If we talk about flight safety... then It would probably be worth mentioning the safest civilian airliner.
Let me make a reservation right away: I think the cause of the tragedy in Egypt is not “old age” or poor technical readiness of the Airbus A321. In my amateurish opinion, this is a terrorist attack (an explosion on board) or an external influence. But, if we abstract from this case, then the main cause of plane crashes today is the human factor. Although technology also has a significant influence on the positive or negative outcome of a flight accident.
For example, I strongly doubt that the feat of the “Alrosovskaya” Carcass (completely de-energized with non-functional communications and navigation, and even the remaining fuel for half an hour of flight) could be repeated in a similar situation by the crews of modern Boeings and Airbuses.
So – which long-haul route is the safest?
The answer is IL-96. Over the 22 years of operation, this last airliner created in the USSR did not kill a single person in flight accidents.
Yes, yes - this is the plane on which V.V. flies. Putin, you understood everything correctly.
Il-96-300 of the special flight squad "Russia"
Il-96 became our first wide-body long-haul passenger aircraft. The fuselage diameter is 6.08 meters; by the way, it is surpassed only by the Boeing 777 (which flew 6 years later). Others are still thinner.
But it is incorrect to compare it with the 777 - the car is both newer and of a slightly different class. The maximum take-off weight of the Il-96-300 is 216 tons, while that of the Boeing 777-300 is already 299 tons. But at one time, the IL-96 could well have been a serious competitor to its “classmates”.
- When in the 90s I flew to the States on an IL-96 and I had There is fuel left in the tanks for another three hours of flight, the Americans were terribly surprised. A representative of their aviation authorities then directly stated: for some reasons, this type of aircraft is unattainable for us. It's strange that Russia is still able to create a competitive product.
On the IL-96, on instructions from the general designer, I made six landings simulating the failure of all engines. No one has done this on any foreign type. And on the IL-96 even a crew of average training level can do this.
Anatoly Knyshov, test pilot, Hero of Russia.
- If we compare two long-haul aircraft: Boeing-767 and Il-96-300, then an American with two engines carries 200 passengers and consumes 6 tons of fuel. The IL-96 carries 300 passengers and 15 tons of cargo with a consumption of only 7 tons. Divide tons by kilometers - and everything will become clear to you. In addition, the Il-96 is a magnificent car: a spacious cabin, large screens - a blind person will see everything. The diameter of the fuselage is 6 meters, like a subway tunnel. You feel like you are in a normal, reliable airliner with four engines. By the way, in its entire history, the IL-96 has not been involved in a single accident. Didn't kill a single person.
Sergey Knyshov, commander of the Il-96 (trained in the USA on Boeing).
The Il-96 made its first flight in 1988.
Initially, it was assumed that the domestic long-range wide-body aircraft would be a further development of the Il-86 aircraft and would retain the maximum possible structural similarity with it. In accordance with this approach, the new aircraft, designated Il-86D (“long-range”), had the same design of the fuselage, tail, and main on-board functional systems as the Il-86. This made it possible to reduce the time required to create a new aircraft, quickly introduce it into mass production in parallel with the production of the Il-86 aircraft, and simplify the maintenance of the Il-86 and Il-86D in operation. However, due to the active struggle for fuel efficiency, as well as the emergence of new production technologies, the designers had to seriously reconsider the project.
At the same time, a requirement was put forward to equip two new generation aircraft - the long-range Il-96-300 and the medium-range Tu-204 - with a single unified PS-90 engine with a high bypass ratio and low cruising specific fuel consumption.
As a result, the designers abandoned the use of airframe units and systems from the Il-86 aircraft and created a completely new aircraft, the Il-96-300. The priorities when creating the machine were design solutions aimed primarily at increasing the aerodynamic perfection of the aircraft, reducing its weight, and ensuring ease of maintenance of the machine in operation.
The required aerodynamic perfection of the IL-96-300 was achieved by introducing a large number various events, developed jointly with TsAGI. Work to improve aerodynamics was carried out both in the direction of improving the aerodynamic configuration of the aircraft, and in introducing new design and technological solutions, which led to an improvement in the quality of the outer surface. For example, rivets with countersunk heads were used throughout the entire surface of the aircraft.
The aircraft was a big step forward compared to its predecessors. For example, in relation to the Il-86, the flight range has increased significantly, while the maximum take-off weight remains the same. And the minimum fuel consumption per passenger-kilometer of the Il-96-300 was two times less than that of the previous “narrow-body” long-haul aircraft, the Il-62M.
