was looking forward to. However, when the plane was ready for operation, Russian air carriers turned to the manufacturers of foreign airliners. This happened largely due to the intrigues of these very manufacturers, supported by the domestic bureaucracy.

At that time, we had an extra-class airliner - a wide-body comfortable Il-86 aircraft that could accommodate up to 350 passengers. However, it was a medium-haul vehicle, and the outdated Il-62 had to fly long distances.

The new vehicle was required to have a range of at least 9000 kilometers. And in 1988 the prototype took off for the first time. Two years later, tests began on the first serial Il-96-300. And three years later, the plane was certified and released for long-distance routes, connecting Moscow with cities in Asia and the Americas. For the creation of a liner capable of competing with Boeing and Airbus, the development team was awarded the 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 in the "presidential" 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 machine began, capable of covering distances of up to 9000 km with the same passenger load. The development was named IL-86D and differed from the base machine by wings with an increased area and NK-56 engines. The first flight, which lasted 40 minutes, the IL-96-300 prototype aircraft (tail number 96,000), made on September 28, 1988 from the Frunze Central Airfield on the Khodynskoye field. Crew under command Honored Test Pilot of the USSR, Hero of the Soviet Union Stanislav Bliznyuk conducted it directly over the central districts of Moscow. The difficulty lay in the fact that the car assembled in the OKB workshops had to either be disassembled in order to be transported in parts to Zhukovsky, or to risk lifting it 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 this first take-off. Once, in a conversation with me, Bliznyuk admitted: sensing that the aircraft's acceleration had clearly slowed down, he decided to count to three, and then decide to interrupt the takeoff, which was tantamount to a 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 a fragment from a movie rushing through your head, causing an unpleasant sensation that remained for the rest of your life ... At the Central Airfield I had to meet the landing of Il-76 and Il-38 planes. I admit honestly - you do not feel pleasure from this, only acute joy after stopping the plane serves as a good compensation for what you have experienced. " ( G.V. Novozhilov... From the book "About Me and Airplanes")

In the process of testing, the Il-96 performed several flights at a distance, including Moscow-Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky-Moscow without landing in Petropavlovsk. The plane covered 14,800 kilometers in 18 hours and 9 minutes. On June 9, 1992, the 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 a certificate of airworthiness. For half a year, the new cars were “run in” on the 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 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 at 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 United States 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 then the designers were going to take the Lockheed Tristar as the basis for the development, then by the time the project was implemented the IL-96-300 was already ready. Moreover, the idea was warmly supported by the well-known American billionaire businessman A. Hammer... She was like this: our glider plus their engines and electronics.

In fact, the first international commercial project in civil aviation was born, designed to combine the best in terms of technical and economic criteria elements of domestic and foreign production. As a result of this work, on August 11, 1992, at the first aircraft exhibition in Zhukovsky, V. Potapov, G. Novozhilov, General Director of the Central Directorate of International Air Communications (now Aeroflot) General Director of VASO (Voronezh Aircraft Building Association) A. Mikhailov signed a decision “On the purchase of Il-96 M, Il 96M \ T aircraft with PW-2337 engines and a set of Collins navigation equipment. And it was - neither more nor less about the development, construction and delivery of 20 aircraft to Aeroflot. Moreover, both participating countries have agreed to "share the risks", i.e. each took payment for his own work. Has the process started?

It's all wrong guys…

Work on the creation of the joint machine, 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 of things have 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 the then Mayor of the capital Yu. Luzhkov presentation of the IL-96MO took place at the Ilyushin Design Bureau. And again Bliznyuk masterfully takes off from the Central airfield. And the 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. “The West is buying a Russian plane for the first time. Ilyushin and Pratt Whitney announced yesterday that Partners, headquartered in Amsterdam, ordered five Il-96 T trucks with an option for five Il-96 M cargo or passenger cars. Deliveries will begin in 1996 "( from an article in the daily issue of Fligt at Le Bourget 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 on cooperation with the United States" (resolution President B. Yeltsin dated 20.07 1994, directed to the premiere V. Chernomyrdin).

The matter remained with the "small" - the "Eximbank" of the United States for the project was to provide a loan of about a billion dollars under the guarantees of the Russian government. But… “Boeing is concerned that the US loan is creating another competitor for investment allocations. Boeing Board Representative Franz Schronz appealed on this issue to high officials and the presidential administration B. Clinton". ("Aviation Week" from 3.04.95).

