To 75-th Anniversary of S.V.Ilyushin Aircraft Complex

 

Russian-American IL-96M/T aircraft

(15 years since the flight day)

G.V.Novozhilov

S.V.Ilyushin Aircraft Complex arose from Design Bureau founded in 1933 by the prominent Soviet aircraft designer Sergey Ilyushin. Initially small design team has grown into a powerful Aircraft Complex capable of research work and aircraft design solving grand problems of aircraft development.

The Complex celebrates its 75^th Anniversary this year. Different aircrafts have already been designed: military, passenger, and cargo airplanes. Huge experience allowed not only designing the aircraft construction and production technologies but also developing the service systems for these machines. Over 60,000 airplanes of different types have been produced.

In September 1988 the 300-seater wide-body passenger airplane IL-96-300 performed its first flight. This airplane now services the flights Moscow-New-York and other international flights. New design principles provided IL-96-300 compliance with all international requirements. "Aeroflot" pilots highly appreciated its flight performance.

IL-96-300 airplane and its performance capability have attracted interest of western specialists and business community. In December, 1989 on Dr. Armand Hammer's initiative the Memorandum of Understanding was signed whose main idea was modification of IL-96-300 aircraft into IL-96M/T version capable of carrying a higher payload over longer distances.

This version was equipped with Pratt&Whitney engines and Collins avionics. Due to this equipment it became competitive at long-range flights, fitted well into the infrastructure of wide-body airplanes produced by other companies and could be supplied with repair pieces.

Two basic versions of IL-96M/T were developed:

IL-96T cargo aircraft featuring a large cargo side door (4.85 m breadthways and 2.875 m lengthways) and capable of carrying maximum payload of 92 tons including a wide variety of standard cargo pallets and containers.

IL-96M passenger aircraft with maximum seating capacity of 385 to 416 seats and maximum payload of 58 tons; operating flight range of the aircraft with 30 tons of payload (in three-class cabin layout with 311 - 318 seats) was 11,000-11,500 km.

18 foreign companies took part in IL-96M/T development.

Both the USA and Russia Presidents gave their personal support to IL-96M/T program. However the financial support was not settled at the governmental level, so all the works on IL-96MO (based on IL-96-300) were conducted at the expense of companies involved in this joint program.

IL-96M/T joint program concentrated on solving engineering and organizational problems of aircraft development, certification, production, marketing, and financial support.

Modification of IL-96-300 consisted in fuselage stretching by 9.35 m, increased takeoff weight, new engines and avionics and resulted in solution of many design problems. American partners made significant efforts to study IL-96 features when equipping it with Pratt&Whitney engine and interconnecting navigation system and other Collins avionics. Simultaneously the problem of changing the display of panel board had to be solved and new units had to be arranged with the aircraft systems. Design bureau passed engineering documentation to Voronezh Aircraft Plant responsible for production of new pylons for PW-2337 engines and starting the aircraft serial production.

On April 6, 1993 Russian-American experimental plane IL-96MO performed its first flight from Khodynka airfield located in Moscow downtown. In June, 1993 the aircraft was demonstrated at Paris Air Show. Then the works continued.

Important and rather complicated task was set to receive American Airworthiness Certificate. Joint efforts of Russian Aviation Register and the USA Federal Aviation Administration resulted in development of Certification Basis which incorporated the most critical requirements of American FAR 25 Rules and Russian National Airworthiness AP-25 Rules. Works on refining certification requirements and certification procedures were conducted. Simultaneously the draft version of BASA intergovernmental agreement "On flight safety" between Russia and the USA was being prepared. American Airworthiness Certificate could not be received without this agreement.

It is impossible to describe the whole scope of works conducted by Russian and American specialists in a short љarticle љdevoted to the љ15^th anniversary of the first Russian-American IL-96MO flight.

In 1997 the first production aircraft IL-96T performed its first flight in Voronezh.

In 1998 Agreement "On flight safety" was signed between the Government of Russian Federation and the Government of the United States of America.

In 1999 IL-96T received its Certificate of USA Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

For better understanding of our joint work let me cite the letter written by one of FAA's Heads Anthony J.Broderick and received in 1999.

It is with great joy that I write to congratulate you on achieving formal certification by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration of the Il-96 transport aircraft. I understand that the formal ceremony is to be held next week, and I know it is an occasion in which you can participate with great pride.

Over 8 years ago a few of us traveled to Moscow to begin the discussions that would intensify cooperation between the U.S. and Russian governments in civil aviation. An ambitious goal was set-that of achieving a bilateral agreement that would permit mutual recognition of transport aircraft certification. The path laid out was a long and complicated one, and it took some unexpected turns. Nevertheless, you and your team traveled it well and decisively.

We did not always agree on the best means to achieve our mutual goals, but it is with a great deal of respect that I acknowledge the extraordinary role you personally played in accomplishing this task. Your team had to learn the new ways of the new Russian system, as well as the ways of satisfying the FAA requirements. Achieving those goals is the result of a great deal of teamwork, and superior leadership. It is the kind of leadership that you exercised that permitted success.

I wish you and your colleagues at Ilyushin the very best of success in your future civil aviation endeavors. Whether it is in designing new aircraft, on participating in joint ventures, the way is now clear for a big role for the Ilyushin Aircraft Company in future civil aviation programs. I have no doubt you will do well!

Congratulations, once again, on achieving the recognition you have earned so well.

 

In conclusion I would like to note that IL-96T with American engines and equipment was not adopted by our costumer due to different reasons. In 2007 a new production aircraft IL-96-400T with Russian PS90A1 engines and equipment was produced. Being a successor of IL-96T aircraft it was ordered by "Atlant Soyuz" Airlines.

Aircrafts keep being produced. Good work never perishes.