During testing, the Il-96 performed several long-range flights, including “Moscow - Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky - Moscow” without landing in Petropavlovsk. The plane covered the 14,800 km route in 18 hours and 9 minutes. On June 9, 1992, an Il-96 flew from Moscow to Portland via the North Pole, spending 15 hours in the air. The aircraft was tested in Yakutsk at −50°C and in Tashkent at +40°C. Based on the test results, on December 29, 1992, the aircraft was awarded an airworthiness certificate. For six months, new cars were “tested” on Aeroflot routes, and due to lack of funding, operational tests had to be combined with commercial cargo transportation - they carried radio equipment. The work of the Ilyushin Design Bureau team on the Il-96−300 was awarded the State Prize of the Russian Federation.
Safety
The use of multi-channel redundant systems on the IL-96-300 with automatic shutdown or switching of faulty channels basically frees the crew from any actions in the event of failures. The information display system notifies the crew about a failure, and only in some cases does the crew need to manually duplicate the operation of the automation. Only in individual cases, when untimely switching on or off of the most critical systems (engines, second and third fire extinguishing stages) can significantly affect flight safety, automation is not used and decision-making is entrusted to the crew.
The main feature of the Il-96-300 aircraft in terms of its operational manufacturability compared to the Il-86 is the presence on the Il-96-300 aircraft of more advanced and developed systems for built-in monitoring, detection and recognition of faults during maintenance. These systems collect information about the operation of on-board functional systems and equipment (down to the operation of individual component elements) of the aircraft in flight, register it and, if necessary, can provide information about malfunctions that have occurred either on the indicators of an integrated information alarm system, or in the form of printouts(I wonder if there are printers on Boeings and Airbuses?).
Much attention was paid to ensuring the fail-safety of the control system of the Il-96-300 aircraft. Its EMDS is duplicated by a mechanical control system. As on the Il-86, the various control surfaces are divided into sections, each of which is deflected by one or more actuators (boosters). Drive redundancy also increases the operational reliability of the control system.
The design of the Il-96-300 fuselage has been significantly changed (compared to the Il-86) to increase its reliability and ensure safety in the event of damage, reduce the rate of crack growth, ensure a given service life, reduce weight, improve the quality of the outer surface and the manufacturability of the design during production. .
Sharks of capitalism
However, it was not possible to create real competition for foreign cars.
It turned out that no one needed the plane in the Russian Federation anymore—Western corporations rushed into the open market in anticipation of a big piece of the pie. Despite the fact that Boeing was twice as expensive ($180 million versus $90 million) and an hour of flight of the Il-96−300 cost a thousand dollars less than the B-767−300ER... Lobbying did its job. It’s not for nothing that Boeing sold us their expensive simulators at a price of... $1!
We can imagine the president's working day Russian Federation. As we know, he is forced to travel throughout to the globe. The week is scheduled hour by hour: today he needs to go to America, in a few days to Australia, and he also solves numerous problems in the Russian Federation. It turns out that the fastest way to travel is by plane. Air Force One serves for Putin not only as a means of transportation, but also as a mobile control center for a huge state and at the same time an “office in the air.”
Since the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, high-ranking officials have been using airplanes as a means of transportation. A special aviation group was created. It provided aircraft and controlled the state of the “aerial residence” of the head of state.
Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin used the S-47 aircraft for his work (this is a copy of the Li-2). During the flight, he was accompanied by twenty-seven Red Army Air Force fighters.
Nikita Sergeevich Khrushchev made business trips mainly on the Il-18. He loved to travel. What the world remembers most is the trip to the United States of America in 1959. Then, for the flight, the Secretary General chose a Tu-114 aircraft, this is the largest aircraft in the world. He did not fly alone, but with his family and 63 accompanying persons.
The guests who arrived in America could not immediately and normally descend to the ground, since the air base did not have a ladder long enough to reach the doors of the tall Tu-114. A fire truck with a huge ladder was needed to receive Russian guests. Soon, aircraft designers created the Il-62 especially for him; it was Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev’s favorite plane; Yuri Vladimirovich Andropov, Konstantin Ustinovich Chernenko and Mikhail Sergeevich Gorbachev also flew it on their work trips. During its entire operation, the aircraft has never let its VIP passengers down.
Putin's aircraft fleet
What planes does Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin fly on? The aircraft fleet of the Russian head of state consists of 8 airplanes and 2 helicopters. He mainly uses the flagship Il 96-300PU (“control point”) for flights. This is a very large aircraft, it has everything you need for efficient work and good rest.
This aircraft is equipped with a complete set of electrical equipment. This is an excellent platform for managing the country and the army of our state. The Il-96-300 PU has all the appropriate means of communication, not excluding satellite ones, so it is impossible to hack the control system of the presidential aircraft.
The main advantage is that absolutely no one has any idea which route the presidential plane will take. And he can also choose any other equipment for air travel, for example, the following brands of aircraft:
- TU-154M;
- TU-134;
- IL-62M;
- YAK-40;
- Il-96-300 (main);
- IL-62 (reserve).
