Ilyushin Il-18

Ilyushin Il-18
Country	Soviet Union
Role	Turboprop airliner and reconnaissance aircraft
First flight	4 July 1957
Built	670+

The Ilyushin Il-18 is a large turboprop airliner that first flew in 1957 and became one of the best known Soviet aircraft of its era. The Il-18 was one of the world’s principal airliners for several decades[citation needed] and was widely exported. Due to the aircraft’s durability, many examples achieved over 45,000 flight hours[citation needed] and the type remains operational in both military and (to a lesser extent) civilian capacities. The Il-18’s successor was the longer-range Ilyushin Il-62.

Source: Ilyushin Il-18 on Wikipedia

Ilyushin Il-18V Walk Around
Photographer	Vladimir Yakubov
Localisation	Minsk-Borovaya Air Museum, Belarus
Photos	130

Ilyushin Il-18V 001

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General Characteristics (Soviet Era)

The Ilyushin Il-18 (NATO reporting name: Coot) is a large, four-engine turboprop airliner first flown in the mid-1950s. It was one of the Soviet Union’s most successful and enduring airliners, setting several world records for speed and lifting capacity. It became a workhorse for Aeroflot and was widely exported.

Property	Value (Typical Il-18D Variant)
Role	Medium/Long-Range Airliner, Cargo, Military Transport
Manufacturer	Ilyushin Design Bureau
First Flight	July 4, 1957
Crew	5 (Pilot, Co-pilot, Flight Engineer, Navigator, Radio Operator)
Capacity	65 to 120 passengers (depending on configuration)
Wingspan	37.42 m (122 ft 9 in)
Max Takeoff Weight	64,000 kg (141,100 lb)

Design and Powerplant

Engines: Four Ivchenko AI-20 turboprop engines.
Power Output: Approx. 3,169 kW (4,250 shp) each.
Propellers: Large, four-bladed reversible pitch propellers.
Construction: Conventional low-wing cantilever monoplane with all-metal semi-monocoque construction.
Key Feature: The Il-18 was renowned for its robustness, efficiency, and excellent cruise performance for a turboprop of its era, making it highly competitive with Western designs like the Lockheed Electra.

Performance and Military Use

Maximum Cruise Speed: 675 km/h (419 mph, 364 knots).
Maximum Range (Il-18D): Approximately 6,500 km (4,000 miles) with maximum fuel and reduced payload.
Service Ceiling: 10,000 m (33,000 ft).
Military and Specialized Variants: The Il-18 airframe proved versatile and was developed into several military and specialized roles, including:
- Il-20M Coot-A: Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) / Electronic Intelligence (ELINT) and reconnaissance platform.
- Il-38 May: Maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare (ASW) aircraft.
Endurance: Many Il-18s had exceptionally long service lives, with some civilian and military variants still in limited operation in the 21st century, primarily as cargo planes or specialized platforms.