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| Ilyushin Il-76. (Credit: Fedor Leukhin) |
The Ilyushin Il-76 (NATO reporting name: Candid) is a multi-purpose four-engine turbofan strategic airlifter designed by the Soviet Union's Ilyushin design bureau. It was first planned as a commercial freighter in 1967, as a replacement for the Antonov An-12.
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| Kazakstan Airlines Ilyushin Il-76TD. (Credit: Felix Goetting) |
Ilyushin Il-76 first flown in 1971 and first produced in 1975. It was designed to deliver heavy machinery to remote, poorly served areas. Military versions of the Il-76 have been widely used in Europe, Asia and Africa, including use as an aerial refueling tanker or command center.
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| Tashkent Aircraft Production Corporation Ilyushin Il-76TD. (Credit: Oleg Belyakov) |
The Il-76 has seen extensive service as a commercial freighter for ramp-delivered cargo, especially for outsized or heavy items unable to be otherwise carried. It has also been used as an emergency response transport for civilian evacuations as well as for humanitarian aid and disaster relief around the world. Because of its ability to operate from unpaved runways, it has been useful in undeveloped areas. Specialized models have also been produced for aerial firefighting and zero-G training.
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| Ilyushin Il-76TD. (Credit: Pedro Aragão) |
The Il-76 was a heavy transport plane, capable of handling a payload of more than 88,000 pounds (40,000 kilograms). It was equipped with two cranes that traveled on overhead tracks, and its rear ramp doubled as a hoist.
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| A special Il-76 (RA-76529) arriving at Berlin Schönefeld for ILA 1994. This one was operated by the Zhukovsky Research Institute as a test aircraft for the D-236T propfan. (Credit: Rob Schleiffert) |
Unlike most military transports, the Il-76 was armed, with two guns in a rear turret. Its four turbofan engines produced 26,455 pounds of thrust each. Its maximum speed in level flight was 528 miles per hour (850 km per hour), and its ceiling was 50,850 feet (15,500 m). From 30 to 90 passengers could be accommodated.
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| Ilyushin IL-76. (Credit: Dmitry Terekhov) |
The aircraft is of a conventional aerodynamic configuration with a high-set, swept-wing and T-shaped tail unit. The crew cabin, cargo hold and rear compartment are pressurised. The beam-type fuselage has an oval section over the crew cabin and circular section over the cargo hold.
The wing leading and trailing edges are fitted with high-lift devices, comprising deflectable five-section leading-edge slats, triple-slotted trailing-edge extension flaps, ailerons, spoilers, and air brakes.
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| (Credit: bomberpilot) |
The air-drop and cargo handling equipment is intended to load, unload and air drop paratroopers and cargo, make the optimum arrangement of the cargo according to the logistical demands of the mission and securely tie down the cargo.
The equipment comprises a telpher (an overhead cargo system where the cargo can be suspended from an electrically powered rail), a roller conveyer, mooring / rigging, auxiliary parachute, and ambulance equipment.
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| (Credit: bomberpilot) |
The aircraft is equipped with a defensive aids suite, comprising radar warning, jammers, infrared flare cartridges, chaff dispenser and two guns with a fire-control radar. Aerial bombs or radio beacons are suspended from external bomb racks on detachable pylons.
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| (Credit: Fedor Leukhin) |
Onboard equipment is intended to execute airlifts and air drop missions by day and at night, in VFR and IFR (visual flight rules and instrument flight rules) weather conditions, as well as under hostile air defence conditions.
The integrated flight control and aiming-navigation system includes a compass system, ground surveillance radar, a central digital computer, automatic monitoring system, automatic flight control system, short-range radio navigation and landing system, IFF transponder, optical / infrared aiming sight and a ground collision warning system.
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| EMERCOM Ilyushin IL-76TD. (Credit: Stahlkocher) |
The Il-76M aircraft is powered by four D-30KP turbofan engines, mounted on underwing pylons and housed in individual pods secured on the engines.
Fuel is held in 12 integral tanks, which are isolated from each other. Fuel tanks are divided into four groups by the number of the engines. An inert gas system is used for protection against explosion.
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| Military aircraft IL-76 of the Ukrainian Armed Forces has delivered a batch of COVID-19 tests from Chinese city Guangzhou. (Credit: Міністерство Оборони України) |
There are several design variations, including the basic Il-76, Il-76M, Il-76MD, Il-78, Il-76-MF, and Il-76MD-90A.
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| Indian Air Force Ilyushin IL-76MD. (Credit: Sean D Silva) |
Specifications (Il-76TD)
General characteristics
- Crew: 5
- Capacity: Il-76M 42,000 kg; Il-76MD 48,000 kg; Il-76MD-90A 60,000 kg
- Length: 46.59 m
- Wingspan: 50.5 m
- Height: 14.76 m
- Wing area: 300 m2
- Empty weight: 92,500 kg
- Max takeoff weight: 195,000 kg
- Powerplant: 4 × Soloviev D-30KP turbofans, 117.7 kN (26,500 lbf) thrust each [85]
Performance
- Maximum speed: 900 km/h (560 mph, 490 kn) / Mach 0.82
- Ferry range: 9,300 km (5,800 mi, 5,000 nmi) Il-76MD-90A with no payload
- Service ceiling: 13,000 m
- Thrust/weight: Il-76: 0.228–0.252; Il-76M/T 0.282; Il-76MD/TD 0.252; Il-76MF/TF 0.228
- Minimum landing run: 450 m with thrust reversers
Armament
- Guns: 2× 23 mm cannon in radar-directed manned turret at base of tail
- Bombs: Some military models have 2 hardpoints under each outer wing capable of supporting 500 kg bombs.
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