To be on the safe side, Air Force One always has another plane accompanying the head of state, this is what all presidents do. And Putin chooses the plane that will meet the conditions, the nature of the trip, and the flight distance. For example, for India one brand of aircraft is used, but for Yakutia a completely different one is needed.
Putin usually uses planes designed specifically for presidential flights on working visits, but it has also happened that he had to fly in a fighter jet. Or when you need to transfer to a helicopter, this is the Mi-8. The aircraft must carry a commander and two changes of crew, and is also served by a flight attendant of five men and five women.
In 2012, the Rossiya flight squad received another addition, another Il-96-300 with tail number RA96020, and in 2013 another one, which was ordered with tail number RA96021.
Presidential plane
Press employees are always interested, not only in what aircraft the Russian President is flying (by the way, photos of the presidential Il-96 are constantly published on the pages of the Russian press), but also how to get exactly such a job, but there is naturally a tough selection.
The commission selects for work in the State Customs Committee "Russia": according to age, level of qualifications, the candidate must be responsible, diligent, trustworthy, and disciplined. Beginners, as a rule, do not get on board number 1; first they need to go through all the steps of the career ladder and reach the highest level professionalism. This presidential plane is operated by Rossiya Airlines.
Putin's plane
The presidential aircraft IL-96-300 PU with tail number RA96012 has an unusual design, Holland offered painting services for the aircraft, interior decoration was done in Switzerland, it is made of walnut veneer, inlaid with precious stones, armored glass, the walls are decorated with tapestries, engravings on historical themes , plant works of art. Diamonite Aircraft Furnishings Ltd specialists were involved in the planning and technical arrangement of the premises on board the aircraft. The interior is dominated by light colors, but more in the color of the flag of the Russian Federation.
The rich decoration of the aircraft is not a toy for personal use, not for showing off; guests from abroad, diplomatic meetings, and authorized media representatives are often on this board.
The plane of the head of state is a special symbol; it creates a special reputation for the Russian Federation foreign guests. There are no “gold toilets”; the decoration of the rooms is in the “sovereign” style. Nobility, beauty, quality, comfort, without unnecessary “tinsel”, vulgarity and flashy luxury.
The Presidential Board is a comfortable flying office for business trips around the world; it is not an expensive toy like the eastern princes, who have swimming pools and concert halls with an orchestra on their three-story board. And the high cost of Air Force One is most associated with secret electronic equipment and the provision of special flight safety measures.
Putin’s Il-96-300 office can be called the “Flying Kremlin”; there are meeting rooms, a conference room, and luxury salons for accompanying persons and guests.
On board the aircraft there is everything necessary for governing the state, there are computers, office equipment, satellite communication systems, special communications, radio-electronic equipment at hand, a lower ladder is built in (so that the story of 1959 with Nikita Khrushchev does not repeat itself) and the engines are modernized (PS-90A).
Also on board there is a small gym, rooms for relaxing selected guests, a refectory, a bar room, shower cabins, a medical room, where, in addition to emergency medical care, resuscitation can be performed.
Specifications inspire confidence. The dimensions of the aircraft also leave no one indifferent: the wingspan is 60 meters, the length is 55 meters, and the height is more than 17 meters. Take-off maximum weight 230 tons. Fuel reserve is 150400 liters. The flight speed is about 900 kilometers per hour, when landing - 270 kilometers per hour. Over 20 years of operation, the aircraft made about 12 thousand landings.
The aircraft landing gear has three main supports, which are located behind the center of mass, and a front support. Each of the three is equipped with a four-wheeled cart with brake wheels, and the front one has two non-braking wheels. All fourteen wheels have the same dimensions of 1300x480 millimeters.
The aircraft's power plant is four PS-90A turbofan engines (designed by P.A. Solovyov). The fuel system is automatic, but if necessary, you can also use manual control. The fuel is in 9 tanks, of which 8 are located in the wing consoles and one in the center. For each of the four engines the system is designed separately. The consumable compartments are constantly filled with fuel, which ensures its reliable supply to the engines in all flight modes.
Safety first
Il-96 is a reliable aircraft. During their operation, which is more than 20 years, such aircraft have not had a single serious accident, but the news often talks about plane crashes of other brands of aircraft.
Firstly, about 30 aircraft of this brand were built and excellent craftsmen worked on each one individually; secondly, they are prepared for specific operators, and from this it follows that the quality of service is always at its best. The state of the aircraft is monitored by a detachment from the Presidential Administration Department, and this is more reliable than any private airline.
Currently, the special squad has four Il-96-300 of different modifications. The main one is the Il-96-300PU(M), an updated model.
The Il-96-300 presidential aircraft is protected not only from the ground, but also in the air. Many air traffic controllers and a large number of air defenses control the moment during takeoff and landing of Air Force One, because that is when terrorists mainly try to attack.
