Ilyushin Il-86

By Patrick Mondout

While the Ilyushin Il-86 was intended as a replacement for the Il-62 on Aeroflot's long international and transcontinental routes, it was developed in response to the Boeing 747 and could carry as many as 350 passengers.

The aircraft was developed by the Soviet Union; announced in 1971, it first flew on December 22, 1976, and entered commercial service in 1980. The aircraft proved unable to meet its design goals with regard to range which left many Il-62 on longer routes until the Il-96 was developed in the 1990s.

The Il-86 was a unique aircraft in that passengers boarded into the lower level where they dropped off their luggage and then walked upstairs to their seats!

Ilyushin Il86 RA-86075, an Aeroflot Il-86 seen at London's Heathrow. Image courtesy of AirNikon. Find more of his photos at Airliners.net

Ilyushin Il-86 at a Glance
Engines	4 Kuznetsov NK-86 turbofans
Cruising Speed	590
Passengers	350
Range	2240 miles
Span	157ft 8in
Length	195ft 4in
Height	51ft 10in
Weight	458,500
Built	104
Final Production	1994
NOTE: Refers to first model; revisions usually hold more passengers and are more efficient.

Share Your Memories!

What do you remember about the Ilyushin Il-86? Were you a member of the flight crew on one? Have you any interesting stories to share? Share your stories with the world! (We print the best stories right here!)