IL-112 aircraft: characteristics and production

The fleet of transport aircraft of the Air Force of Russia is rapidly aging. This fact can not leave indifferent the leaders of the defense department, interested in maximum mobility of the armed forces. Aircraft, which for decades served as army "workhorses", gradually wear out, spare parts for them become less accessible, and the motor resource with all the reliability of the Ans is far from infinite. Progress in technology also contributes to the growth of the needs of both civilian carriers and their military counterparts. Everyone is waiting for a new plane, and there are some reasons to believe that the new "draft force" will be the Il-112. It is not yet "in metal", it exists only on paper, but in our technological time everything happens very quickly.

From Antonov to Ilyushin

In the USSR, the development of transport aircraft was traditionally handled by O.K. Antonova, located in the Ukrainian capital of Kiev. Oleg Konstantinovich was transferred to the capital of Soviet Ukraine in 1946 from Novosibirsk, where he headed the branch office of Yakovlev Design Bureau. Here, Antonov created many remarkable aircraft, most of which today are still flying heavens over the CIS countries and far beyond. These cars are reliable, beautiful and "friendly" to the pilots, they "forgive" some management errors.

After the collapse of the USSR, OK. Antonova became Ukrainian, and to solve the problems of the Russian armed forces in the field of transport aviation became more and more difficult from year to year. In addition to political contradictions, many technical failures also hinder the cause. Whatever the case, the Russian leadership set the task: to build aircraft independently, without relying on foreign suppliers and developers. Part of this strategy should be the Il-112, whose characteristics (in particular, the six ton tonnage capacity) will make it possible to successfully replace the large fleet of An-26, An-24T, An-32 and other vehicles serving in our army for several decades.

Army criteria

In the mid-nineties, the issue of re-equipping transport aviation was already quite acute. The main contenders for the supply of a new basic model of light-duty aircraft (5-6 tons) were two. Ukrainian An-140 in general, the Russian customers approached, but for a number of indicators is not quite satisfied with them. In particular, the army leadership insisted on the need for a ramp, which was very successful on the An-26, and represented both a ramp and a lifting gear.

One of the main requirements was the possibility of operation on unpaved runways. The Il-112 plane most closely corresponded to these declared parameters, with a single reservation. The Ukrainian An-140 was already assembled, it could be touched, but the Russian aircraft existed only on paper and mock-ups.

General scheme

The constructive-schematic approach shown by the designers of the firm "Ilyushin" is interesting. All that was good (and that was a lot) from the Antonovs, they adopted. In order to verify this, it is enough to compare the formulas of the last two aircraft KB - IL-114 and IL-112. The first (incidentally, it turned out to be not very successful) has a classic "Ilushin" scheme, which is characterized by a low-lying wing with two nacelles approved for the IL-12 and a round fuselage (monocoque) in section. This scheme, in turn, causing the association with the "Douglas" DS-3, was used in the design of the IL-18 and IL-38.

Aircraft of Antonov Design Bureau have other features: the wing has an upper position, the motors are suspended under it, the section of the fuselage from above includes a surface close to the half-cylinder, and from the bottom - almost flat (semi-monocock). This is how the IL-112 looks. The photos and dimensions suggest that the ideology of this aircraft is close to the An-24 and its subsequent modifications (An-26, An-30 and An-32).

Of course, this is not about plagiarism. Each aircraft design is developed based on a technical assignment, and common ideas will lead to the emergence of externally similar aircraft, even if their appearance is kept in strict secrecy. It is impossible to say that "Ilyushinites" copied something from the "Antonovs". Moreover, they have not received any preferences so far.

It should be noted that the problems persecuted the Il-112 from the very beginning of the project.

Problems with start-up in production

More than two decades ago, in 1993, the sketch model of the aircraft was presented for discussion by the state commission. A year later, after the government decree was issued, the design of its two versions began - military transport and passenger.

The original idea was to unite the efforts of the Bashkir oil workers and aircraft builders. At the plant in Kumertau (Ka helicopters are being built there), it was planned to launch another "aircraft" line, financing the project through the sale of hydrocarbons. In the circumstances of the "dashing nineties" of this venture, which at first promised success, unfortunately, nothing happened.