Russian partners from Pratt & Whitney tried to argue in the US Congress: "Such concerns about competition with Ilyushin in the long term is just a cover for Boeing and Mc Donnell Douglas, seeking to reserve market share of their commercial aircraft in the former Soviet Union." ... How far they looked then!

Not going to surrender to the mercy of the overseas winners, Genrikh Vasilyevich Novozhilov, on the day of the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Victory in the Kremlin, is seeking a meeting with US President B. Clinton to remind him of a 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 Expert Import Bank of the USA (EXIMBANK) is 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 Aeroflot-Russian International Lines with it. From the reference to the meeting: “American engines and components were supplied free of charge. The total volume of investments by American partners in the form of equipment supply, engineering and financial support amounted to about 150 million US dollars ... The issue of financing the Russian part of the project, that is, 500 million dollars, has not been finally resolved, although there is agreement from a number of Russian banks. "

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

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

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

But then a memorable default struck. The volume of GDP in the country decreased, the banking system ceased to function, and payments stopped. Hard times have come for the residents of Ilyushin. For some reason, the plan for delivering aircraft to the customer has changed dramatically. Now, in order to reduce taxes for Aeroflot, the planes had to be first sold to a foreign leasing company. And only from her to lease to be in Sheremetyevo.

In connection with this, a lump of all kinds of bureaucratic formalities has grown. Mostly unfeasible. What prompted the Aeroflot management in early 2000 to abandon the Il-96T. The outbreak of the war between NATO and Yugoslavia also played a negative role. Learning about which Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Evgeny Primakov, who flew on the Il-62 to the United States for negotiations with Vice President Gore, made a sharp U-turn over the Atlantic.

In his book The Minefield of Politics, Yevgeny Maksimovich wrote about this as follows: “On March 20, 1999, a meeting of the Russian-American Commission was scheduled, which was headed by Gore from the United States, and from ours, the chairmen of governments who were constantly displacing each other. Our government inherited the unresolved problem of US financing of the joint project to create the Il-96M \ T aircraft ”.

The "loop over the Atlantic" frightened the "money people" who worked with us ... There was no doubt that an opinion appeared in these circles that work on the Il-96T project was hardly worth continuing. I would like to note that the Russian government also refused to give guarantees to Eximbank for a loan. "(From G. Novozhilov's book" About Me and Airplanes ").

By the end of August 1999, the only copy of the Il-96T (or rather, the airframe of the aircraft with all Russian-made components) with the tail number RA-96 101 was sold for the debts of VASO and became the property of bankers. By the way, before that, it had been repeatedly shown at air shows in the Aeroflot brand livery, although the airline refused it. This is how the history of the Russian-American project ended sadly. Truly, "and happiness was so possible ..."

Landing

Well, what about the IL-96-300? The first such machine entered service with Aeroflot in 1993. Currently, these planes are available only at the Rossiya State Customs Committee as a 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 taken out of production as “unpromising”. And before that, Dmitry Medvedev visited the VASO plant. After getting to know 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. Handsome is simple! "

Experts' opinions

Sergey 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. IL-96 takes on board 300 passengers and 15 tons of cargo at 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 machine: a spacious cabin, large screens - the blind will see everything. The fuselage diameter is 6 meters, like a subway tunnel. You feel yourself in a normal, reliable liner with four engines. By the way, in its entire history, the Il-96 has not been involved in a single disaster. I have not killed a single person.

Anatoly Knyshov, test pilot, Hero of Russia:

When in the 90s I flew to the States on an IL-96 and I had fuel left in my tanks for another three hours of flight, the Americans were terribly surprised. A representative of their aviation authorities then bluntly stated: for some positions, this type of aircraft is unattainable for us. It is strange that Russia is still capable of creating a competitive product. On the IL-96, on the instructions of the general designer, I made six landings with simulated failure of all engines. Nobody did this on any foreign type. And on the IL-96, even a crew of an average level of training can do this.

Genrikh Novozhilov, chief designer of IL-96:

I am often asked to compare two aircraft: ours and the Boeing 767. There is an official assessment carried out by the State Research Institute of Civil Aviation. These aircraft are not inferior in characteristics to each other. Ours is bigger. If you look at the monthly flight time at Aeroflot, then the Il-96-300 has it sometimes more 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 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 send their proposals for the acquisition of aircraft of this type," the air carrier said.

