The Ilyushin Il-96 is a Russian long-haul, wide-body airliner. It was developed from the Il-86 and first flew in 1988, entering service in 1993.
Here are some key characteristics of the Il-96:
- Design: It's a conventional wide-body design with four underwing engines and a relatively modern cockpit featuring a glass cockpit with EFIS (Electronic Flight Instrument System). It has a more modern appearance compared to its predecessor, the Il-86.
- Capacity: Typically configured for 262 to 300 passengers in a three-class layout, though different configurations are possible.
- Range: The Il-96-300 has a range of approximately 11,500 km (6,200 nautical miles), making it suitable for many long-distance routes. Improved variants like the Il-96-400 have an even greater range.
- Operational History: The Il-96 was intended to compete with Western aircraft like the Boeing 747 and Airbus A340. However, due to various factors, including the economic conditions in Russia after the collapse of the Soviet Union and the availability of established Western alternatives, its production numbers have been very low.
- Current Use: While it didn't achieve widespread commercial success, the Il-96 is notably used as the primary aircraft for the Russian presidential fleet and by other Russian government agencies. Cubana de Aviación, the national airline of Cuba, is one of the few international operators of the type.
- Modernization: Efforts have been made to modernize the Il-96, with variants like the Il-96-400M featuring an extended fuselage, more powerful engines, and updated avionics to improve its competitiveness.
Despite its limited commercial success, the Il-96 remains an important aircraft for Russia, particularly in its role as a VIP transport.
