The story
The Il-86 was the Soviet Union's first wide-body airliner, built for trunk routes and airports with no jet bridges. Passengers climbed built-in airstairs into the lower deck, stowed their own luggage, then walked upstairs to a 320-seat cabin. 106 were built; the last airline examples retired in 2011, and the survivors serve with the Russian Air Force.
Il-86 passengers boarded through the lower deck and carried their own bags aboard — a 'luggage at hand' system designed for airports with almost no ground equipment.
Quick answers
How do you identify a Il-86?
A wide-body with four engines on separate underwing pylons and a conventional low tail. Look low on the fuselage, below the cabin windows, for the lower-deck doors where the hydraulic airstairs fold out. Any Il-86 flying today is in Russian Air Force service.
What does a Il-86 sound like?
Four Kuznetsov NK-86 turbofans with a loud, throaty roar.
How fast is the Il-86?
Top speed is 470 kts (Mach 0.82).
How many passengers does the Il-86 carry?
Up to 350. A typical layout is 320 passengers.
How far can the Il-86 fly?
Range is about 2,700 nmi.
How big is the Il-86?
It is 197 ft 7 in long and 157 ft 8 in across the wings.
When did the Il-86 first fly?
Its first flight was in 1976.
How many Il-86s have been built?
106 built.
How rare is a Il-86 in Bogey?
LEGENDARY. The top tier. Spotters plan trips around a catch like this. Your first Il-86 catch is worth 1,000 points.
