A special long-haul Il-96-300 aircraft of the "Russia" flight detachment made a flight to China on Tuesday, May 12. Information about the flight appeared on monitoring resources.
Judging by the flight trajectory, the crew directed the aircraft along a verified northern route. The aircraft passed through the Urals and Siberia, bypassed Mongolia from the west, entered Chinese airspace, and headed for the capital.
The journey of 5822 kilometers took 6 hours and 57 minutes. The return flight from the PRC took place on the evening of May 14 at 20:04, and the aircraft landed on the night of May 15 in Moscow. It is interesting that at this time, US President Donald Trump was on a visit to the capital of the PRC.
Il-96 Characteristics:
- Maximum speed — 900 km/h
- Cruising speed — 850–870 km/h
- Service ceiling — 13,100 m
- Flight range — up to 9000 km (with maximum payload)
Despite its venerable age, the Il-96 series has not lost its potential for innovation. Aviation expert Roman Gusarov noted that equipping the aircraft with two PD-35 engines will breathe new life into the aircraft, but changes to the aircraft's design are necessary.