The company does not name the cost of the planes, explaining that it is a matter of negotiations. The last flight under the Aeroflot flag Il-96-300 was performed on March 30, 2014 from Moscow to Tashkent.

As a representative of Aeroflot explained to Interfax, the planes are old, with high fuel consumption and cause complaints from passengers because of the low comfort of the cabin. All of Aeroflot's Il-96-300s were produced in 1991-1995.

Deep modernization

This wonderful car got a new chance a year ago. And he, apparently, will be implemented. But the "revived" 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 of the passenger airliner that can accommodate not 300, but 435 passengers. Cuba intends to acquire it in limited quantities. A transport Il-96-400T will appear on the basis of the "400th" very soon. It has a dual purpose and can be operated in both civil aviation and military.

But most of all, the Ministry of Defense was 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 operating 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 3500 km. While the modernized modification of the Il-78M-90 carries up to 40 tons of aviation kerosene over a distance of 3000 km.

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

The Ministry of Defense also has plans to acquire 14 passenger Il-96-300 by 2024.

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

Flight performance of IL-96-300 and IL-96-400T

Length: 55.35m - 63.94m

Height: 17.57 m - 15.72 m

Wingspan: 57.66 m - 60.11 m

Wing area: 350 sqm - 392 sq.m.

Maximum takeoff 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 plane P-42. Maybe someone else does not know about and about

The 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 was 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 deployed at the Voronezh aircraft plant; a total of 30 airbuses have been manufactured since its inception.

At present, the Il-96 is operated by the Rossiya Special Flight Squad, which also includes the presidential board. Since 1996, Russian leaders have been flying the Il-96-300PU, a modification of the airliner designed specifically for the head of state. In 2003, a new aircraft of this modification was built for Putin.

The IL-96 is rightfully considered one of the most reliable passenger aircraft in its class. Since the start of operation with these machines, not a single accident has occurred that would have led to human 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 their operation.

We can say that this aircraft was very unlucky, because the moment of its birth fell on the period of the country's collapse and the economic crisis, when the domestic aviation industry literally survived, and it was not up to the renewal of the aircraft fleet. At the end of the 90s, an attempt was made to modernize the aircraft, the result of which was the appearance of the Il-96-400 modification. However, domestic air carriers were not too interested in it, there were no orders for it from the airlines.

IL-96 can be called one of the most famous and discussed domestic passenger aircraft. Interviews of high-ranking Russian officials appear with enviable frequency in the press with promises of an imminent 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 state 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 a new Russian-Chinese airbus is ready.

Earlier, Industry Minister Manturov promised to allocate 50 billion rubles for the resuscitation of the Il-96 production. True, according to him, first it is necessary to solve the problem of excessive fuel "gluttony" of the car, because according to this characteristic the Il-96 cannot compete with Boeing-767 and 777 or 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 specially developed for promotion abroad. In 1993, the prototype of this aircraft was already flying, and soon it received Russian and American certificates. Why didn't they manage to finish this project? And does he have a chance to take a worthy place in the sky?

History of creation

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

A wide-body passenger aircraft is a vehicle with a fuselage diameter of 5-6 meters. Such dimensions allow placing from 6 to 10 seats in one row. It should be noted that the appearance 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-1970s showed that within ten years Aeroflot will not be able to provide long-distance transportation without a capacious wide-body liner.

At this time in the OKB im. Ilyushin were engaged in the development of a new large-capacity passenger aircraft Il-86. It was on the basis of this aircraft that it was decided to build a new long-range passenger aircraft. It was named IL-86D. It differed little from the basic modification: only the wing area and the power plant increased, which consisted of more economical engines with a higher bypass ratio. The idea of ​​creating two aircraft with a high degree of unification seriously reduced the development time for new machines, reduced their cost, and in the future was supposed to significantly simplify maintenance.

However, the Il-86D was never embodied in metal. At the end of the 70s, it was decided on its base to create a new long-range passenger aircraft - the Il-96 aircraft. Changes were made to the design of this machine, which made it possible to significantly improve its technical perfection.

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

The first takeoff of the Il-96-300 took place in September 1988, tests 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 of the new machine, then it can be noted that the designers managed to reach a new level, compared to the aircraft created at the OKB im. 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 work on the creation of a new aircraft, the team of the OKB im. Ilyushin was awarded the State Prize.

