Russia's stretched Il-96-400M makes maiden flight

Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) carried out the maiden flight of the prototype Ilyushin Il-96-400M, RA-96115, on November 1. Sergei Sukhar, the Ilyushin Design Bureau’s chief pilot, was in command, joined by four other crewmembers, including another pilot, a navigator, an engineer and a test specialist. During the 26-minute flight from the VASO facility in Voronezh, southwestern Russia, the four-engined aircraft reached an altitude of 2,000ft and speeds of 210kt and conducted tests of stability, manoeuvrability, system and engine performance