The Il-18. When you create a turboprop airliner Il-18 took its predecessor with the same designation, but piston engines. Special attention in the design of the aircraft, the designers paid more than the full security of the flight and the high economic and operational performance. Unlike the An-10 and Tu-104, Il-18 produced according to the rules of civil aircraft — the rejection of the two-storey cabin crew has significantly reduced its volume.
The development of Il-18 under TVD NK-4 was started in 1956 On the instructions of the aircraft was calculated to transport 75 passengers and 4,000 kg of cargo (including Luggage) at a speed of 600 — 650 km/h on distance up to 3000 km and 5000 km, the commercial load in 4 so His run should not exceed 650 m, and the range is 600 m. however, the military demanded to ensure the shipment of 100 people landing landing recumbent and up to 70 wounded. The crew was asked of five people, including a flight attendant In October 1957 the car was required to pass the state tests in the CAF and air force.
Developing Il-18, designers have tried to create to the passenger the conditions close to the ground. Besides comfortable chairs, and individual ventilation and lighting for the decoration of the salons choice of colors and cladding materials to provide passengers a beneficial effect. The air conditioning system is allowed to maintain in salons nearly constant temperature in the range of 20°C.
The pressure in the cockpit and cabin to the altitude of 5200 m was kept the same as at sea level, further rise it fell and at an altitude of 10 000 m correspond to the atmospheric at an altitude of 2400 m.
Great attention was paid to the choice of sound insulation, although in fully meeting this challenge, and failed for reasons beyond the control of the designers of the aircraft.
4 July 1957 the crew of the test pilot V. K. Kokkinaki tested the machine in the air. According to one version, in the same month, during an inspection of the plane by the leaders of the party and government, first Secretary of the Moscow city Committee of the CPSU E. A. Furtseva suggested to name it “Moscow”.
The second prototype aircraft, designated Il-18-8A, constructed in 1958, after which the government authorized its serial production. Unlike its predecessor, it had a wing with two connectors, technologically generously shared on the center, middle and outer part. In the center there was a soft fuel tanks, and in the middle and outer parts of caisson tanks, fully salivaries fuel. Then he perekomponovkoy passenger cabin, placing a canteen, changing rooms and toilets in the area of the screws.
Il-18 “Moscow” over new capital
5 may 1958, five days before the transfer of the new airliner on state tests in NII VVS, lost the first Il-18A, held military tests in the 2nd air division special purpose. This testing started with a delay of 15 days. He headed the state Commission for testing Il-18 Deputy chief of the CAF N. Zakharov.
Tests showed that in piloting Il-18 is simple and available to pilots of average qualification. The liner had a mass of 56 tons, can continue the takeoff with the failure of one engine. At the same time, flying in difficult weather conditions, and above maleoriented terrain, over water and on international flights was considered rather difficult due to the lack of working on the car on-Board radar (radar), systems far and near navigation, reliable astronomical systems, multi-channel VHF radios, multiple radios for landing using the system SP-50.
Control of the aircraft and control operation of the power plant was for the pilot considerable difficulties, especially in adverse weather conditions.
In conclusion, the air force Institute noted that the plane of the test stand and can be recommended for use in the air force and the CAF on the lines connecting Moscow with Irkutsk, and Petropavlovsk-on-Kamchatka, Vladivostok and Alma-ATA.
A significant drawback of the machine was the high level of noise. It was considered the quietest cockpit (85 — 95 dB), and the most zvakavapano — kitchen (108 — 117 dB). But with the noise on the Il-18, despite the rearrangement of salons, to cope and failed, moreover, the subsequent replacement of engines of AI-20 only complicated the solution to this problem.
