Airliner · Civil · Russia
Ilyushin Il-96
- September 28, 1988
- First flight
- 1992
- Introduced
- In service
- Status
- 37
- Units built
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The Ilyushin Il-96 is a four-engined long-haul wide-body airliner designed by Ilyushin in the Soviet Union and built by the Voronezh Aircraft Production Association. It is a shortened, longer-ranged and technologically advanced development of the Il-86, featuring a supercritical wing with winglets, a glass cockpit and fly-by-wire controls, with avionics allowing two-crew operation and ICAO CAT III/A landings. It was the first Russian aircraft never given a NATO reporting name. The first prototype flew on 28 September 1988 with Aviadvigatel PS-90A engines, and the first aircraft was handed over to Aeroflot on 29 December 1992. The Russian carrier took seven airframes between 1992 and 1994 and used them for non-stop links from Moscow to destinations such as Havana or San Francisco, beyond the reach of the shorter-legged Il-86. The Il-96-300 seats 262 passengers in a two-class layout with a range of around 11,000 km. The programme never achieved commercially viable output: in August 2009 the Russian Minister of Industry and Trade announced that manufacture of the Il-96-300 would cease, the type having been judged inferior to its Boeing and Airbus counterparts at a build rate of one aircraft a year. International sanctions after 2022 revived interest in the design. Today it serves as the main Russian presidential aircraft, Cubana de Aviación is its only remaining commercial passenger operator, and Sky Gates Airlines flies two Il-96-400T freighters.
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History
From the Il-86 to a modern quadjet
The Il-96 grew out of the long-range version of the Il-86, whose weak point was precisely its range. That project, the Il-86D, envisaged a longer-range version powered by Lotarev D-18 engines, and that line of work eventually evolved into the Il-96. The result was an aircraft with an entirely new supercritical wing tipped with winglets, quieter and more economical engines, a glass cockpit with six colour displays, inertial and satellite navigation, a traffic collision avoidance system and fly-by-wire controls. The Il-96-300 was launched in 1985 and the prototype flew on 28 September 1988, powered by four 157 kN Aviadvigatel PS-90A turbofans.
Commercial service and variants
Aeroflot opened services on 29 December 1992 and operated seven aircraft delivered between 1992 and 1994; the last of them, RA-96007, was retired and sold to Cubana in 2015. The family branched into three lines: the basic Il-96-300; the Il-96M, stretched by ten metres, fifteen tonnes heavier and fitted with Western avionics and Pratt & Whitney PW2337 engines for 312 passengers in three classes; and the Il-96-400, equivalent to the latter but with Russian avionics and PS-90A1 engines, able to carry up to 436 passengers. The Il-96M/T never materialised after the US Export-Import Bank suspended financing talks for its engines and avionics under pressure from Boeing. In 2005 Russia grounded the Il-96-300 fleet indefinitely over faults in the braking systems, weeks after a technical glitch forced President Putin to use a back-up aircraft.
Presidential transport and a second life
The Il-96-300PU, adapted as a command post, is the backbone of the Russian presidential fleet: five aircraft have served Boris Yeltsin, Vladimir Putin and Dmitry Medvedev, operated by a special squadron of Rossiya Airlines. In February 2013 Cubana signed for three 350-seat Il-96-400s. The Il-96-400T freighter spent most of its life in storage until December 2023, when Sky Gates leased an overhauled example to carry cargo to and from Russia. The most recent derivative, the Il-96-400M, with a fuselage 9.65 m longer than the Il-96-300 and a planned 390 seats, was rolled out on 7 June 2023 and made its first flight on 1 November that year. By 2026 two decommissioned Il-96s had been restored to service in response to the shrinking Russian civil fleet. In its entire operating history no accident has caused the death of a passenger or crew member.
