Flight tests of the Il-112V to Resume with New Prototypes

Undeterred after the crash of one of the Il-112V prototypes, Russia has decided to resume flight tests of the transport aircraft with new prototypes.

On August 17, an Il-112V prototype crashed in the Kubinka airfield during flight tests. Government-owned United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) confirmed that two pilots and a flight engineer - all highly experienced in flight testing - perished in the crash.

The prototype of the new Il-112V light military transport aircraft had flown in on August 13 to the Moscow region to for display at the Army-2021 forum.

According to photographs and videos being shared on social media, the Il-112V’s right engine caught fire after which the aircraft began to roll to the right, entered a steep dive and then crashed in the forest.

The incident was expected to delay further flight tests, but Russia is moving ahead with the original schedule using other prototypes of the jet.

“The flight test program will continue. At present, the second prototype of the Il-112V is undergoing strength tests at the stand, the third and fourth prototypes will be connected to flights,” a source in the military-industrial complex was quoted as saying by Izvestia.ru on Wednesday.

The third and fourth prototypes will be used for flight tests.

The Ilyushin Il-112V high-wing light military transport aircraft is being developed as a replacement for the Antonov An-26. It is the first new tactical transport aircraft designed since the Soviet era. The aircraft is designed for the transportation and airborne landing of light weapons and military equipment, cargo with a total weight of up to 5 tons.