Ilyushin Il-76

Russia

Medium to long range freighter

The Ilyushin Il-76 (which has the NATO reporting name of `Candid') was developed as a replacement for the turboprop powered Antonov An-12, mainly for military use. Development under the design leadership of G V Novozhilov in the late 1960s resulted in the type's first flight on March 25 1971. Series production commenced in 1975 and the first examples entered Aeroflot service that year. In the now classic military freighter configuration, the Il-76 features a high mounted wing passing above the fuselage, four engines, Ttail, rear loading ramp and freight doors. The Il-76 was also designed with short field performance in mind, operating from austere strips. To this end the Il-76 features wide span triple slotted trailing edge flaps, upper surface spoilers and near full span leading edge slats for short field performance, while the aircraft rides on a total of 20 low pressure tyres, the front nose unit featuring four wheels, the main wheel bogies having two rows of four tyres each. Freight handling is largely mechanised, requiring only two freight handlers which can be carried as part of the standard crew complement of seven. Civil versions developed from the basic Il-76 include the Il-76T with additional fuel; the Il-76TD with increased takeoff and payload weights and D30KP2s which retain their power output to higher altitudes; and the Il-76MP firefighter. The stretched PS90 powered Il-76MF, which first flew on August 1 1995, will be built in Tashkent. Stage 3 compliant, it is primarily intended for the Russian air force. Ilyushin also plans to build a CFM56 powered version of this aircraft.

Four 117.7kN (26,455lb) Aviadvigatel (Soloviev) D30KP turbofans. Il-76MF - Four 156.9kN (35,275lb) Aviadvigatel PS90ANs.

Il-76T - Max speed 850km/h (460kt), cruising speed 750 to 800km/h (405 to 430kt). Max range with reserves 6700km (3615nm), range with 40 tonne (88,185lb) payload 5000km (2700nm). Il-76TD - Speeds same. Range with max payload 3650km (1970nm), with 20 tonne (44,090lb) payload 7300km (3940nm). Il-76MF - Cruising speed range 750 to 780km/h (405 to 420kt). Range with 40 tonne (88,185lb) payload 5200km (2805nm).

Il-76T - Max takeoff 170,000kg (374,785lb). Il-76TD - Max takeoff 190,000kg (418,875lb). Il-76MF - Operating empty 101,000kg (222,665lb), max payload 52,000kg (114,640lb), max takeoff 200,000kg (440,925lb).

Wing span 50.50m (165ft 8in), length 46.59m (152ft 10in), height 14.76m (48ft 5in). Wing area 300.0m2 (3229.2sq ft). Il-76MF - Same except for length which is approx 53m (174ft).

Flightcrew of five including two pilots, flight engineer, navigator and radio operator, plus two freight handlers. Il-76MP firefighting conversion can carry 44 tonnes (97,000lb) of fire retardant in two tanks.

Over 900 Il-76s of all models built, most for the Russian military, but over 300 are in service with Aeroflot and other civilian operators.

Ilyushin Il-76