Ilyushin IL-76 MD

9 aircraft

The Il-76, the Soviet Union's primary strategic transport aircraft, revolutionized military and commercial heavy-lift operations with its ability to carry 40 tonnes while operating from unprepared Arctic airstrips. First flown in 1971, it was a high-wing four-engine turbofan transport that could accommodate massive cargo loads or serve as a military transport for 126 troops. With a maximum takeoff weight of 418,878 pounds and a range of 2,700 miles, it was manufactured by the Ilyushin design bureau.