Minister: Upgraded Il-96-400m plane finishes first flight

MOSCOW, Nov 1 (PRIME) -- The upgraded wide-bodied long-range Russian aircraft Il-96-400M has successfully finished its first flight, the government said in a statement on Wednesday quoting Deputy Prime Minister and Industry and Trade Minister Denis Manturov.

“The first and successful flight of the upgraded Il-96-400M plane is a showcase of the highest level of competences of the national design bureaus and aviation plants. The plane not only maintained the performance of Il-96-300, but also acquired new exploitation and transportation capabilities,” Manturov said.

The body of the new plane is 9.35 meters longer than the body of Il-96-300. It can carry up to 370 passengers, and is propelled by more powerful PS-90A1 engines.

United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) CEO Yury Slyusar said that the new Il-96-400M long-range plane will expand the model line of the UAC aircraft, which already contains short-range SJ-100 and medium-range MC-21 planes. The new addition will allow the company “to cover the route network throughout the entire country and to substitute foreign analogues,” Slyusar said as quoted by the government.

Sergei Chemezov, CEO of state industrial corporation Rostec, said that the flight range of Il-96-400M stands at 8,100 kilometers, and that it will ensure cargo transportation and transport accessibility of different regions of the country. Creation of the aircraft like the Il-96-400M plane is a unique competence that would help Russia ensure its technological sovereignty, Chemezov said.

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