Variants
| Il-96-300 | Il-96M | Il-96-400T | Il-96T | Il-96-400M | Il-96-300PU | Il-96-300V | Il-96-400 | Il-96-400TZ | Il-96-400VPU | Il-96-500T | Il-96-550 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First flight | September 28, 1988 | April 6, 1993 | May 16, 1997 | May 16, 1997 | November 1, 2023 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Aircraft type | Long-haul wide-body airliner | Stretched long-haul wide-body airliner | Long-haul wide-body freighter | Long-haul wide-body freighter | Modernised, stretched long-haul wide-body airliner | Presidential and airborne command post version of the Il-96-300 | Projected Il-96-300 variant with built-in airstairs | Stretched long-haul wide-body airliner with Russian engines and avionics | Aerial refuelling tanker | Strategic airborne command post | Projected freighter with enlarged fuselage for oversize cargo | Projected double-deck airliner |
| Powerplant | Four Aviadvigatel PS-90A high-bypass turbofans of 156.9 kN (16,000 kgf) thrust each, carried on underwing pylons and fitted with thrust reversers. | Four Pratt & Whitney PW2337 turbofans of 165 kN thrust each, the first American engines fitted to a Russian airliner. | Four Aviadvigatel PS-90A1 turbofans of 170.7 kN (17,400 kgf) thrust each, with a low-emission combustor and Russian avionics. | Four Pratt & Whitney PW2337 turbofans of 165 kN thrust each; also offered with Aviadvigatel PS-90A1 engines. | Four Aviadvigatel PS-90A1 turbofans of 170.7 kN thrust each; the prototype flew with this powerplant, although the project envisaged a move to the more efficient PS-90A3. | Four Aviadvigatel PS-90A turbofans of 156.9 kN thrust each, the same powerplant as the Il-96-300 it derives from. | Four Aviadvigatel PS-90A turbofans of 156.9 kN thrust each, unchanged from the Il-96-300. | Four Aviadvigatel PS-90A1 turbofans of 170.7 kN (17,400 kgf) thrust each, the Russian replacement for the Il-96M's Pratt & Whitney engines and slightly more powerful than those. | Four Aviadvigatel PS-90A1 turbofans of 170.7 kN thrust each, the same powerplant as the Il-96-400T it derives from. | Four Aviadvigatel PS-90A1 turbofans of 170.7 kN thrust each, unchanged from the Il-96-400. | Four Aviadvigatel PS-90A1 turbofans of 170.7 kN thrust each: the preliminary design is based on the in-production Il-96-400 to save time and cost. | Four Kuznetsov NK-93 propfans, an engine flight-tested in 2007 before the programme was cancelled; some Russian sources cite the NK-92 for the same study. |
| Powerplant | 4 × Aviadvigatel PS-90A | 4 × Pratt & Whitney PW2337 | 4 × Aviadvigatel PS-90A1 | 4 × Pratt & Whitney PW2337 | 4 × Aviadvigatel PS-90A1 | 4 × Aviadvigatel PS-90A | 4 × Aviadvigatel PS-90A | 4 × Aviadvigatel PS-90A1 | 4 × Aviadvigatel PS-90A1 | 4 × Aviadvigatel PS-90A1 | 4 × Aviadvigatel PS-90A1 | 4 × Kuznetsov NK-93 |
| Thrust per engine | 157 kN | 165 kN | 171 kN Best value in this row | 165 kN | 171 kN Best value in this row | 157 kN | 157 kN | 171 kN Best value in this row | 171 kN Best value in this row | 171 kN Best value in this row | 171 kN Best value in this row | — |
| Length | 55.4 m | 64.7 m Best value in this row | 63.9 m | 63.9 m | — | 55.4 m | — | 63.9 m | — | 63.9 m | — | — |
| Wingspan | 60.1 m Best value in this row | 60.1 m Best value in this row | 60.1 m Best value in this row | 60.1 m Best value in this row | 60.1 m Best value in this row | 60.1 m Best value in this row | — | 60.1 m Best value in this row | 60.1 m Best value in this row | 60.1 m Best value in this row | — | — |
