Ilyushin Il-96 — Russia’s Enduring Long-Range Airliner
The Ilyushin Il-96 is a long-range, widebody, four-engine airliner designed by the Ilyushin Design Bureau in the late 1980s. Conceived as an advanced development of the earlier Il-86, it aimed to combine the proven reliability of Soviet design with the efficiency and sophistication of Western airliners.
The prototype Il-96 made its first flight on September 28, 1988, and entered service with Aeroflot in 1993. Externally similar to the Il-86, the Il-96 introduced a shorter fuselage, aerodynamically refined wings with winglets, and modernized avionics. Most importantly, it was powered by four Aviadvigatel (Soloviev) PS-90A turbofan engines, each producing 35,300 lbf (157 kN) of thrust, allowing a cruise speed of about 540 mph (870 km/h) and a range up to 7,200 miles (11,500 km).
While never produced in large numbers due to economic challenges and limited export appeal, the Il-96 proved durable and technologically sound. It remains in limited service with Rossiya Airlines and government operators, representing a bridge between Soviet-era engineering and modern Russian aviation.
Il-96-300
The Il-96-300, the first variant of the Ilyushin Il-96 series, was launched in 1985 and first flew in 1988 before entering Aeroflot service in 1993. Powered by four Aviadvigatel PS-90A high-bypass turbofan engines (35,300 lbf each) with FADEC and low-noise exhaust systems, it represented a major technological step for Russian long-haul aircraft. Designed to carry 262 passengers up to 6,200 nautical miles, the Il-96-300 cruises at around 460 knots and can reach altitudes of 43,000 feet.
It has a wingspan of 60.1 meters, length of 55.3 meters, and a maximum takeoff weight of 250,000 kg. A VIP version, the Il-96-300PU, serves as the official aircraft for the Russian president, with four currently operated by the State Transport Company. The Republic of Cuba is another notable operator of this reliable long-range airliner.
Il-96-400
The Il-96-400 is an extended and upgraded version of the Il-96-300, featuring Russian-built Aviadvigatel PS-90A1 high-bypass turbofan engines producing 38,326 lbf each. It retains the Il-96’s advanced supercritical wings with winglets, glass cockpit, and fly-by-wire controls, offering improved range and capacity over earlier variants. With a maximum takeoff weight of 265,000 kg, the Il-96-400 can carry up to 436 passengers (or 386 in a two-class layout) across 5,400 nautical miles at a cruising speed of around 460 knots and a ceiling of 43,000 feet. Measuring 63.9 meters in length with a 60.1-meter wingspan, it provides a spacious 5.7-meter-wide cabin suited for long-haul operations. Cuba’s aviation corporation signed for three Il-96-400s in 2013, underscoring continued international interest in this advanced Russian widebody.
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