The experimental long-haul Il-96-400M aircraft resumed flight tests after a six-month break. Its very first sortie became a record-setting one in terms of duration, the analytical blog "Letaem vmeste" reported.
On April 1, the aircraft completed its 18th flight as part of the test program. The machine spent a record 9 hours 6 minutes in the air, reaching an altitude of 11,000 meters and a speed of up to 930 km/h.
On April 8, the aircraft was in the air for about 5 hours 30 minutes, reaching an altitude of 10,100 meters and a speed of up to 870 km/h.
On April 10, the aircraft flew for about 4 hours, reaching an altitude of up to 10,000 meters and a speed of up to 840 km/h. On April 15, about 3 hours, climbing to an altitude of up to 7,000 meters.
Head of the Ministry of Industry and Trade Anton Alikhanov had previously stated that the Il-96-400M project would expand the fleet of civil airliners and support the development of the route network.
However, aviation expert Roman Gusarov noted that the actual production pace remains low. The Voronezh aircraft plant produces about one aircraft every two years.
Read more materials on the topic:
- The turboprop Il-114-300 has fully completed flight tests
- It will not happen in July: the certification timeline for the "Superjet" has been postponed again
- The certification timeline has been named for the VK-800 engine for the LMS-901 "Baikal"
