MOSCOW. Dec 29 (Interfax-AVN) - About 100 more flights are needed to complete joint state tests of the upgraded IL-76MF Candid military transport plane, Viktor Livanov, director general of the Ilyushin aircraft corporation, said on Wednesday.
"Final stages of joint state tests are very expensive. Large funding volumes are required for preparations for test flights, not only for flights as such," Livanov told Interfax-Military News Agency.
"The year 2005 will see stages of IL-76MF joint state tests that deal with special programs concerning the plane's use according it is main roles," he said.
"Possible funding problems may cause postponement of the deadline for joint state tests in general," Livanov noted.
A source in the defense industry told Interfax-AVN that tests of the IL-76FM are already lagging behind the schedule. "The plane should have made six flights according to a state test stage, but only one flight has been made so far," he said.
This stage of tests cannot be completed because a plane component has broken down and must be replaced. "Acquisition of necessary spare parts from the Tashkent aircraft production association (Uzbekistan), which produces them, is slow due to customs formalities," the source said.
The IL-76MF made its maiden flight yet in August 1995. It has several important improvements over the IL-76MD, which is the most popular Russian-made military transport currently in operation in Russia and abroad, as well as over its civilian variety IL-76TD. It is powered by more economic and environment-friendly PS-90A engines made in Russia. The cargo compartment is 6.6m longer. The plane has a new sighting and navigation system. The maximum take-off weight is increased to 210t and the payload to 60t.
The IL-76MF has a cargo compartment volume expanded by 50 percent and fuel efficiency increased by 15 percent as compared to the IL-76MD. Its cargo capacity is higher 1.3 to 1.5 times. The plane meets ICAO noise and emission requirements.
The IL-76MF can transport up to 217 people in the single- deck variety and up to 305 people in the double-deck variety. Flight range amounts to 4,200km with maximum payload of 60t, 6,200km with a load of 40t, and 8,500km with a payload of 20t.