An African company has modernized the Soviet Il-76 transporter for tourist flights to Antarctica. The heavy machine was used as a military aircraft, and now it has been converted to carry passengers.
The cabin has been fitted with comfortable seats, sanitary areas, and screens for passenger entertainment. Tourists can observe part of the route from the navigator's cabin through panoramic windows — a rare format for civil aviation.
The flight takes several hours, and the program includes not only the flight itself, but also excursions in Antarctica. The cost of the trip starts from 1 million rubles per ticket.
As of the beginning of 2026, the Military Transport Aviation of the Russian Aerospace Forces operated up to 200 Il-76s, including Il-78 tankers and 37 new Il-76MD-90As built in Ulyanovsk. There are at least 40–50 aircraft in storage.
Read more materials on the topic:
- Il-76 in the sky for 55 years — how the "aircraft of a hundred professions" became indispensable
- Didn't take off: the reason for the low production volume of Il-76MD-90A in Russia revealed
- New heavy transport aircraft Il-76MD-90A built in Russia