In the air, Air Force One is protected by a cover team, and these, as you know, are experienced, qualified pilots. There are also additional security measures. For example, if a missile was torpedoed to destroy an aircraft, then its own on-board device will eliminate the attack using an anti-missile. The airliner is also protected by neutralizing heat traps; in addition, it has a camouflage coating on the aircraft body, thanks to which it becomes invisible to missile guidance systems. It turns out that if a missile is torpedoed from the ground, the plane will destroy it.
In contact with
Aeroflot this spring will finally part with its domestically produced Il-96-300 aircraft, planning in the future to switch to the latest Boeing 777/787 and Airbus A350. The decommissioning of this type is due to economic prerequisites, since keeping six cars “on the wing” is becoming more and more expensive from year to year.
We took advantage of the opportunity last week to fly on an IL-96-300 to Istanbul and back.
Il-96-300 RA-96007 "Alexey Mayorov"
2. Il-96-300 - a wide-body aircraft designed to transport passengers, luggage and cargo on domestic and international routes, with a length of over 12,000 km. 
Photo from personal archive 2012, IL-96-300 RA-96011 "Vladimir Kokkinaki"
3. Il-96-300 was developed by the Aviation Complex named after. S.V. Ilyushin. Serial production is carried out at the Voronezh Joint-Stock Aircraft Manufacturing Company (VASO). 
Landing in Istanbul, Il-96-300 RA-96007 "Alexey Mayorov"
4. The IL-96-300 is characterized by a modern aerodynamic configuration, airframe design, on-board systems and equipment, is equipped with economical engines (four PS-90A bypass turbofan engines produced by Perm Engine Plant OJSC), and is adapted to transport large commercial loads. The aircraft has been certified and operated since 1993 by domestic and foreign airlines. 
Aircraft weight and fuel load:
Maximum taxi weight, 251 tons
Maximum take-off weight, 250 tons
Maximum commercial load, 40 tons
Maximum landing weight, 175 tons
Empty weight of the aircraft, 159 tons
Maximum fuel capacity, 116.3 tons
Photo from personal archive 2012,Il-96-300 RA-96010 "Nikolai Karpeev"
Flight characteristics:
Cruising speed, km/h 850
Maximum flight altitude, m 13100
Required take-off distance, m 3050
Required landing distance, m 2100
Flight range with maximum payload, km 9000
Flight range with maximum number of passengers, km 11200
Flight range with maximum fuel load, km 13500
Airfield altitude (relative to sea level), m -300 ÷ 3000
Operating temperature range, C -54…+45
Number of flight crew members 3
The aircraft is equipped with a modern complex of Russian-made avionics with six liquid crystal color multifunctional displays, including a computer navigation system, an inertial navigation system, an air collision avoidance system, a ground proximity warning system, GPS and Glonass.
7. The aircraft’s on-board equipment allows it to fly under RVSM conditions and meet the requirements of precision area navigation on international routes in Europe and North America (RNP-1), as well as perform automatic approach and landing according to ICAO category IIIA. 
PS-90A engine characteristics:
Maximum take-off thrust (ISA, H=0) - 16,000 kg
Cruising thrust (ISA+10˚C, N=11000m, M =0.8) - 3300 kg
Pressure increase degree -30.2
Maximum outer diameter - 2.396 m
Engine length - 4.964 m
Dry engine weight - 2950 kg
8.
9. Welcome aboard! 
10. With a three-class layout, the aircraft cabin accommodates 172 seats, with a two-class layout - 262 seats, with a one-class layout - 330 seats. At three o'clok cargo compartments with a total volume of 116 m3, you can fit 16 LD-3 containers or eight pallets. There is an option with luxury interiors - for transporting top officials of the state. 
11. Il-96-300 resource - 20 years, 60 thousand flight hours, 12 thousand landings. 
12. Options for passenger compartment layouts can be developed according to individual customer requirements.
Aeroflot business class 
13. Premium Economy in the front part of the cabin (rows 5-8). 
14. View from the porthole from place 7A. 
15. Division between business class and premium economy. 
16. The number of flight attendant seats on the aircraft is 12. 
17. View of the engines from the flight attendant's seat through a small round window. 
18. Kitchens located on the upper deck allow three hot meals for passengers and one additional tea service. 
19. The freight elevator leading to the lower deck allows a maximum lifting capacity of 90 kg. 
20. Economic salon, in the foreground is the 10th row. 
21. Seats 34E 34F in the tail. 
22. Gallery 36H 36J, 37H-37J, 38H-38J - for lovers. 
23. In the previous picture, Lena is sleeping in this chair and it seems to me that it still reclines. Or does it seem so? 
24.
