On November 1, 2023, the Ilyushin Il-96’s biggest model, the Il-96-400, soared into the skies for the first time. The Il-96-400M can hold around 370 passengers, stretching 30.7 feet longer than its predecessor, the -300. The aircraft’s maiden flight was brief, lasting just 26 minutes, as it climbed to an altitude of 6,600 feet and hit speeds around 210 knots.
The current challenge is determining the competitive edge of this four-engine Russian aircraft against the latest twin-engine, ultra-long-range widebodies from Airbus and Boeing.
Back in February 2017, Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation struck a deal with Ilyushin Aviation Complex, a subsidiary, to create a new variant of the Ilyushin Il-96-400 wide-body passenger plane. This move aimed to rival the Boeing 777-9 and Airbus A350-1000. The Il-96-400M, designed for passengers, is essentially an elongated version of the Il-96-400T freighter. The proposed layout is set to accommodate 390 passengers. In 2017, the Russian Government invested $57.4 million into the project.
By the start of 2020, the prototype was in the advanced stages of assembly, with the wing and body joined, targeting completion by year’s end and a maiden flight slated for 2021. However, by April 2021, plans for mass production were shelved due to a lack of airline interest and the global downturn in long-range aircraft operations caused by the pandemic. Nonetheless, sanctions led to an announcement on 15 August 2022 that the Ilyushin Il-96-400M’s first flight was scheduled. Finally, on June 7, 2023, the United Aircraft Corporation unveiled Russia’s prospective wide-body passenger jet, which took to the skies for the first time last November 1.
A Shift in the Skies
The geopolitical landscape has dramatically influenced the aviation market, especially since the onset of the war in Ukraine. With the implementation of economic sanctions by the US, Russian airlines found themselves without access to Western aircraft. This situation necessitated an alternative that could handle Russia’s long-range operations. Hence, the need for the Il-96.
The Ilyushin Il-96-400 emerges as Russia’s non-western alternative to the wide-bodies previously available from Western manufacturers. This new model marks a departure from previous collaborations, such as the now-dissolved agreement between Russia and China to develop the CR929. The split not only affects China’s timeline for developing a competing wide-body aircraft but also underscores Russia’s move towards self-sufficiency in aviation.
| Specification | Il-96-400 |
|---|---|
| Cockpit crew | 2/3 |
| Seats (3/2/1-class) | 315/386/436 |
| Cargo capacity | 196 m³ |
| Length | 63.93 m (209 ft 9 in) |
| Wing | 60.12 m (197 ft 3 in) span, 350 m2 (3767.9 ft²), 30° sweep |
| Fuselage | 6.08 m (19.94 ft) diameter, 5.70 m (18.70 ft) cabin width |
| Height | 17.55 m (57 ft 7 in) |
| OEW | 122.3 t (269,383 lb) |
| MTOW | 265 t (583,700 lb) |
| Max. payload | 58 t (127,753 lb) |
| Fuel capacity | 152,620 l (40,322 US gal) |
| Engines (×4) | Aviadvigatel PS-90A1 |
| Thrust (×4) | 170.7 kN (38,326 lbf) |
| Cruise | 0.78–0.84 Mach / 850–870 km/h / 459–469 kn TAS; 13,100 m (43,000 ft) Ceiling |
| Range | 10,000 km (5,400 nmi) |
| Takeoff run (MTOW) | 2,700 m (8,858 ft) |
| Landing run | 1,650 m (5,511 ft) |
Russian Ingenuity at Work
In the creation of the Ilyushin Il-96-400, Western components have been replaced with Russian-made parts. This includes a full suite of avionics and the new Aviadvigatel PS-90-A1 engines. This shift is significant, considering Russia’s history of joint aircraft projects with Ukraine, including the production of the large An-124 and An-225 freighters—collaborations that are unlikely to resume.
Russia now boasts a complete range of aircraft designs and sizes, from the Sukhoi Superjet SJ-100 to the Tupolev Tu-214, the Irkut MC-21-300, and the Il-96-400, with capacities ranging from 100 to 370 seats. The challenge lies in ramping up production to meet the demand of local airlines, a task that is both crucial and complex.
The Il-96-400, with its PS90-A1 engines, faces environmental scrutiny as it does not match the efficiency of Western engines. This inefficiency could lead to higher landing fees in Western countries post-war. Despite updates to its design, the four-engined Il-96-400 struggles to compete with its more efficient twin-engine Western counterparts.
First love never dies. I fell in love with airplanes and aviation when I was a kid. My dream was to become a pilot, but destiny led me to another path: to be an aviation digital media content creator and a small business owner. My passion for aviation inspires me to bring you quality content through my website and social accounts. Aviation is indeed in my blood and blog!