The first Il-96-30 were handed over to the Domodedovo Air Squadron, and the commercial operation of the Airbus began in 1993. Originally, the liners were mainly used for international flights.

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 large-capacity aircraft into the country. He was openly lobbied by Aeroflot, promising to purchase a large batch of Il-96 in case of a reduction in duties. The decision was made, but the purchase of domestic aircraft did not take place.

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

In the mid-2000s, three Il-96-300s were sold to Cuba, and one of them was made in the "presidential" version. Now the IL-96 is flying not only Putin, but also the top leadership of the "Island of Freedom".

Over the years, negotiations on the supply of the aircraft were conducted with China, Syria, Iran, Peru and even Zimbabwe. They did not have much success.

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 counterparts.

In 2014 Aeroflot decommissioned all IL-96 owned by the company.

However, already next year, the Ilyushin Aviation Complex announced plans for the next modernization of the Il-96 and the resumption of its serial production. Next year, representatives of the company reported that they are improving the fuel efficiency of the liner and plan to bring it to the level of modern Western counterparts. The general director of the Voronezh aircraft plant announced 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, the media reported that a firm contract was signed between the manufacturer and the UAC for design work on the Il-96-400M. The aircraft prototype production period is 2019.

Description of construction

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

The fuselage of the aircraft has a diameter of 6.08 meters, depending on the layout of the passenger compartment, 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 and 234 seats in the rear. 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 row spacing of 1020 mm), business class (40 seats) and economy class (173 seats). The IL-96 salon is in no way inferior to the best foreign counterparts in terms of passenger comfort.

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 aviation containers ABK-1.5, and the third is designed for the carriage of piece cargo.

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 terms of area, it significantly (by 70 m2) surpasses the wing of the Il-86 and is equipped with sophisticated mechanization. It consists of full-length leading edge slats and double-slotted flaps.

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

The Il-96 has four landing gear legs: three main ones, located under the center section, and a front landing gear. Each of the main struts has a four-wheel cart with brake wheels, and the A-pillar has two non-braking wheels. The size of all wheels of the aircraft landing gear is the same.

The power plant of the liner 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 scheme, 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 its modular design, which facilitates its maintenance: if necessary, one or another module - of the eleven available - can be quickly replaced.

For the first time in the history of Soviet aircraft construction, the power plant of the aircraft was equipped with an electronic control and monitoring system "Diagnosis-90", which had two channels. This system automatically monitors fuel consumption and protects engines from surging. The promising Il-96-400M is planned to be equipped 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 get by with a crew of three. The Il-96-300 is the first Soviet aircraft to be equipped with an electronic flight control system VSUP-85-4 - in addition to traditional analog instruments, electronic indicators also appeared in the Il-96-300 cockpit. This aircraft is equipped with an EDSU system.

The fuel system of the Airbus is in many ways similar to that of the Il-86. The fuel is stored in nine caisson tanks, from where it is pumped into the pre-consumption tank and, then, into the consumption compartment, which each of the engines has. Four tanks are located in the wing consoles, one more is located in the center section.

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

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

Modifications

Since the start of the serial 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 liner 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 aircraft has a maximum flight range of 13.5 thousand km, it can take on board up to 300 passengers;
• Il-96-300PU / PU (M1). "Presidential" modification of the liner, which was specially developed on the basis of the Il-96-300 for the transportation of the country's top officials. In total, 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 car, the flight range of the liner is slightly increased. In fact, the Il-96-300PU is an air command post that allows you to control the country and the armed forces during a nuclear conflict. Outwardly, this airliner is practically no different from a conventional 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, he first took to the air 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 aircraft has a longer fuselage compared to the Il-96-300, it is equipped with PS-90A-1 engines (thrust 17.4 thousand kgf) and more advanced avionics. This liner can take on board 435 passengers;
• IL-96-400T. Transport version of the IL-96-400 airliner. The first aircraft was assembled in 2007, and a total of four aircraft were manufactured. In 2014, it was decided to convert one of the Il-96-400T 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 "refueling" modification. If the operation of these aircraft goes well, then the military department is ready to order another 30 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 liner is a strategic air command center. At present, the Ilyushen people 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 machine took off for the first time in April 1993, later it was repeatedly demonstrated at various air shows. In 2009 it was cut into scrap;
• IL-96MD. Aircraft modification powered by Pratt & Whitney PW4082 engines;
• IL-96MK. Modification with four NK-92 engines.