| Height | 17.6 m Best value in this row | 17.6 m Best value in this row | — | — | — | 17.6 m Best value in this row | — | 17.6 m Best value in this row | — | — | — | — |
| Wing area | 350 m² Best value in this row | 350 m² Best value in this row | 350 m² Best value in this row | 350 m² Best value in this row | 350 m² Best value in this row | 350 m² Best value in this row | — | 350 m² Best value in this row | 350 m² Best value in this row | 350 m² Best value in this row | — | — |
| Empty weight | 120,400 kg | 132,400 kg | — | 116,400 kg Best value in this row | — | — | — | 122,300 kg | — | — | — | — |
| MTOW | 250,000 kg | 270,000 kg Best value in this row | 270,000 kg Best value in this row | 270,000 kg Best value in this row | 270,000 kg Best value in this row | 250,000 kg | — | 265,000 kg | 270,000 kg Best value in this row | — | — | — |
| Top speed | 910 km/h Best value in this row | 900 km/h | 900 km/h | 900 km/h | — | — | — | 900 km/h | — | — | — | — |
| Max speed altitude | 12,000 m | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Cruise speed | 870 km/h Best value in this row | 870 km/h Best value in this row | 870 km/h Best value in this row | 870 km/h Best value in this row | 870 km/h Best value in this row | 870 km/h Best value in this row | — | 870 km/h Best value in this row | — | — | — | — |
| Cruise altitude | 12,000 m | 12,000 m | 12,000 m | 12,000 m | 12,000 m | — | — | 12,000 m | — | — | — | — |
| Service ceiling | 13,100 m Best value in this row | 13,100 m Best value in this row | 13,100 m Best value in this row | 13,100 m Best value in this row | 13,100 m Best value in this row | 13,100 m Best value in this row | — | 13,100 m Best value in this row | — | — | — | — |
| Range | 11,000 km | 11,482 km Best value in this row | 9,700 km | 9,700 km | — | 11,000 km | — | 10,000 km | — | — | — | — |
| Ferry range | 13,500 km | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Combat radius | 0 km Best value in this row | 0 km Best value in this row | 0 km Best value in this row | 0 km Best value in this row | 0 km Best value in this row | 0 km Best value in this row | 0 km Best value in this row | 0 km Best value in this row | 0 km Best value in this row | 0 km Best value in this row | 0 km Best value in this row | 0 km Best value in this row |
| Range conditions | 11,000 km with 262 passengers in two classes and fuel reserves; 9,000 km at the 40 t maximum payload; 13,500 km with maximum fuel load. | 11,482 km with a 30 t payload and reserves. | Shares airframe and fuel capacity with the Il-96T: 9,700 km with a 58 t payload. | 9,700 km with a 58 t payload. | Long-haul aircraft with the airframe and fuel capacity of the Il-96-400. | Retains the airframe, fuel capacity and long-haul range of the Il-96-300. | — | 10,000 km with 315 passengers in a three-class layout. | Fuel delivery at up to 3,500 km from base, against 3,000 km for the Il-78M. | Retains the airframe and fuel capacity of the Il-96-400. | — | — |
| Armament | None | None | None | None | None | None | None | None | None | None | None | None |
| Max weapons load | 0 kg Best value in this row | 0 kg Best value in this row | 0 kg Best value in this row | 0 kg Best value in this row | 0 kg Best value in this row | 0 kg Best value in this row | 0 kg Best value in this row | 0 kg Best value in this row | 0 kg Best value in this row | 0 kg Best value in this row | 0 kg Best value in this row | 0 kg Best value in this row |
| Payload | 40,000 kg | 58,000 kg | 92,000 kg Best value in this row | 92,000 kg Best value in this row | 58,000 kg | — | — | 58,000 kg | — | — | — | — |