Passenger aircraft Il-18V:
1 — Radome radar CSN-2АМГ; 2—front antenna III band Radiotechnika No. 1,3—window, crew cab, 4—cone stub antenna emergency shortwave radio; 5 — wire reduction, 6—wire main beam of the antenna of the radio RSB-5/1230 and 1-RSB-70, 7—door, 8—spinner, 9—turboprop engine, AI-20, 10—the outside handles of emergency exits; 11—the escape hatch 12 — window of the passenger cab; 13—rain visor; 14—dorsal fin, 15 Kil, the 16—antenna stations of the system of short-range navigation RSBN-2S, 17,76 and 81 —dischargers static electricity, 18—antenna of the defendant No. 2,19—transmitting station antenna system for short-range navigation RSBN-2C; 20—rudder, 21—rudder trimmer, 22 — tail Kok; 23—rear antenna III band Radiotechnika No. 1; 24—tail safety support, 25—antenna Doppler navigation of an Autonomous system of US-1; 26 and 47 — pulsed optical beacons media-2; 27—receiver static pressure; 28 — antenna radio RSIU-5; 29—receiver full pressure PPD-1, 30 and 43—landing-taxiing, FRS-200, 31 is the receiver temperature, P-1, a 32—antenna of the defendant No. 2, 33 antenna of the defendant No. 1, 34—removable cover nacelle to access the flame tube turboprop engine, AI-20, 35 — intake ventilation of the nacelle; 36 — air intake cooling of the generator; 37,38,39 and 40—fold main landing gear, 41 —the bottom cover of the nacelle; 42 and 60, the air intake inlet of the cooler tunnels of the theater, the 44—detachable console wing, 45 — air screw AV-68И, 46—air intake turboprop engine, AI-20, 48—fairing bushing, the 49 — cassette signal cartridges EXP-39, 50—wheel 700×250 mm; 51 —the first hatch of the Luggage compartment, 52—brake wheel 930×305 mm, 53 — cover of the second Luggage compartment, 54—cover third Luggage compartment; 55—nozzle turbine generator TG-16, 56—tail antenna of the defendant No. 1; 57 and 72—blinds ventilation of the nacelle; 58 — fairing centrifugal breather, 59—air intake for ventilation of the engine compartment, 61 —fold adjustable tunnel cooler TVD; 62—a cylinder retract front landing gear, 63—strut 64 lock released position landing gear, 65—clip lock the retracted position of the front support, 66—lock the retracted position of the front support; a 67 hydraulic cylinder turning the front wheels, 68—lateral brace, 69 and 74—loop antenna, automatic radio compasses ark-11; 70—fairing Daisy chain antennas automatic radio compass, ark-11; 71 antenna radio marker MRP-56П, 73 — slit landing flap; 75—stabilizer, 77 — handlebar height 78—trimmer of the Elevator; 79 and 82 maintenance hatches for maintenance of radio and electrical equipment, 80—Aileron, 83—lock the retracted position the main landing gear, 84—rear strut, 85 — slot-hinge, 86—anti-roll damper truck; 87—top pull compensation mechanism, 88—strut 89—side brace, 90—truck, 91—the lock released position main landing gear, 92—a cylinder retract main landing gear long haul
In 1958 at the Moscow aviation plant № 30 build 20 ships. Despite the successful completion of state tests, trial operation of Il-18 has been delayed due to massive failures of TVD NK-4. Replacement TVD AI-20 led to the weighting of the aircraft at 670 kg, and the strengthening of the wing, the fuselage and tail, as well as extra passenger seats — 1189 kg However, because of the greater thrust of the screws had improved takeoff performance of the machine.
30 September 1958 made the first flight of the Il-18B with turboprop engine, AI-20 On this machine due to the strengthening of the wing and chassis increased the weight of commercial loads up to 14 tons take-off weight reached 61,2 T. Externally, the new liner could seat 89 passengers, differed from its predecessor in the location of the Windows in the passenger compartment during repair, the Il-18B changed not only the layout of the salons, but also set the auxiliary power unit (APU) TG-16. Just built a 65 Il-18B.
10 Dec 1959 first took to the air Il-18V. The plane, originally designed for 78 passengers, differed from its predecessor the new layout of the passenger compartment and office space. There were three cabins of different classes. In the first two salons were established seats of tourist class with a step of 900 mm, and in the back — four in a row with a step 1120 mm In 1961 there was an option designed for 84 passengers in three salons However, in the course of operation and this was not enough. Reducing the seat pitch to 840 mm, the number of passengers brought to 89. But it soon became clear, and this is not the limit Then followed by 105, 110 and 127-local options.
In 1963, completed tests of the Il-18V with engines of the AI-20K. As such, the aircraft is serially issued before December 1965 the Il-18V, starting with machine serial No. 2601, installed auxiliary power unit (APU), TG-16, but it happened to the customer handed over the vehicle and batteries. Subsequently appeared VSU TG-16A, allows you to operate on high ground, providing start the engines at altitudes up to 4200 m.
The Il-18V was, in fact, the first aircraft, which fully resolved the issues of flight safety for Example, failure of one engine, with automatic or forced feathering of the blades of the propellers were allowed to continue horizontal flight at altitudes up to 8,000 m was Not excluded and the flight on two engines, but at a lower altitude.
For safety fuel tanks placed in wing consoles. In power plants of all hot parts insulated from the structural elements of the wing walls of heat resistant steel and titanium alloy. The exhaust pipes of engines laid over the supporting surface and brought them to its rear edge. Contributed to flight safety and intensive cooling and ventilation of the nacelle. The aircraft is equipped with a powerful sprinkler system.
The first prototype of the Il-18 aircraft with engines NK-4
Transport aircraft Il-18T
Il-18V in front of the airport Sheremetyevo
Il-18V airline “IRS-Aero”
To improve the reliability of vital navigation instruments, units of radio and high-altitude equipment duplicated navigation equipment allowed to fly in poor visibility and adverse weather conditions. It is complemented by highly efficient electro-thermal anti-icing system.
In electrical equipment used annular multi-channel system power unit and four-channel bilateral power connection to the distribution busbars Is ensured of continued operation of electrical equipment before failure the last source of electricity Total built 334 Il-18V.
In the early 1960s, the specialists of OKB-240 is proposed to modify the Il-18V for nonstop flights to a distance of over 5,000 km, placed in the center section of the wing an additional integral tank with a volume of 6300 L.