25. Trolley compartment in the tail. 
26. Freon. 
27. Seats for flight attendants in the rear of the cabin. 
28. Six toilet stalls. 
29. Toilets are equipped with a smoke detection system and built-in fire extinguishers. One standard-sized toilet is equipped with a special handle for the disabled, two toilets have tables for children's hygiene. 
30. On short flights, an assortment of goods from Duty Free not full, it is better to order in advance on the website. 
31. Seats 9A, 9B and 9C. 
32. Details near the emergency exit. 
33. We fly around Sheremetyevo. 
Video from the flight.
In its name, the Il-96-300 was regularly compared to the Boeing 767-300 as its main competitor.
On the Il side there is more comfort for passengers, and on the Boeing side there is a lower cost per flight hour. 
35. The difference of almost 30% between the maximum take-off weight of the Il-96 and Boeing 767 (and it is on the basis of this indicator that airport and air navigation charges are calculated) is far from being in favor of the domestic aircraft. 
36. Another weak point of the Il-96 is the hourly consumption of aircraft fuel and lubricants. According to Aeroflot, the hourly fuel consumption of the Boeing 767 is 38% less than that of the Il-96. At the same time, the Boeing 767's flight hours per listed aircraft are 69% higher than those of the Russian aircraft. 
37. The American aircraft has a 27% higher serviceability rate (based on Aeroflot's experience) and at the same time a 30% smaller flight crew.
These indicators affect the structure of the cost of a flight hour, which does not decrease over time due to rising prices for aviation fuel. According to Aeroflot estimates, the fuel efficiency of the Boeing 767 is 38% higher than the Il-96. 
38. Here is a detailed comparison of the economic indicators of the two aircraft. 
As for the future.
Today in Russia there is no shortage of wide-body aircraft: airlines have already stocked a sufficient number of foreign models to suit every taste and there is already a surplus in this segment. And in comparison with foreign cars, our plane, alas, does not look brilliant. 
40. Plus, the airworthiness is coming to an end. 
41. Therefore, most likely, the aircraft will remain unclaimed. 
42. It’s not scary that the era of another wonderful aircraft is passing, someday even the most modern aircraft become history.
It's a shame that our aviation industry has not yet been able to create a new one to replace it, and the chain of excellent Il-62 and Il-96 jetliners was left without continuation. 
43. Today there is a lot of talk about preserving history, so it would be gratifying if most of These machines have found a place in the country's museums. 
44. For example, one car to the Moscow State Technical University of Civil Aviation, another to the Ulyanovsk Museum of Civil Aviation, a third to Monino (problematic, but realistic), and for the fourth to find a place near Sheremetyevo airport to replace the sawed-off IL-18 (a thick hint at the promises of Mr. MM. Vasilenko
, and continued). 
PS: The other day, the rector of the MSTU GA, Boris Eliseev, turned to the general director of Aeroflot, Vitaly Savelyev, with a request to transfer one of the Ilovs to the university.
“... Air Force Commander Alexander Novikov reported that two aircraft were ready for flight. The first will be led by Colonel General Golovanov, the second by Colonel Grachev. The Supreme Commander was offered to fly with Golovanov, but Stalin grinned: “Colonel generals rarely fly planes, we’ll fly with the colonel...” ... Together they arrived in Tehran - Stalin, Molotov, Voroshilov and my father” (from the book of memoirs of Sergo Beria).
Stalin's visit to the Tehran Conference in November 1943 became the first air travel of the First Person of the State in the Russian Federation. The details of this event are quite scarce: it is only known that the original American Douglas C-47 was chosen for the flight (according to other sources, its individually assembled licensed copy of the Li-2). During the flight, Air Force One was accompanied by an escort of 27 Red Army Air Force fighters.
Nikita Khrushchev, on the other hand, was an avid air traveler and regularly used airplanes during his world tours. The story of his visit to the USA (1959) became the most famous. For the transatlantic trip, Khrushchev chose the Tu-114, the largest turboprop aircraft in the world, also the civilian version of the Tu-95 intercontinental bomber. In addition to the Secretary General, his family and a retinue of 63 accompanying persons were on board the airliner. There was some embarrassment - upon arrival at Andrews Air Force Base, it turned out that all the American ladders were not long enough to reach the door of the tall TU-114. The Soviet delegation had to go down the fire truck ladder.
Visit of N.S. Khrushchev in the USA. Andrews Air Force Base near Washington
Leonid Brezhnev's favorite airliner was the swift, handsome Il-62 - the flagship civil aviation Soviet Union. Brezhnev’s successors, Yuri Andropov and Mikhail Gorbachev, flew on the same plane. During all this time, the plane never let its VIP passengers down; each time it confidently took off from the runway and, a few hours later, carefully landed on the other side of the Earth. Extremely reliable technology. Only once, while in airspace Algeria, the Brezhnev Il-62 came under fire from the French Mirages. Fortunately, everything worked out well (it is still not known for certain whether it was a mistake, a provocation or an attempt at sabotage).