| Cargo capacity | Airliner: 300 seats single-class, 262 in two classes (18 + 244) and 237 in three classes; up to 40 t of payload, with LD3 containers and crew rest areas in the lower holds. | Fuselage stretched about 10 m over the Il-96-300: 420 seats single-class, 340 in two classes and 307 in three; maximum payload 58 t. | Freighter derived from the Il-96T with Russian engines and systems: up to 92 t of payload and 776 m³ of hold volume, with a side cargo door. No passenger seating. | Freighter version of the Il-96M, without cabin windows and with a large cargo door on the forward left fuselage: up to 92 t of payload and 776 m³ of usable volume. No passenger seating. | Passenger version of the Il-96-400T freighter, with the fuselage stretched 9.65 m over the Il-96-300 and overhead bins: 390 seats planned. | VIP and government communications interior; the cabin layout is specific to each airframe and no commercial seating figure is published. | Project adding two sets of built-in airstairs for airports without jet bridges; never built. | 436 seats single-class, 386 in two classes and 315 in three; maximum payload 58 t and lower holds for LD3 containers. | Tanker projected for the Russian Ministry of Defence, able to transfer more than 65 t of fuel against the Il-78M's 40 t, using UPAZ-1 universal refuelling pods. No passenger seating. | Il-96-400 converted into an airborne command post under the "Zveno-3S" programme to replace the Il-80: command and communications fit in place of the commercial cabin. | 2019 preliminary design with an enlarged fuselage cross-section for outsize cargo, notably Angara rocket sections bound for the Vostochny cosmodrome. It never left the study stage. | Study of a double-deck Il-96 for 550 to 600 passengers; development stopped when the engine was cancelled. |
| Crew | 3 | 2 Best value in this row | 3 | 2 Best value in this row | — | 3 | — | 3 | — | 3 | — | — |
| Passengers | 300 | 420 | — | — | 390 | — | — | 436 | — | — | — | 600 Best value in this row |
| Units built | 33 Best value in this row | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Images
Elsewhere
- Airliners.netIlyushin Il-96-300 de Airstars ↗
- Airliners.netIl-96-300 RA-96014 de Russia State Transport Company en Berlín Brandeburgo ↗
- Airliners.netIl-96-300 RA-96023 del Destacamento Especial Rossiya en Ho Chi Minh ↗
- Airliners.netIl-96-300 RA-96008 de Aeroflot en Hamburgo ↗
- Airliners.netIl-96-300 CU-T1250 de Cubana de Aviación en Pekín ↗
- Airliners.netIl-96-300 de Cubana de Aviación ↗
- Airliners.netIl-96-400M en Vorónezh-Pridacha, noviembre de 2023 ↗
- JetPhotosIl-96-400T RA-96101 de Atlant-Soyuz Airlines ↗
- JetPhotosIl-96-400T RA-96103 de AirBridgeCargo ↗
- JetPhotosIl-96-400T RA-96103 de Sky Gates Airlines ↗
- JetPhotosIl-96-400T RA-96101 en colores de Ilyushin ↗
- JetPhotosIl-96-400T RA-96103 de AirBridgeCargo ↗
Show the 10 more
- JetPhotosIl-96-300PU RA-96024 del Destacamento Especial Rossiya ↗
- JetPhotosIl-96-300 CU-T1250 de Cubana de Aviación ↗
- JetPhotosIl-96-300 CU-T1250 de Cubana de Aviación ↗
- JetPhotosIl-96-300 CU-T1250 de Cubana de Aviación ↗
- JetPhotosIl-96-300 CU-T1250 de Cubana de Aviación ↗
- JetPhotosIl-96-300 CU-T1250 de Cubana de Aviación ↗
- JetPhotosIl-96-300 CU-T1250 de Cubana de Aviación ↗
- JetPhotosIl-96-300 CU-T1250 de Cubana de Aviación ↗
- JetPhotosIl-96-300 CU-T1250 de Cubana de Aviación ↗
- FlightGlobalDespiece numerado (cutaway) del Ilyushin Il-96-300, lámina del archivo de Flight International ↗