Ilyushin Il-76

Ilyushin Il-76

The Ilyushin Il-76 is a medium-size four-engined cargo aircraft. It is a very versatile aircraft, flying in commercial service and in much larger numbers with military forces. NATO nicknamed it 'Candid'.

The development of the Il-76 started in 1967 and it completed its first flight on 25 March 1971. The first production aircraft were delivered to the Soviet Air Force in June 1974 and Aeroflot received its first aircraft in 1976.

Ilyshin designed the Il-76 to carry a 40 tons payload (88,000 lb) over 5,000 km (2,700 nm) and it should be capable of takeoff and landing on short, unprepared airstrips. It also should be able to cope with the difficult weather conditions in Siberia and Arctic regions.

The Il-76 shows its military origins by the glass nose and the gun position in the tail. It looks much like the US Air Force's Lockheed C-141 Starlifter, but it is a more capable aircraft. The Il-76 has a high mounted wing, four engines in pods under the wing, a T-tail and a rear loading ramp. The wing has several high-lift devices to allow short takeoffs and landings. The undercarriage counts twenty wheels fitted with low pressure tyres.The two main wheel bogies have two rows of four tyres each and the nose-wheel gear has four wheels. Tyre pressures can be adjusted during flight. The aircraft is operated by a crew of seven, including two freight handlers. Onboard systems are installed to load the aircraft without the aid of land-based equipment.

The main civil versions are the Il-76T, which first flew on 4 November 1978, the Il-76TD (the civil variant of the military Il-76MD) and the Il-76TD-90 with Aviadvigatel PS-90 turbofans. The Il-76TD-90VD is a major upgrade of the Il-76TD, developed for Volga-Dnepr Airlines. It is fitted with modern PS-90A-76 engines, which meet current international ecological standards. The engines have a longer operating life and lower maintenance costs than earlier engines used on the Il-76. All aircraft systems, including flight and navigation instruments are renewed.

Il-76s are not only used as freighters, but also as airborne tanker, flying command center, aerial fire fighter, zero-G training aircraft for astronauts, engine testbed, transport to support humanitarian relief aid and many more tasks.

About one thousand Il-76s have been built and the aircraft is still in production. In 2018 almost one hundred Il-76s are in service with airlines.

Ilyushin Il-76TD Specifications

Wingspan: 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in). Length: 46.59 m (152 ft 10 in). Height: 14.76 m (48 ft 5 in).
Empty weight: 101,000 kg (222,665 lb). Max. takeoff weight: 190,000 kg (418,875 lb).
Payload: 48 tonnes. Range: 3,650 km (1,970 nm). Max. cruise speed: 800 km/h (430 kts).
Engines:
four Aviadvigatel (Soloviev) D30KP turbofans (117.7 kN - 26,455 lb).

Ilyushin Il-76TD-90VD Specifications

Wingspan: 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in). Length: 46.59 m (152 ft 10 in). Height: 14.76 m (48 ft 5 in).
Empty weight: 92,500 kg (203,928 lb). Max. take-off weight: 195,000 kg (429,901 lb).
Payload: 50,000 kg (110,000 lb)tons. Range: 4,000 km (2,160 nm). Cruise speed: 780 km/h (421 kts). Engines: four Aviadvigatel PS-90A-76 turbofans (157 kN - 35,300 lbf).
(Photo: Volga-Dnepr Airlines)