Russian Manufacturer Test-flies IL-96-400M Prototype Widebody Passenger Airplane

Russia’s new homegrown widebody passenger airplane, the IL-96-400M, successfully completed its first test flight on November 1, 2023. The airplane is a modernized version of the IL-96-300, which was produced from 1988 to 2009, but failed to compete with Western models.

The IL-96-400M has a longer fuselage, a higher payload, a larger passenger capacity, and a more efficient engine than its predecessor. It can carry up to 370 passengers in three classes, and has a range of 10,000 kilometers (6,214 miles). It is powered by four Aviadvigatel PS-90A1 turbofan engines, which are designed and manufactured in Russia. The airplane also features a modern infotainment system, a satellite communication system, and a modern kitchen.

As of October 2023, only 33 IL-96-300 and IL-96-400s have been built since 1992. The aircraft is also used as a Presidential VIP transport.

The prototype of the IL-96-400M took off from the Zhukovsky International Airport near Moscow, and flew for 26 minutes at an altitude of 2,000 meters (6,562 feet) and a speed of 390 kilometers per hour (242 miles per hour). The flight was supervised by a crew of six people, including two pilots, two flight engineers, and two test engineers.

The test flight was a demonstration of the high level of competence of the Russian aircraft manufacturers, according to Russia’s deputy prime minister, Denis Manturov. He said that the IL-96-400M, along with other Russian-built aircraft, will be deployed across the country’s aviation network and replace foreign analogues.

The test flight was also a public relations win for Russia, which is facing Western sanctions and pressure over its invasion of Ukraine.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, cnn.com, FlightGlobal