Aircraft movements at LAX are primarily dominated by Airbus and Boeing jets. Occasionally though we're treated to rare sights, and one such occasion occurred a few months ago when a Russian-built Ilyushin IL-76 aircraft visited LAX for the first time in over a decade, stopping en-route to a Southeast Asia destination. While the aircraft is categorized as a medium-range transporter, it cannot operate transpacific flights safely without fuel stops along the way. LAX just happened to be the first of three for this aircraft, on this particular assignment.
LAX is not a total stranger to Russian-built aircraft. Every year, we see a number of Antonov AN-124's transporting oversized cargo in and out of this airport. I've posted about one such visit before. IL-76's are another matter however. The last recorded visit that I could find online occurred in 1995. This aircraft, while there have been nearly 1000 produced in over 36 years of availability, just doesn't visit our airport. For those lucky enough to be around LAX that day, myself included, seeing the IL-76 was a truly amazing experience.
The bulk of the IL-76 fleet built over the years does not have engines efficient enough to meet current and future regulatory noise and emissions requirements in the United States, and as such are not cleared to fly inside US airspace. The aircraft that visited LAX is one of only a handful of newer built aircraft incorporating new PS-90A-76 engines that do. While there is an effort underway to retrofit more aircraft with the newer engine, it's a modest one at the moment and it might be a while before we get to see an airplane like this at LAX again.
Below, a few "Candid" shots of one great looking IL-76.
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