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

Numerous modifications, at the time of presentation to the public, were striking in their ergonomics, technical and flight characteristics, but some of them did not enter serial production, and production was frozen.

History of creation

Works 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 small capacity, which increased the load on the take-off and landing lines. In addition, it was significantly inferior to foreign counterparts 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 large-capacity passenger aircraft. It was decided to create a new project for long-distance transportation, which received the 86D marking, it practically did not differ from the basic version, but did not get on the conveyor. By the end of the decade, the task is to design a new model, advantageously superior to analogues.

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

However, the technologies of that time developed so rapidly that after each completion of the work, the designers started the project anew, since the project they had just created was already lagging behind their 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 with a diameter of 6.08 m, the capacity, depending on the location of the 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 less passenger capacity have a compartment divided into 3 parts: first, business class and economy. Comparing the level of comfort with foreign counterparts, 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 the transportation of air containers and piece cargo.

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

Sleeping area on the plane

The description of the characteristics of the IL-96 300 flight and navigation complex was striking in its intelligence. With its help, it is possible to control a three-person aircraft model, without a navigator.

For the first time, the electronic flight control system VSUP 85 4, new electronic boards and indicators, EDSU, anti-icing electrical impulse system were installed.

Passport data

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 the PS-90A turbojet engine 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 not more than 40. The volume of the airliner's fuel tanks is 150,000 liters.

With regard to flight characteristics, the model is characterized by an optimal speed of 860 km / h, a recommended altitude between 9,100 and 13,100 m, and a range at 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 in terms of the time spent in the air is 70,000 hours.

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

The lineup

The IL-96 300 aircraft and the next 400th series were originally 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 used, and the next, more modernized and equipped with electronics, has completely passed into the hands of the military.

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

300 Series Models

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

Many of them are used today:

• IL-96 300PU is a special project designed for the transportation of the President of the Russian Federation, 5 copies have been collected in total. From the outside, it practically does not differ from the passenger counterparts, except for a small chute in the upper part. It has equipment that allows you to control the country's Armed Forces, 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 the Aeroflot company, although it never had anything to do with the air carrier. The only copy took off once, during the tests, no orders were received, so the aircraft was converted into IL-96 400 T.

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

The last board was handed over by the Voronezh plant in 2015, at about the same time another state order was received, which was received at the end of 2018.

400 Series Models

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

However, not all aircraft modifications were in demand. Some of them did not become popular and further than one trial copy was not produced.

Modifications marked with this series are presented below:

• IL-96 400 - recognized as an improved modernized version of its predecessor. I received a new PS-90A-1 power unit with a corresponding improved thrust. It features a long fuselage, lower fuel consumption, and new avionics.
• IL-96 400T is a cargo version of its prototype, which retained its flight and technical characteristics. Production has been carried out since 2007 in Voronezh. The first 3 aircraft were successfully operated by the local airline Polet, which operates international cargo flights. In July 2014, they were written off and disassembled for processing. At the moment, 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 signed an agreement for the supply of 2 units, equipped with UPAZ-1 universal 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 (3rd generation strategic control air post) for the RF Armed Forces.
• IL-96 400 M - 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 is in a long fuselage, power unit "Pratt & Whitney", foreign avionics. In 1997, he received a certificate in America, and was shown many times at world air shows as an aircraft marked IL-96 400 with a new power unit.
• IL-96 400MD - equipped with American engines currently used on "".
• IL-96 400MK - 4 turbojet engines NK-92.

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

At this time, 6 airliners were assembled.

The most famous facts

The so-called two-story domestic airliner is an active legend of the Russian and Soviet aircraft industry, many stories and interesting facts are associated with its operation.

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

The most common ones are presented below:

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

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

The president's board marked "IL-96 300PU" stands for "Control Center". From here you can monitor the situation in the world, the aircraft is equipped with an air defense system, a heat gun, 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 security measures of the airliner, 2 out of 3 negative incidents from its long history are associated with it.

The first incident with the plane took place on 05.10.2004 at the Lisbon airport. During takeoff, a collision with a flock of pigeons occurred, resulting in an unexpected flight cancellation. After inspecting the technical condition of the model, the accumulation of condensate on the SCR tubes, which got into the dashboard of the airliner, was found.