First President of the Russian Federation wished to replace the elderly Il-62 with a more modern wide-body airliner Il-96 (a special modification of the Il-96-300PU - “control point”). Still about this plane ( tail number RA96012) are legendary: exclusive interior design by Ilya Glazunov, painting in Holland, interior decoration in Switzerland, armored glass and electronic cabin locks, precious woods, inlay with precious stones, tapestries and rare works of art. Finally, the communication and remote control systems of the Strategic Missile Forces in the event of a conflict involving nuclear forces - the presence of special equipment is indicated by a characteristic plexiglass “trench” on the fuselage of the aircraft. In addition, the “Yeltsin” Il-96-300PU differed from the civilian versions of the “ninety-sixth” in its increased flight range and, according to unofficial data, the presence of optical-electronic jamming stations for homing heads of MANPADS missiles, as well as a system for rescuing the First Person from a falling aircraft (parachutes or an ejection capsule - here the inexhaustible folk fantasy goes into infinity).
The same one, RA96012
If you do not take into account various speculations of questionable quality and adequacy, then the Il-96 is simply an elegant aircraft with noble lines and a harmonious appearance, which, moreover, has excellent reliability - for all 20 years of operation of aircraft of this type, not a single one has been noted major accident resulting in loss of life. Agree, it sounds impressive against the backdrop of incessant reports of Boeing and Airbus disasters! The high safety of the Il-96 is partly explained by the theory of probability (only about 30 aircraft were built) and specific operators - the quality of aircraft maintenance in the flight squad of the Presidential Administration is probably higher than that of any private airline.
Currently, the Special Flight Detachment “Russia” includes four Il-96-300 of various modifications. The flagship is the Il-96-300PU(M), tail number R96016 - a modernized version of the Yeltsin Il-96-300PU, which first flew in 2003. A real “Flying Kremlin” with the President’s office, meeting rooms, a conference room and a luxury cabin for accompanying persons and guests on board the aircraft. At hand, the First Person of the State has everything necessary to govern a huge country: computers and office equipment, satellite communication systems, special communication channels. The unique radio-electronic “filling” of the airliner, developed at one of the defense enterprises in Omsk, allows you to broadcast messages encrypted with a special code from any height to anywhere in the world.
Other features of the super-aircraft include a mini-gym on board, lounges for VIP guests, a dining room, a bar, showers and even a medical unit for resuscitation and emergency medical care. To avoid a repeat of the 1959 incident when Nikita Khrushchev had to climb down the ladder of a fire truck, the new Russian aircraft has a built-in stairway. In addition, the “Putin” plane is equipped with modernized PS-90A engines.
Il-96-300PU(M) was built by special order in Voronezh, the best jewelers from Zlatoust worked on the interior decoration, the interior is decorated with engravings on historical themes, embroidered by masters of the Pavlovo-Posad silk factory. The layout of the premises and the technical arrangement of the aircraft were carried out by specialists from Diamonite Aircraft Furnishings Ltd. The interior is made in predominantly light colors, with preference given to the colors of the Russian flag.
Despite the occasional indignation about the rich interior decoration of the Il-96-300PU(M), it should be noted that this is not just an aircraft for personal use. Foreign guests, diplomatic missions and media representatives are regularly present on board the Il-96-300PU(M). The President's plane is a special symbol that creates the image of our country in the eyes of foreigners.
To the disappointment of spiteful critics, there are no “golden toilets” here; the interiors of the Flagship are designed in a “sovereign” style with a hint of the Imperial ambitions of Russia. Noble, beautiful and high quality, without unnecessary “tinsel” and other vulgar elements of flashy luxury.
In a word, the presidential IL is a comfortable flying office for business trips around the world - nothing like the “expensive toy” of Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, who ordered a huge swimming pool and a huge swimming pool to be placed on board his personal three-story Airbus A380 concert hall with a symphony orchestra!
The high cost of the “government IL” is largely due to the complex of secret radio-electronic equipment installed on board and special measures related to ensuring the safety of the government “aircraft”.
In December 2012, the air fleet of the Special Flight Detachment "Russia" was replenished with another Il-96-300 (tail number RA96020), which replaced its predecessors. At the end of this year 2013, the Presidential Administration will receive the second ordered Il (tail number RA96021).
Special government aircraft exist in all countries of the world. The President of the United States flies on a comfortable blue and white Boeing 747 Air Force One. The Chancellor of Germany is on a European airliner Airbus A340 with the personal name “Konrad Adenauer”. The President of Ukraine uses a small An-74 business class aircraft for his visits. However, most powerful of the world Therefore, we are forced to travel on foreign aircraft. Only a few countries have a developed aviation industry capable of independently creating an aircraft for the top officials of their state. Here we can proudly state that senior officials of Russia continue to fly domestic aircraft.
