An Il-76 serving Aeroflot

The Ilyushin Il-76, NATO codename "Candid", is a 4-engined heavy transport aircraft in widespread use in eastern Europe and Africa. First conceived in 1967, the basic layout of the plane was similar to the U.S.-built Lockheed C-141 Starlifter, but the new design had a larger cargo hold area and more powerful engines to achieve the desired performance. It first flew on March 25, 1971, and is still in production in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

Variants

The basic Il-76 is the first production version and in widespread use by the VVS.

• Il-76T ('T' for Transport, Транспортный) unarmed cargo transport version.
• Il-76D ('D' for Desantniy, Десантный - "for paratroopers") has a turret in the tail for defense purposes.
• Il-76PP - Il-76MD-based radio jammer

The Il-76M(T/D) is another version, with more powerful engines, giving it a bigger payload capacity.

The Il-76-MF is the latest version, with a 6 meter extension and more economical and powerful engines, the Aviadvigatel PS90.

The Il-76 is also in use as a airborne tanker, otherwise known as a refueller (Il-78), and a waterbomber. Its airframe was used as a base for AWACS aircraft (Beriev A-50 "Mainstay").

The Il-76 waterbomber is a VAP-2 1.5 hour install/removal tanking kit conversion. It has stirred a decade's controversy in the west at a time where more powerful firefighting assists are needed. While the Australasian Fire Authorities Council says the Il-76 is a "very, very good firefighting aircraft", and while Canada awaits a US decision, the matter recently hit US local television in Denver, apparently calling for a public interest decision from Americans themselves.

Moscow News lately reports continued struggle with US bureaucracy helped along by the efforts of California Congressman Dana Rohrabacher, while Canada's CBC television went national with the issue, featuring interviews with firefighting bureaucrats from both Canada and the US.

According to Venik's Aviation pages online, in 2000, FEMA requested Il-76 waterbombers (2) to respond to Los Alamos area wildfires.

Specifications (Il-76)

General Characteristics

• Wingspan: 50.5 m (165 ft 8 in)
• Length: 46.59 m (152 ft 10.5 in)
• Height: 14.76 m (48 ft 5 in)
• Empty Weight: 72,000 kg (159,000 lb)
• Maximum Loaded Weight: 157,000 kg (346,000 lb)
• Powerplant: 4 × Soloviev D-30KP turbofans, 12,000 kgf (118 kN)

Performance

• Maximum Speed : 900 km/h (560 mph)
• Cruise Altitude : 13,000 m (42,700 ft)
• Range with Maximum Payload : 5,000 km (3,100 statute miles)

External links

Il-76 Waterbomber controversy

• http://english.mn.ru/english/issue.php?2004-27-14
• http://www.fire.uni-freiburg.de/media/2003/news_03172003_aus.htm
• http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/3319268/detail.html
• http://www.luchtzak.be/article5040.html
• http://english.pravda.ru/world/20/91/368/13488_Bush.html
• http://www.aeronautics.ru/nws002/los-alamos-01.htm