Ilyushin Il-76
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Il76.jpg
The Ilyushin Il-76, NATO codename "Candid", is a 4-engined heavy transport aircraft in widespread use in eastern Europe, Asia 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.
Il-76MF.2.jpg
Il-76MF.jpg
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. The Il-76 can carry 11,000 gallons of water; three times the capacity of the Hercules C-130. 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 hit US local television in Denver in 2004, apparently calling for a public interest decision from Americans themselves.
Later that year, Moscow News reported a continued struggle with US bureaucracy. There, it was reported California Congressman Dana Rohrabacher vowed to break down barriers to use. Meanwhile, Canada's CBC television went national with the issue, featuring interviews with firefighting bureaucrats from both Canada and the US; a first.
On April 26, 2005, Rep Rohrabacher spoke to importing the services of IL-76 waterbomber(s) on the floor of the United States House of Representatives, exhibiting a letter to the US Forest Service chief aviation bureaucrat, Jerry T. Williams, which letter demanded an accounting.
According to Venik's Aviation pages online, in 2000, FEMA requested Il-76 waterbombers (2) to respond to Los Alamos area wildfires. Venik further reported this order was countermanded by the US Forest Service.
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 takeoff: 157,000 kg (346,000 lb)
- Powerplant: 4× Soloviev D-30KP turbofans; 12,000 kgf (118 kN, 26,500 lbf) thrust
Performance
- Maximum Speed: 900 km/h (490 knots)
- Range: km ( nmiles)
- Service ceiling: 13,000 m (42,700 ft)
- Rate of climb: m/min ( ft/min)
- Wing loading: kg/m² ( lb/ft²)
- Thrust/ratio: :1
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://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getpage.cgi?dbname=2005_record&page=H2530&position=all
- http://www.aeronautics.ru/nws002/los-alamos-01.htm
- http://www.disasternews.net/podcasts/6-6-05interview.mp3
- http://www.fire.uni-freiburg.de/emergency/ger.htm
Related content
Related development:
Comparable aircraft: C-141 Starlifter
Designation Series: Il-46 - Il-54 - Il-62 - Il-76 - Il-78 - Il-80 - Il-82
Related lists: List of airliners
Template:Ilyushin Russian airliners
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