Long-haul passenger aircraft Il - 96-300.
Dimensions
Wingspan: 60.1 m; aircraft length 55.35 m; aircraft height 17.57 m; wing area 391.6 m2; sweep angle along the 1/4 chord line - 30 degrees; fuselage diameter 6.08 m;
Passenger cabin dimensions
Length 41 m;
maximum width 5.7 m;
maximum height 2.61 m;
volume 350 cubic meters
Engines
Turbofan engine of the Perm engine-building design bureau PS-90A with reversing devices (4x156.9 kN, 4x16000 kgf)
Masses and loads
Maximum take-off weight - 230 tons; maximum landing weight - 175 tons; empty weight - 119 tons; maximum weight without fuel - 157 tons; maximum payload - 40 tons, maximum fuel capacity - 122 tons (150400l).
Flight data
Cruising speed at an altitude of 10100 m is 850-900 km/h; approach speed - 260-270 km/h; balanced takeoff distance - 2600 m, required landing distance - 1980 m; practical flight range with fuel reserve: with a maximum payload of 7,500 km, with a payload of 30 tons - 9,000 km; with a commercial load of 15 tons - 11,000 km.
Design features and technical and economic characteristics
Wing with a supercritical profile and end aerodynamic surfaces. Design life 60,000 flight hours (12,000 landings over a 20-year service life), maintenance labor intensity 11 man-hours per 1 hour of flight, preparation time for re-flight 45 minutes. Fuel consumption per passenger-kilometer is within 23 g.
Equipment
Flight navigation equipment ensures the operation of the aircraft to a minimum of ICAO category IIIA. It uses a built-in analog fly-by-wire flight control system and a flight mode optimization system, a built-in inertial navigation system, satellite navigation equipment and the Omega radio navigation system, and an electronic information display system with six indicators on a CRT and HUD. There is built-in control equipment and an automatic system for displaying information about the aircraft's alignment.
Production and release
Serially produced since 1992.
Program status
Certification of the aircraft according to Russian standards was completed by the end of 1992. To date, the IL-96 corresponds to the second ICAO category, i.e. can take off and land in very low visibility conditions.
Developer
Aviation complex named after. S. V. Ilyushina.
IL-96-300 and IL-96-400, as the name implies, are two modifications of the same aircraft created by Russian designers. The second version was supposed to be a logical continuation of the first, but for a number of reasons it turned out to be a completely different car. Aircraft differ in interior, technical parameters, flight characteristics and... fate.
Initially, these were liners for transporting passengers, respectively, over medium and long distances. But now the 300 model serves only in the presidential detachment, and the 400th... Actually, first things first. We will look at the technical characteristics, features and photographs of the IL-96-400 model.
Story
In the early 80s, the Ilyushin Design Bureau was developing a medium-range aircraft, named Il-86. The car was created according to the accepted standards of that time. Unlike the earlier 62 and some Tupolev designs, the 86's engines are located on pylons under the wings. This is a wide-body aircraft with modern (at that time) engines and control systems. One thing: this machine cannot yet completely replace the obsolete IL-62.
At the end of the 80s, data appeared about the IL-96 passenger aircraft. This development should also be a wide-body type, but become a long-range vehicle. The basis of the new aircraft should be the 86, but with appropriate amendments regarding speed, fuel tank capacity, and long-term flight capabilities. In 1988, the first flight tests were carried out, and in 1993 mass production began. In 2009, it was announced that the production of the model would be curtailed as unpromising. Over the years, only 22 (according to other sources 28) cars saw the light of day. Of those remaining in operation, it operates in Cuba; several more modified versions are used by Rossiya Airlines to serve the top officials of the state.
Model 300
After the start of mass production new model, which received an index of 300, enters Aeroflot. For a machine that can compete with the leading developments of Boeing and Airbus, the development team receives a State Prize. And although this aircraft was cheaper, safer, and in some respects even superior to American designs, domestic carriers bought the Boeing. At the same time, the motivation for such a purchase sometimes took the most ridiculous forms. For example, that the Boeing has two crew members, and the IL has three. Or that Boeing is safer, although design tests of our development proved the opposite.
The detailed technical characteristics of the IL-96-300 aircraft are practically the same as the 400 version; we just note that the presence of this airliner allowed Aeroflot to make non-stop flights from Moscow to any city in both Americas, and at the same time transport up to 300 people (single-cabin layout).
Birth 400
The first truck in the line was the IL-96T. He was born in 1997 as part of the Russian-American treaty. Russia provided the airframe, and the Americans provided 4 engines from Pratt-Whitney (the same ones are used by onboard avionics from Collins. The aircraft received a slightly extended fuselage, cargo equipment, and was even certified according to American standards FAR25. But it never went into further production came out. It was on its basis that the first 400 was subsequently designed. The plane was equipped with Russian avionics and Russian engines.
