Ilyushin Il-62

The Ilyushin Il‑62 is a Soviet long‑range narrow‑body jet airliner developed by the Ilyushin Design Bureau in the early 1960s. First flown on 3 January 1963 and entering service with Aeroflot in 1967, the Il‑62 became the USSR’s answer to the Boeing 707 and Douglas DC‑8, offering trans‑continental capability for both passenger and diplomatic missions. Powered by four Kuznetsov NK‑8 turbofan engines mounted at the rear of the fuselage, the aircraft featured a distinctive T‑tail and a spacious 23‑meter cabin that could accommodate 168‑200 passengers in a two‑class configuration. Its advanced avionics suite, pressurised cabin, and ability to operate from relatively short runways made it a versatile platform for intercontinental routes across Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas. Over 300 Il‑62s were built, including the improved Il‑62M variant with more efficient Soloviev D‑30KU engines and increased range of 10 800 km. The type set several records for nonstop distance and payload during the Cold War, reinforcing Soviet aeronautical prestige and providing a reliable workhorse for state and commercial operators until the early 2000s. Today a handful of Il‑62s remain in service with government and cargo operators, serving as a testament to the durability of Soviet engineering.

Ilyushin

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