This affected the readings of the sensors and caused the stop. Later, the latest version was recognized as the official one.
The Portuguese incident took place without the presence of the President on board the aircraft, but on 02.08.2005 in Turku (Finland), he was forced to transfer to the reserve one.

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

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

Huge losses of airlines caused the resignation of VASO CEO Vyacheslav Salikov.

06/03/2014, the non-operating airliner IL-96 300, which was in the technical parking area of ​​Sheremetyevo airport, caught fire. Spontaneous combustion occurred in the cockpit, there were no casualties, and the skeleton was cut 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 did not receive their world recognition is this unfortunate development time. 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 what prevented the airliner from taking a leading position in the world market and giving way to the American Boeing 777 aircraft, which is distinguished by its accident rate.

Video

"The production program for the long-haul Il-96-400M and regional ones based on the Il-114 will be modest"published by the newspaper" Vedomosti",Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin announced plans to start production of the long-range wide-body Il-96-400M aircraft (a modernized version of the Il-96-300) and a regional aircraft based on the Il-114 on May 27 at the meeting of the Ministry of Industry and Trade. The enterprises of the United Aircraft Building Corporation (UAC), the Voronezh Aircraft Building Association and the Nizhny Novgorod Sokol plant, will be engaged in their production.

The cost of both development programs is 50 billion rubles each. But the scale of the planned release turned out to be small.

It is planned to produce six long-haul vessels, and a maximum of 100 regional ones, a federal official and a person close to the UAC told Vedomosti. These figures were confirmed by another federal official, who said that the number of Il-96s could be increased to eight.

IL-114 passenger aircraft (registration RA-91014, serial number 1023823024) painted by Vyborg airline, St. Petersburg, parking lot at Pulkovo airport 04/14/2010 (c) Pavel Todenkov / russianplanes.net

IL-96-400M (more than 400 seats, production should begin in 2019) will be intended primarily for government agencies, primarily for the special flight unit "Russia", which transports senior officials, say two interlocutors of Vedomosti. It will have no commercial potential, as it is an outdated, fuel-inefficient aircraft, they explain. The previous modification of the Il-96-300 has not been produced since 2009. An idea is being discussed to subsidize the leasing of this aircraft so that the payment would be approximately half that for the competing Boeing-777 and Airbus 330; this may be of interest to individual carriers, given that fuel has become cheaper and the efficiency gain is no longer so fundamental, argues the second official.

Upgraded IL-114 (developed in the 1980s) will be produced 50-100, the planned capacity is 64 seats, says a federal official. In 2019-2023 it is planned to produce 20-25 cars, and then, depending on demand, bring their number to 100, a person close to the UAC knows. By 2019, six Il-114s located at the plant in Tashkent will be completed, a source in the UAC told Vedomosti earlier.

Now in Russia, 100-150 regional aircraft of different capacities are still in operation of the Soviet design, the official continues. The market was not deeply researched, he admits, but a survey of operators revealed the need for about 50 new vessels. The Il-114's fuselage will be redesigned to make the plane lighter, the engines will be modified, explains a person close to the UAC. If the updated version turns out to be successful, then the aircraft may have export potential, he hopes.

“With such a scale of production, no program, of course, will pay off,” says a federal official. - But the UAC has local tasks: some of its own wide-body aircraft are needed by government agencies, some regional aircraft - by domestic airlines; besides, production capacities will be loaded ”. True, resources are scattered, he adds, because these models have no further prospects, unlike the short-haul SSJ100 produced by the UAC and the medium-haul MS-21 under development - the export potential of these aircraft will help create new aircraft.

The release of the Il-96 and Il-114 will be financed in the IV quarter with adjustments to the budget, says a spokesman for the Ministry of Industry and Trade. A KLA spokesman declined to comment.

“An aircraft only for the Russian market is a deliberately unprofitable project,” said Fedor Borisov, a leading researcher at the Institute of Transport Economics at the Higher School of Economics. “In such projects, one should initially focus on a competitive product for the world market and profit, even in a mobilization economy.” However, the regional aircraft may be in demand, he admits: the AN-24, which prevail in the domestic fleet, have been flying for a very long time. And it is impossible to create a wide-body aircraft on the basis of the Il-96 demanded by the world market, he is sure.