Model 400
At the turn of the century, developers released an airliner capable of flying 500 km further, and at the same time taking 435 people on board. But the difficult financial situation in Russia practically puts an end to the passenger aircraft, but a transport version is being designed on its basis. Passenger doors are changed, cargo doors are added, and in 2007 the next development of the Voronezh enterprise - IL-96-400T - is demonstrated at air shows. This is not a new development, as flight characteristics remain unchanged. For two years the plane stood idle, changing owners like gloves, but in 2009 the Russian company Polet became interested in the machine, and the first three planes were sent to it (two were assembled before 2007 and existed as experimental models). Thus, the start date of operation is considered to be April 23, 2009. Karpov, the president of Polet, plans to increase the number of cars to 6, but in 2013 the carrier was declared bankrupt. Voronezh assembled the fourth aircraft, but, for obvious reasons, it was never purchased by the company.
But another buyer, the Russian Air Force, became interested in the transport version. Today there are rumors about 30 transport aircraft and the same number of model 300. Official sources from the Ministry of Defense say that the program is planned for 10 years, with the expectation that the last vehicle will be received in 2024.
The lineup
During its difficult life, IL-96 has undergone several modifications. In addition to the main models - 300 and 400, several more variants were released, most of which were either converted into other versions or left as a prototype. These include:
- IL-96T is the first prototype of the modern 400 model. The only example of the entire line to wear American equipment for some time.
- Il-96M is the second prototype. The main difference was the extended fuselage.
- Il-96-300 is a passenger model of a wide-body aircraft. For almost 20 years, these models were used in limited numbers by Aeroflot (according to unofficial data, the company had only 6 cars on its balance sheet).
- IL-96-400 and 400T are passenger and transport aircraft models, respectively. Either up to 92 tons of luggage, or over 400 people.
- IL-96-400TZ - the model has been converted from the previous version. The Russian Air Force became interested in the tanker. It is in this version that the 400 model was ordered for the planned replacement of the IL-78.
- Il-96-550 is a prototype of a double-deck aircraft. Analogue Whether there will be further development is not yet known.
The list specifically does not include several more models of the "PU" (control station) discharge category; these modified 300 and 400 models which serve in a separate detachment of Rossiya Airlines and, according to the international classification, are referred to as "Aircraft No. 1"
Peculiarities
During the creation process, the Russian IL-96-400 aircraft received several features that distinguish it from aircraft of other companies.
The tanker aircraft that interested the military is a two-in-one model. located in the fuselage, connected to the main fuel system and capable of storing 62 tons of additional fuel. The aircraft can deliver this supply over a distance of 3,500 km. If the tanker is no longer needed, it can be easily converted into a regular transport vehicle. The flight range will not change, but up to 92 tons of cargo can be accepted.
The second feature of this aircraft concerns flight safety. The 96th became the only aircraft in the world that is capable of landing normally even if all 4 engines on board fail. Such a check was carried out during the first tests by Russian test pilots. During the flight, all 4 engines were turned off, after which the plane was calmly landed according to the usual landing pattern.
Technical specifications
Below we will consider other features and parameters of the IL-96-400 aircraft. Technical characteristics of the transport version:
- length - 64 m;
- height - 15.7m;
- width - 6.1m;
- wingspan - 60.1 m;
- wing area - 392 sq. m;
- take-off weight (max) - 270 t;
- cruising speed - 850 km/h;
- ceiling - 13100 m;
- range - 10000 m;
- passenger capacity - 435 people (for one class of accommodation);
- The runway for take-off is 2600 m, for landing – 1980 m.
Flight ban
The history of this aircraft was not complete without a short-term flight ban, which nevertheless brought great losses to Russian carriers. The decision was made as a result of an incident in August 2005, when, upon departure from Finland, the presidential plane was unable to gain the speed necessary for takeoff. According to the chief designer, this decision was unlawful. The fact is that the characteristics of the IL-96-400 aircraft provide for possible unit failures for various reasons. Hydraulics have a reserve that exceeds consumption by 4 times. This reserve is quite enough to maintain the normal braking mode for all 12 wheels of the aircraft, even if the system fails on one or two wheels. Their functions will switch to others.
Conclusion
For a number of reasons, the IL-96-400 aircraft, originally developed as a long-haul airliner, switched to military service. At the same time, due to its passenger background, the Air Force receives a vehicle that is capable of performing several tasks: from a regular transport aircraft to an escort aircraft. If the situation had been different, these steel birds would have flown across the territory of the former Union at medium and long distances. After all, the entire 96 line was originally planned as a replacement for two vehicles: Il-86 and Il-62.
