Il-24

The Ilyushin Il‑24 was a Soviet twin‑engine transport prototype developed in the late 1940s as a successor to the wartime Il‑14 series. Initiated in 1947, the project aimed to combine higher payload capacity with improved aerodynamic efficiency for both civilian and military freight operations. The aircraft featured a low‑wing monoplane layout, retractable main landing gear, and a pressurised fuselage that allowed operation up to 8 000 meters. Powered by two Shvetsov ASh‑82V12 radial engines delivering 2 000 hp each, the Il‑24 could carry up to 10 000 kg of cargo or accommodate 35 passengers in a comfortable, heated cabin. Innovative elements included a double‑deck cargo hold, a rear loading ramp, and an electrically driven de‑icing system. Although flight testing demonstrated reliable performance and a cruising speed of 470 km/h, the programme was cancelled in 1951 when the larger Il‑18 offered superior range and payload. Nevertheless, the Il‑24 contributed valuable data on high‑altitude pressurisation and payload distribution that informed later Soviet transports, cementing its role as an important transitional step in the evolution of mid‑century cargo aviation. Its legacy endures in modern Russian cargo designs, where the principles of modular loading and pressurised cabins remain commonplace.