Ilyushin Il-78
The Ilyushin Il-78 (NATO reporting name Midas) is a four-engined aerial refueling tanker based on the Il-76.
Design and development
The Il-76 tanker was conceived as long ago as 1968, but the transferable fuel load for the initial version was only 10 tonnes, which was insufficient, so development was shelved. When the higher performance Il-76 became available the tanker project was re-started in 1982 as the Il-78.
In addition to the increased fuel load of the late model Il-76, the Il-78 has two removable 18,230-liter fuel tanks installed in the freight hold, giving transferable loads of 85,720 kg (189,000 lb) (with hold tanks) or 57,720 kg (127,300 lb) (without). Controlled from the gunner station, which is stripped of military equipment, three aircraft can refuel in flight simultaneously from the UPAZ-1A (Il-78) / UPAZ-1M (Il-78M) refuelling pods fitted to the outer wings and rear fuselage. In addition, four aircraft can also be refuelled on the ground using conventional refueling hoses extending from the freight hold. Because of the aircraft's high all-up weight after take-off, which in an emergency would mean landing at weights well in excess of maximum allowable landing weight, the Il-78 has a fuel jettison system with jettison ports at the wingtips.
Soon after the Il-78 passed acceptance tests in 1984, Ilyushin were instructed to design and produce an upgraded version to be known as Il-78M. The Il-78M is a dedicated tanker and cannot be converted back to the transport role easily. Adding a third freight hold tank increased transferable fuel to 105,720 kg (233,100 lb) and maximum take-off weight (MTOW) to 210,000 kg (460,000 lb), necessitating reinforcement of the wing torsion box. UPAZ-1M refueling pods improved maximum fuel flow to 2,340 l/min (514.8 Imp gal/min). Because the Il-78M is not "convertible", all cargo handling equipment was removed and cargo doors were deleted, saving approximately 5,000 kg (11,000 lb) in structural weight.
Early versions of the Il-78 have the fuselage pod mounted on a short horizontal pylon, but the Il-78M has the fuselage pod suspended from an identical pylon to the wing pods, attached to a short stub wing. This modification was served to isolate the pod from turbulence generated by the fuselage, with the added benefit of commonality with the wing pod/pylon combination. Some Il-78s were produced with Aeroflot colors and civilian registrations, but production Il-78Ms received military markings, registration and color scheme.
The majority of the twenty Il-78 aircraft on the strength of the Ukrainian Air Force have been permanently converted to pure transports, freight hold tanks and refueling equipment being removed.
Operational history
All Russian Air Force Il-78s are now part of the special 203rd "Orlovski" Regiment of aerial tankers, based at Dyagilevo Air Force Base.
Variants
- Il-78
- The Il-78 was the original production version with two removable fuselage tanks and maximum transferable load of 85.72 tonnes (188,540 lb).
- Il-78T
- Alternative designation for Il-78 due to retention of all cargo handling equipment and convertible freight hold.
- Il-78M
- The Il-78M entered service in 1987 as a dedicated tanker equipped with three permanent fuselage tanks, a higher gross weight of 210 tons, and no cargo door or cargo handling equipment. The cargo ramp is retained but non-functional. Total fuel capacity is 138 tonnes (303,600 lb), of which 105.7 tonnes (232,540 lb) is transferable.[2]
- Il-78ME
- Export version of Il-78M.
- Il-78MKI
- Customized variant of the Il-78ME for the Indian Air Force. These Uzbekistan-built planes are fitted with Israeli fuel transfer systems and can refuel 6-8 Sukhoi Su-30MKIs in one mission.[3][4]
- Il-78MP
- Multi-role aerial refuelling tanker/transport aircraft, with removable fuel tanks in cargo hold and UPAZ refuelling pods, for the Pakistan Air Force.[5][6]
Operators
As of 14 March 2009, 34 Il-78s remain in operation.[1]
- Algeria
- Egypt
- People's Republic of China
- India
- Libya
- Pakistan
- Pakistan Air Force - 4 Il-78MP aircraft ordered from Ukrainian surplus aircraft stocks, fitted with removable fuel tanks and UPAZ refuelling pods,[5][6] first of 4 aircraft delivered in December 2009.[6][9] A total of 3 Il-78MPs have been delivered to the PAF as of March 2011.