KB specialists decided to launch the production of IL-112 in Voronezh, at the VASO aircraft plant. The enthusiasm of the team was facilitated by the victory in the Air Force competition, at which the new car had to withstand a serious competition with the transport workers developed by the real masters of the business - Sukhoi Design Bureau, RAC MiG, Tupolev ANTK and the Experimental Machine Building Plant. V.M. Myasishchev. It seemed that success was near.

Unexpected obstacles

The fate of the IL-112 aircraft, however, was complicated. On the one hand, political and departmental reasons interfered with the successful launch in the series. The project of deep modernization of the heavy transport Il-76MD-90A absorbed too much budgetary funds, and therefore the developers of the then Defense Minister Serdyukov proposed to seek their own sources of financing. This task was obviously difficult, if at all had a solution, since foreign competitors came to the market of civil aviation, and for what, in fact, the aircraft was developed (that is, military order), money did not bring. On the other hand, another round of political trade with Ukraine began about the same An-140.

Technical problems

Although the task of finding funds in the absence of state financing was difficult, Ilyushin decided it. The project was included in the state defense order taking into account the term of the first flight. He was appointed in 2008, and then moved to the 2010th. The annual requirement was estimated at 18 pieces.

But by this date the developers could not get the result. There were several reasons, and they were of a purely technical nature. The main thing was that the partners (the plant named after V.Ya. Klimov) could not provide suitable engines for Il-112.

The characteristics of the aircraft depend on its power plant. The power required for this aircraft is 3,500 hp. (2 x 1.75 thousand), and the Klimovo engine TV7-117ST developed only 1.4 thousand. In order to show the required result, the new Ilu lacked 700 "horses".

General information about the aircraft

So, now about the main thing, that is about what the Il-112 is. It is an all-metal monoplane with a riveted connection of the main units made of titanium and precision duralite, with some elements made of composite materials. The wing is high, with two nacelles, its degree of mechanization is high, to reduce the run-out there are brake flaps. The fuselage is divided into three compartments. The cargo section (like all the others) is airtight. The tail plumage is T-shaped. The door is combined with the gangway, the ramp and ramp are in the tail section. The chassis has five supports, the main struts are retracted into the side rails along the sides.

Flight characteristics

The speed of the new aircraft will be approximately the same as that of the An-24 or An-26 - from 480 (cruising) to 550 km / h. The ceiling is 7600 m, the range is up to 1000 km, but the takeoff and landing characteristics will significantly improve. To take off, Ilu will need a VAP of 870 m in length, and to sit down - 600 m. Avionics has undergone serious changes. It is assumed that the devices will be the most modern. The cargo compartment is spacious, its capacity is greater than the cargo that An-140 can carry.

How good is it?

IL-112 - the plane is not perfect, but you can confidently say that it is quite good. Under the condition of replacing engines with domestic VK-3500 in some modifications of the design, it can fully fulfill the tasks of transport aviation, and even has a certain export potential. The machine of a new type was interested several years ago by the representatives of the armed forces of India, and a good reputation will prompt to look at it and other prospective customers. In addition, it is important that our Defense Ministry no longer harbors hopes for fruitful cooperation with its Western partners, stopping its focus on domestic technology. There is nothing more modern today, but time is running out.

Good news

The project celebrated its twentieth anniversary, it can be called a long-term construction. It is possible that in a different scenario of the political situation this project would add to the list of unrealized ideas, but recently there have been encouraging news. Il-112 will still be brought to mind, and on the direct order of the President of the Russian Federation. It is one of the best in its class, and its production will be an excellent way of raising the domestic aircraft building industry. This will require money, and they will be allocated.

Samara Aviakor will become the main base on which the Il-112 will be assembled. 2014, thus, became decisive in the fate of the aircraft. It is hoped that in a maximum of three years his first flight will take place.

Such a decision became possible after changing the concept of transport aircraft construction, namely - the collection of all production and design and engineering forces in a single structure. However, experts believe that it is not necessary to write off veteran aircraft from accounts beforehand. Modernization of proven and reliable aircraft equipment of Soviet models will give time to develop and bring to the desired level of new aircraft that will replace them.