What airplane is this?

Ilyushin Il-96

 

There's one at IAD today that arrived from Moscow this morning, reportedly to pick up some folks who've been told to leave the country.

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https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/ra-96023

 

And I think we know who those folks are!

Back in the late '80s, some relatives of my mom came to visit from Uzbekistan, and they arrived on this aircraft's predecessor, the Il-86. I had to meet them at JFK airport and take them over to TWA for their flight down to my parents in Florida. On their return north, after I left them at the departure ticket counter (which was in the Pan Am Worldport), I went to the rooftop parking area (which was closed after 9/11) and watched the Ilyushin take off, the only time I ever saw one airborne. Unlike the Il-96, which has fairly modern engines, the Il-86 was so inefficient it had to make two stops for fuel between Moscow and New York!

 

That's funny, and I remember when sticking around the airport to watch someone's plane take off was a thing.

 

Most airports had a designated viewing area. I remember viewing aircraft at MIA, LGA and the old, pre-1980 ATL.

 

Aeroflot used to fly those into ORD.

 

Last I saw, they were flying leased 767s and 777s!

 

They’re still around. There’s one at Fort Lauderdale and they have a pa with the tower on.

 

[QUOTE="Gatorrari, post: 145901729, member: 5342.... Unlike the Il-96, which has fairly modern engines, the Il-86 was so inefficient it had to make two stops for fuel between Moscow and New York![/QUOTE]

I can remember seeing a vid on TV about Russian airliners being towed from the gate to the end of the runway for engine start... could not afford to waste fuel on taxiing, they needed every drop to reach their destination...

 

The one carrying the tossed diplomats is a charter. I would not fly on the bloody thing, for sure.

 

Not sure they had a choice!

 

No, from what I understand, two of them carried 171 diplomats and family members and most of their junk back to Mother Russia.

 

And that's also happening in England...

Guessing our diplomats from St. Petersburg will come home on Boeing products.