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| Modernized Il-96-400M wide-body civil aircraft manufactured in Russia. (Source: Reuters) |
Commenting on the successful maiden flight of the modernized Russian-made Il-96-400M wide-body airliner, Morrison said Russia had no other choice. However, the expert noted that the new Russian aircraft may be reliable but will still be far inferior to Western aircraft.
On November 11, it was reported that the Russian Il-96-400M wide-body long-range aircraft took off for the first time. The flight proceeded normally. During the test, experts checked the stability and controllability of the aircraft, and confirmed the functionality of its systems, engines, and radio equipment.
The press service of the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade assessed the flight as a demonstration of the highest capabilities of domestic design departments and aircraft manufacturing plants. For his part, Sergei Chemezov, head of the Rostec technology corporation (the parent company of the United Aircraft Corporation - UAC, which includes the subsidiary Ilyusin), stressed that Russia has the technology to build wide-body, long-haul aircraft.
The Il-96-400M is a modernized version of the aircraft, with a wide body, more powerful engines and a capacity of up to 370 passengers. However, it was not included in the development program of the air transport industry until 2030 approved by the Russian government last summer.
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