Ilyushin Il-76
The Ilyushin Il-76 is a large, four-engine military and civilian transport, roughly comparable in role to the American C-141 and later C-17, built to move heavy cargo into and out of rough, unprepared airstrips. Its high-mounted wing and multi-wheel landing gear were specifically designed to handle unpaved runways that would damage most other aircraft of its size. It's been widely used both by Russia's military and by civilian cargo operators worldwide, particularly for outsized or humanitarian cargo. Specialised firefighting versions can also drop tens of tonnes of water or retardant in a single pass.

Did you know?
The Il-76's high-mounted wing and multi-wheel landing gear let it haul heavy cargo from rough, unpaved airstrips.
Specifications
| Length | 46.6 m (153 ft) |
|---|---|
| Wingspan | 50.5 m (166 ft) |
| Height | 14.7 m (48 ft) |
| Maximum passengers | 245 |
| Persons on board | 143 |
| Maximum take-off weight | 170 t |
| Range | 2,700 NM (5,000 km) |
| Maximum speed | 470 kt (870 km/h) |
| Service ceiling | 43,000 ft (13,106 m) |
| Optimum ceiling | 35,000 ft (10,668 m) |
| Rate of climb | 3,000 ft/min (15.2 m/s) |
| Take-off distance | 2,700 m (8,858 ft) |
| Landing distance | 1,000 m (3,281 ft) |
| Fuel capacity | 90,000 l |
| Engines | 4x Soloviev D-30KP |
| Units built | 981 |
Curated by CatchFlights from manufacturer documents, ICAO Doc 8643 and reference works; values are left out where no source could confirm them. Sources are listed on our credits page.
In CatchFlights
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