TsAGI progressing towards Il-276 airlifter development.

The Ilyushin Company that is a transport aviation department of Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), and the Zhukovsky Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute (TsAGI) have agreed on the wind tunnel tests of a model of the advanced Ilyushin Il-276 transport plane, the company’s press office said.

Il-276 airlifter scale model at MAKS 2017

During the tests, the plane’s configuration and flight performance will be determined, the press office added.

"Ilyushin Company designers are to achieve the maximum aerodynamic lift and lift-to-drag ratio of the wing. Our task is to develop a more sophisticated wing with a lighter weight," the press office quoted First Deputy CEO of the Ilyushin Company Pavel Cherenkov as saying.

During the next stage of the wind tunnel tests, an optimal wing sweep and high-lift configuration will be chosen.

According to Cherenkov, a full-scale model of the plane with an uninterrupted high-lift wing has already been tested in cruising flight modes and during takeoff and landing in the wind tunnel.

"During the test, aerodynamic characteristics of the plane were obtained. They confirmed that the right wing configuration had been chosen. Thus, it will be recommended for the further work on the Il-276 plane," Cherenkov said.

The Il-276 medium military transport plane formerly known as the Russian-Indian Multipurpose Transport Aircraft (MTA) is being developed to replace the Antonov An-12 (NATO reporting name: Cub) plane.

The Il-276 is planned to perform its maiden flight in 2023. The R&D work is expected to be completed in 2025. The serial delivery of Il-276 planes to the Defense Ministry is planned to begin in 2026.

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