In the late 1980s, the IL-62 and IL-86 were replaced by the more advanced and economical Il-96-300. Its first flight took place on September 28, 1988, 35 years ago. This is one of the most reliable aircraft of its class in the world: not a single major accident has been noted in its entire history.
It is this aircraft that today serves as the No. 1 board for the President of Russia. And its newest modification, the IL-96-400M, is preparing for its first flight.
About the history of the creation of the aircraft – in our material.
A task of national importance
In the 1980s, when domestic aviation was at the historical peak of its capabilities, the volume of air traffic in the country exceeded 100 million passengers per year. New airfields were being built in all parts of the country, and non-stop flights were very popular. It soon became clear that the IL-62, developed in the early 1960s, could no longer cope with transportation on long-distance lines. A new aircraft was needed, more comfortable and more economical, carrying more passengers, which could represent the country's new achievements abroad.
Such an aircraft was the IL-96-300. Although from a distance it resembled its wide-body predecessor IL-86, the sum of all the innovations was so great that it spread these aircraft across different generations. The first flight of the new car took place on September 28, 1988.
Photo: Anthony Noble / wikimedia.org
The new liner embodied the latest domestic achievements in the field of aerodynamics, strength, structural materials, and avionics. Scientific and technical solutions protected by 145 Russian patents and 167 copyright certificates were introduced into its design. As a result, the IL-96-300 received a record value of aerodynamic quality, equal to 21 units, confirmed by flight tests for domestic aircraft.
The aircraft was a big step forward in relation to its predecessors. For example, relative to the IL-86, with the remaining maximum take-off weight, the flight range increased. And the minimum fuel consumption per passenger kilometer of the IL-96-300 came out much less than that of the previous long-haul Il-62M.
Test pilot, Hero of Russia Anatoly Knyshov recalled: "When in the 1990s I flew on an IL-96 to the States and I had fuel left in my tanks for another three hours of flight, the Americans were terribly surprised. One of the representatives of their aviation authorities then bluntly stated: in some positions, this type of aircraft is unattainable for us."
Board No. 1
Special attention was paid to safety when creating the IL-96-300. The liner uses multi-channel redundant systems with automatic shutdown or switching of faulty channels. The information display system itself notifies of the failure that has occurred, only in some cases the crew needs to manually duplicate the operation of automation. The result is one of the most reliable wide-body aircraft in the world.
One of the key components of the IL-96-300 reliability was the economical and eco-friendly PS-90A engine, created in the Pavel Solovyov Design Bureau. The engine is manufactured by UEC-Perm Motors as part of the Rostec United Engine Corporation.
Photo: Pavel Adjigildaev / wikimedia.org
It was the IL-96-300 that was chosen as the no.1. The use of Il-branded aircraft for flights of the President of Russia and government transportation speaks of the traditional high confidence in the Ilyushin Design Bureau technology.
The IL-96-300 was developed under the leadership of the outstanding aircraft designer Heinrich Novozhilov, at that time the chief designer of the Ilyushin Design Bureau. For the creation of the aircraft, a number of OKB employees became laureates of the State Prize. The full technological cycle of serial production and maintenance of the IL-96-300 is built at the Voronezh Aircraft Factory (PJSC VASO as part of the Rostec United Aircraft Corporation).
IL-96-400M: the new Ilyushin Bogatyr
The IL-96-400M long-haul passenger aircraft continues the line of development of the IL-96 wide-body aircraft family. It was created to expand the geography of flights and ensure transport accessibility of Russian regions, meet the need for long-haul aircraft and preserve Russia's technological independence.
The aircraft received an elongated fuselage, more powerful and economical PS-90A1 turbofan engines, flight navigation and radio communication equipment that meets modern and promising ICAO requirements.
Photo: United Aircraft Corporation
In terms of reliability and flight safety, the aircraft fully corresponds to its famous predecessors – the IL-86 and Il-96-300 aircraft, as well as the best world models. This was achieved due to its aerodynamic layout and redundancy of systems. The interior of the aircraft, buffet and kitchen equipment, modern information entertainment equipment and air conditioning system allow passengers to provide a comfortable long-distance flight for many hours.
On the basis of this aircraft, cargo versions can be created for the transportation of urgent cargo in air containers and on pallets, which will allow the aircraft to fully fit into the global air transport system of cargo delivery. The equipment installed on the aircraft, as well as the materials used by domestic production fully meet modern requirements and are not inferior in their characteristics to modern foreign analogues.
Based on the materials of the book of PJSC "Il" "The future is here and now. Unity of traditions and renewal"