At the same time proposed to perform the interior finishing of the aircraft on the model of the “salon” option. For the convenience of passengers, the ventilation of the cockpit and on the ground with running engines was carried out from ground-based air conditioners. On Board the ship provided liferafts and refrigerators “ZIL”.
In December 1960 started production tests of the second prototype of the Il-18I due to the lengthening of the fuselage by 1.64 m in his salons were able to place 125 passenger seats, limiting the flight range of the machine has reached 6500 km.
Il-18 was tested in GosNII GVF, and in may 1962 it was used for control tests According to CAF, the Il-18I can be operated on the highways of the far North, and between Moscow and Jakarta was not excluded flights to other remote countries.
A series of Il-18 AND did not go, and its further development was the Il-18E, differing, mainly, lightweight and more modern equipment, including the passenger seat Advanced air conditioning system created a comfortable environment for passengers and crew while parked on the ground, particularly in regions with a hot climate. This type of aircraft first manned turboprop engine, AI-20K, and then in the course of repair — AI-20M. Built 23 machines of this type.
The appearance of the engine AI-20M takeoff power 4250 e l s , which existed before the ambient temperature of +30 degrees and the atmospheric pressure is 730 mm Hg.St., allowed to bring takeoff weight of Il-18 to 64 000 kg While the free space in the center section took the integral tank. At the same time on the plane was replaced by radio communication and electrical equipment, has introduced a navigation system “Path-4M”, allowed semi-automatic control of aircraft and control system landing BSU-ZP.
In early 1966, the car went to the passenger airline a Year later on 14 October, the crew of the L M. Ulanova mounted on the Il-18D women’s world record, flying on the route Simferopol — Moscow — Magadan 7661,949 km and six days Later the same crew rose to a height of 513 m. 13 It was the last world records of the liner. Only built 122 aircraft of this modification.
On the basis of Il-18 have created a transport Il-18T, training-mate, the Il-18УШ, cargo Il-18Гр and Il-18ГрМ, and a number of modifications of special and military purposes.
Regular flights of the Il-18A with passengers on Board started on 20 April 1959 on the Moscow — Adler (Sochi) Followed paved new routes to Sverdlovsk, Leningrad, Tomsk, Tyumen, Norilsk, Krasnoyarsk, Yakutsk…
In the same year on June 22 the CAF lost the first aircraft as a result of a forced landing in a field near Tula.
В1959, Il-18 entered the international track. In the summer of 1960, five of the crew of Il-18 went on a humanitarian mission in the Congo. For three months in very difficult climatic conditions, they transported more than 2,000 passengers and 207 tons of cargo.
In 1963, the Il-18 in speed and range was not inferior to the later liner “Vanguard” of the company “Vickers” and even had some of the best weight characteristics and the resource of engines AI-20 closer to 2000 hours, which was close to world-class theater. Had the aircraft and good economic performance. This largely contributed to the popularity of the ship and its supply abroad. Naturally, these “Elah” was different and interior design, and better build Even more carefully going ships and engines for the 235th separate squadron of the CAF, carrying out especially important flights.
Experts and passengers considered that the best interior trim of all domestic aircraft in the mid-1960s was the Il-18.
Basic data of passenger aircraft Il-18
Original liner established online 25 000 flight hours, subsequently it was extended to 40,000 h. Il-18 was considered and the quietest aircraft compared to its “peers”. But “foreigners” was not so noisy To compare with turboprop “Vaykaunt” firm “Vikkers” the noise level does not exceed 94 dB (Il-18 — over 100 dB).
The last accident happened on 20 November 2001, on the border of the Tver and Yaroslavl regions. On the night of 19 November 2001 on crashed Il-18V RA-75840 (commander And N. Sominski) airline “IRS Aero” which was carrying out flight from Khatanga to Moscow. The true cause directly leading to death, could not be established, although it is safe to say that once again the human factor has worked After this tragedy, the interstate aviation Committee banned airlines the carriage of passengers by Il-18. But this prohibition does not apply to military “Elah”.
Il-18 was widely used for missions in the Arctic. The flights sometimes occurred in the absence of navigation, using primarily radar “Logo”. In the spring of 1977, the Il-18 first landed on the ice airfield of the Arctic ocean to evacuate the expedition “Sever-77”.
In 1959, in the Office of polar aviation (UPA) received two Il-18. Long range Il-18V (even more increased after the installation in the cabin additional fuel tank), allowed in 1961 to fly to Antarctica via Australia In 1980 tried the shorter route via Odessa, Cairo, Aden, Maputo station Youth.
Delivery of Il-18 for export began in November 1959 the First aircraft was acquired by China, then the Republic of Ghana. Il-18 can be found in the skies of Afghanistan, Bulgaria, Vietnam, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Romania, Cuba, Guinea, Djibouti, Egypt, Iran, Yemen, Qatar, North Korea, Sudan, Mauritania, Syria and Yugoslavia and other countries.