A re-engining programme for the Ilyushin Il-76 freighter is being put together by the Ilyushin design bureau and TAPO Chkalov plant, based at Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
The two organisations are negotiating a business plan with Russian and CIS freighter operators covering the re-engining of 40-60 Il-76s. The 50t (110,000lb)-payload freighter's four 26,500lb-thrust (118kN) Aviadvigatel D-30Ks would be replaced by the quieter, more efficient 39,650lb-thrust PS-90A. There are believed to be 900 Il-76s in service worldwide, the oldest over 25 years old. The re-engining candidates have 10-12 years of airframe life left.
The engine offered is a higher-thrust PS-90 being developed for the Il-96-300 freighter and proposed for the Il-96M/T (Flight International, 29 February-6 March).
The powerplant will boost range and enable the aircraft to comply with International Civil Aviation Organisation noise and emission requirements. The re-engining programme is supported by Russia's Aerospace Agency.
Source: Flight International
