Il-96-400M lit up on social networks

The first unofficial photo of the first built flight prototype Il-96-400M (serial number 0001) has appeared on the Web, not yet painted, rolled out of the workshop to the territory of the Voronezh Joint-Stock Aircraft Building Company (VASO), which is part of PJSC Il. The development of the latest modification of the wide-body long-haul passenger aircraft has been carried out since 2016.

It should be noted that this picture was posted on the social network "VKontakte" by Dmitry Parinov from Voronezh, who is very fond of aircraft and Russia. By the way, we also hope that we will be able to see this beautiful aircraft in July at the MAKS-2023 air show in Zhukovsky, because Russian functionaries promised more than a year ago that the Il-96-400M would take to the skies before the end of 2022.



Note that this modification, also known as the Il-496, provides for the upgrade of avionics (digital flight and navigation system), which will reduce the crew in the cockpit to two people. The aircraft also received a fuselage lengthened by 9 meters. It is assumed that the aircraft will consist entirely of Russian components and even receive PS-90A3 engines, its maximum flight range will exceed 8 thousand km, and the maximum number of passenger seats will be 370.

We remind you that on April 6, 1993, the first flight of the Il-96MO prototype, the first post-Soviet aircraft developed in close cooperation with Western companies, took place. It was equipped with Pratt & Whitney PW2337 engines and Rockwell Collins avionics. It was capable of carrying up to 435 passengers, had a maximum payload of 58 tons and a practical flight range of 12,8 thousand km. Certification according to the standards of Russia and the FAA was completed by the end of 1997, but the Il-96MO did not go into the series.