- Russia
- Ukraine
- United States
- North American Tactical Aviation, Inc. A private firm that was previously managed by Dwight Barnell, the company also known as "NATA" purchased several Il-78s for their outsourced, air to air inflight operations with various U.S. DoD agencies and sold the Il-78 FAA registered aircraft N78GF to Air Support Systems LLC, which then leased the aircraft to Tactical Air Support Systems Inc.[12][13]
- Tactical Air Defense Services, Inc. A publicly traded company listed as a U.S. bulletin board stock (TADF.OB) that claims to operate an Il-78 for outsourced U.S. an NATO contracts for air to air inflight operations with various U.S. DoD agencies. Alexis Korybut is the CEO and Chairman, Marc Shubin is a Director and Chief Pilot of the company Tactical Air Services Inc.[14][15]
- Air Support Systems LLC. A private company that is the registered owner on file with the FAA as N78GF. Air Support Systems LLC is owned by Gary Fears, an individual that is known for casino gaming ties to native American tribes throughout the U.S., Air Support Systems LLC., leased the Il-78 N78GF to Tactical Air Defense Services Inc. of which Gary Fears is the largest shareholder, along with Jamie Goldstein, Don Goldstein, Joel Ramsden, Dwight Barnell, Alexis Korybut and Michael Cariello.[16][17][18]
Potential operators
Specifications (Il-78M)[4]
General characteristics
- Crew: Six
- Capacity: 138,000 kg (304,233 lb) of fuel
- Length: 46.59 m (152 ft 10 in)
- Wingspan: 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in)
- Height: 14.76 m (37 ft 1 in)
- Wing area: 300 m² ()
- Empty weight: 72,000 kg (202,821 lb)
- Useful load: 85,720 kg (188,980 lb)
- Max takeoff weight: 210,000 kg (462,962 lb)
- Powerplant: 4 × Aviadvigatel D-30 KP turbofan engines, 118 kN (26,500 lbf) each
- Special equipment: 3 x UPAZ-1M 'Sakhalin', (oonifitseerovannyy podvesnoy agregaht zaprahvki — standardised suspended refuelling unit), refuelling pods; Two on pylons under the outer wings, and the third on the port side of the rear fuselage.
Performance
See also
- Related development
- Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
References
Notes
- ^ a b "Il-78 Production Numbers". AeroTransport Data Bank. http://www.aerotransport.org.
- ^ Gordon, Yefim; Kommissarov, Dmitriy (2002). Ilyushin Il-76, Russia's Versatile Airlifter. Midland. ISBN 1857801067.
- ^ Mukherjee, Amit (September 29, 2004). "IAF to get 5th IL-78 refueller soon". The TImes of India. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/IAF-to-get-5th-IL-78-refueller-soon/articleshow/867031.cms?flstry=1.
- ^ a b IL-78MKI Midas at Indian Military Database
- ^ a b Ansari, Usman (3 November 2008). "Pakistan Eyes Boost in Transport, Lift". Defense News. http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=3801474.
- ^ a b c "Pakistan Receiving IL-78 Refueling aircraft". Defense Industry Daily. 2008-12-08. http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/Pakistan-Receiving-IL-78-Refueling-aircraft-05191/. Retrieved 2009-07-24.
- ^ "Air Tanker Sector « Algerie Defense". Algerie-defense.org. http://www.algerie-defense.org/report-military-2009/air-tanker-report/. Retrieved 2011-10-01.
- ^ a b Adam Baddeley (February 2011). "The AMR Regional Air Force Directory 2011". Asian Military Review. http://www.asianmilitaryreview.com/upload/201102172337151.pdf. Retrieved 11 July 2011.
- ^ "First aircraft tanker arrives in Pakistan: PAF". GEO Pakistan. December 19, 2009. http://www.geo.tv/12-19-2009/55073.htm.
- ^ ru:203-й гвардейский авиационный полк
- ^ "Ukraine — Air Force Equipment". GlobalSecurity.org. http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/ukraine/vps-equipment.htm.
- ^ "FAA Registry for N78GF". FAA. http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=78GF&x=0&y=0. Retrieved March 21, 2010.
- ^ Photo of N78GF at airliners.net
- ^ "Tactical Air Defense". http://www.finance.yahoo.com/news/Tactical-Air-Defense-Services-pz-1275730184.html.
- ^ "Tactical Air Defense Services". Defense Procurement News. http://www.defenseprocurementnews.com/topics/companies/tactical-air-defense-services/. Retrieved 2011-10-01.
- ^ "N78GF". http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=78GF.
- ^ Wyatt Olson (2003-01-30). "Gamblin' Men - Page 3 - News - Broward/Palm Beach - Broward-Palm Beach New Times". Broward/Palm Beach. http://www.browardpalmbeach.com/2003-01-30/news/gamblin-men/3. Retrieved 2011-10-01.
- ^ "Tactical Air Defense Services Inc. News: Tactical Air Defense Services Receives FAA Approval for Its ILyushin IL-78 Mid-Air Refueling Supertanker". Realpennies.com. http://www.realpennies.com/index.php?option=com_stocksonline&controller=company&view=shownewsitem&id=29575&symbol=TADF. Retrieved 2011-10-01.
- ^ "Venezuela To Spend One Billion Dollar Russian Loan On Air Defense". RIA Novosti. October 2, 2008. http://www.spacewar.com/reports/Venezuela_To_Spend_One_Billion_Dollar_Russian_Loan_On_Air_Defense_999.html.
Bibliography
- Gordon, Yefim (2004). OKB Ilyushin: a history of the design bureau and its aircraft. Ian Allan. ISBN 1 85780 187 3.
The initial version of this article was based on material from aviation.ru. It has been released under the GFDL by the copyright holder.
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