A prototype of the Russian wide-body long-range aircraft Il-96-400M, manufactured at the branch of Il PJSC – VASO, part of the United Aircraft Corporation Rostec, took off for the first time. During the flight, the stability and controllability of the aircraft, the operability of systems, the power plant and radio equipment for landing were checked. The test program passed as usual, the stable operation of Russian systems and equipment, most of which were manufactured by enterprises of the Rostec State Corporation.
“The first and successful flight of the modernized Il-96-400M is a demonstration of the highest level of competence of domestic design bureaus and aircraft factories. The aircraft not only retained the high performance of the Il-96-300, but also received new operational and transport capabilities. Due to new modern flight navigation and radio communications equipment using Russian components, flight safety and reliability are increased, and solutions are used in the aerodynamic layout, structures and systems of the aircraft to ensure operational efficiency. In the future, the new vessel will allow us to develop and improve our competencies in creating wide-body long-haul aircraft,”
Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation – Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation Denis Manturov.
The aircraft was piloted by a crew consisting of the aircraft commander, chief pilot of Il PJSC, Honored Test Pilot of the Russian Federation Sergei Sukhar, Honored Test Pilot of the Russian Federation Igor Zinov, Honored Test Navigator of the Russian Federation Sergei Goremykin, First Class Test Flight Engineer Pavel Litvyakov, onboard test electrician Dmitry Semenov. The flight took place at altitudes up to 2000 m, speeds up to 390 km/h and lasted 26 minutes.
“The Il-96-400M program started by decision of the President of Russia. The aircraft will provide air cargo transportation, as well as transport accessibility to various regions of the country. The maximum flight range, in particular, in a two-class passenger configuration will be 8100 km. The first flight of the Il-96-400M demonstrates that Russian industry has all the necessary technologies to build wide-body, long-haul aircraft. I would like to emphasize that the creation of such aircraft is a unique competence that will ensure the technological sovereignty of the country,”
Sergei Chemezov, Director General of the Rostec State Corporation.
The aircraft is a modernized version of the Il-96-300, features a fuselage extended by 9.35 m, more powerful PS-90A1 engines and can accommodate up to 370 passengers.
The IL-96-400M received new operational and transport capabilities due to the modernization of flight, navigation and radio communication equipment, which meets the current and future requirements of Russian and international aviation regulators. In terms of reliability and flight safety, the Il-96-400M is fully consistent with its famous predecessors – the Il-86 and Il-96 aircraft, as well as with the best world models due to the redundancy of the aircraft’s systems and its aerodynamic configuration.
“The new modernized version of the Il-96 family aircraft will complement the UAC line of civil aircraft in the wide-body airliner segment and will allow us to offer the market, along with the MC-21-310, SJ-100 and Tu-214, aircraft of various sizes and ranges that are capable of providing a route network throughout the country and replace foreign analogues,”
Yuri Slyusar, General Director of PJSC UAC
The IL-96-400M can have cargo, as well as one-, two- and three-class layouts, and is equipped with a modern infotainment system that provides access to the Internet, television and satellite communications, and modern pantry and kitchen equipment.
The use of a modernized navigation system will improve flight safety and simplify the landing approach process for crews. The development meets the latest requirements for navigation equipment of wide-body airliners flying in the European Common Aviation Area, as well as over unoriented terrain – oceans, deserts, and extensive forests. Such routes are the most difficult to navigate, since pilots cannot determine the location of the aircraft visually and navigate in space using instruments. The new navigation system was created from Russian components taking into account current international requirements for navigation systems.
The flight sheet for the first flight of the Il-96-400M was signed on the hood of the black Volga by the managing director of PJSC Il, Daniil Brenerman, and the head of the flight test center of PJSC Il, Konstantin Letov. The tradition was introduced more than 50 years ago by Genrikh Novozhilov, at that time the general designer of the Ilyushin Design Bureau, by putting his signature on the flight sheet of the Il-76 transport aircraft on the hood of his official car. That takeoff was successful, and such a signing became a good Ilyushin tradition.
“Today the flight test program of the new Il-96-400M started. For us, this is confirmation of the unique competencies of Il PJSC in creating aircraft of this type, as well as ensuring technological sovereignty. Only three aircraft manufacturing centers in the world retain the right to create wide-body aircraft. The IL-96-400M program is the development of the reliable and operationally proven IL-96 platform through the use of modern technologies and the installation of modernized on-board equipment and systems. There is a large amount of testing and certification of the modernized aircraft ahead,”
Daniil Brenerman
The new airliner is painted in a livery in the corporate style of the United Aircraft Corporation.
