Il-76MD-90A development project headed by United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) was being implemented since 2007 thanks to the efforts of many organizations. In the network of the project UAC – Transport Aircraft is responsible for pre-production and launch of Il-76MD-90A’s serial production, Ilyushin Company – for development of the aircraft, Aviastar-SP – for serial production of Il-76MD-90A. The following co-contractors are also taking part in the project: Perm Engine Company, Kotlin-Novator, Techpribor, MIEA, Gidroagregat, Aviaagregat, Electroprivod, etc.

The General Manager, Adrey Vladimirovich Yurasov, said: «The jet was moved from assembly workshop to the flight-test center of Aviastar-SP on July 7th 2012. An integrated team comprising specialists of Ilyushin, Aviastar and suppliers of aircraft systems and equipment has been formed.

The team includes the best specialists of the above-mentioned enterprises, which have a vast experience in the area of testing the aircraft systems and equipment of different versions of Il-76 jets. The preliminary ground testing has been started from this point on. The work of the integrated team was very intense. The development of aircraft systems and equipment with follow-on corrective actions taken by Aviastar-SP were being carried out day and night.

It is the brand-new product for Aviastar. That is why the manufacturer was paying special attention to it. The daily monitoring of test program, development and corrective actions has been arranged.

The first stage of ground testing was completed in August 2012 and then the jet was delivered to Ilyushin Company. «However, the work of the integrated team was not over. The second stage of the preliminary ground testing was started. This stage took great efforts from the specialists of Ilyushin and all the divisions of Aviastar-SP. The first start of PS-90A-76 engines was the key moment of the preliminary ground testing», - Yurasov said.

It stands to mention that PS-90A-76 is the state-of-the-art production engine manufactured by Perm Engine Company. PS-90A-76 engine has passed the state testing in accordance with the requirements of Russian Ministry of Defense and it also has the type certificate of Aviation Registry of Interstate Aviation Committee (AR IAC). This engine meets all the advanced ICAO requirements.

The first engine run was performed on September 13th 2012. The engine run was successful and it predestined the accelerated performance of work on preparation for the aircraft’s maiden flight.

After that the specialists of Ilyushin Company performed testing of all the jet’s systems and equipment with engines running.

CEO and General Designer of Ilyushin Company, Viktor Vladimirovich Livanov, resided at Aviastar-SP and managed all the important stages of preparation for the aircraft’s maiden flight. The most complicated technical and managerial problems have been solved under his supervision (V.V. Livanov and test-pilot N.D. Kuimov are pictured on the photo).

According to A.V. Yurasov, «the jet performed taxiing and run on September 21st 2012. The comprehensive evaluation of performance of braking system, thrust reversers, drag flaps, all the aircraft systems and equipment have been carried out during the run». The preparation for the jet’s maiden flight was controlled by the specialists of Methodic Council of Experimental Aviation headed by its Chairman and principal of Gromov Flight Research Institute, P.N. Vlasov. The Council’s approval of the aircraft’s maiden flight was received this very day.

Il-76MD-90A performed its maiden flight on September 22nd 2012; its duration was 29 minutes.

Performance of all the aircraft systems, engines and equipment, jet’s steadiness and controllability, work of electronic display system, performance of braking system, thrust reversers, drag flaps, flight navigation instruments, radio-technical and radio-communication equipment have been evaluated during the flight testing in accordance with the production flight test program.

According to the aircraft commander, test-pilot Nikolay Kuimov, “all the systems have been functioning as normal”.

But the most pleasant thing is that in parallel with the assembly of the Il-76MD-90A prototype Aviastar is carrying out pre-production activities. We have managed to visit some of the enterprise’s workshops and we have been impressed by what we have seen. The scope of work is enormous – there is every indication that the serial production of Il-76MD-90A is a reality. We would like to bring this special photo-report from Aviastar-SP to your attention:

photos taken by Roman Gusarov