Russians blow up own plane, kill one
Russia’s military was pressure-testing the sealing of the fuselage of an IL-76MD-90A , the updated model of the venerable IL-76, when something let go, killing one worker and injuring several others.
“At one of the assembly stages, the hermetic seal of the fuselage is checked by pumping excess pressure into the compartments,” said the plane’s manufacturer, United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), in a statement. “During these tests, a tragic incident occurred.”
The IL-76MD-90A is an upgraded version of the iconic, Soviet-designed Il-76, one of the biggest planes in the world. It’s got an improved wing structure and glass cockpit. The PS-90A-76 turbofan engines boost performance and payload while offering a more extended flight range and slashing fuel consumption.
Russia hopes to sell the new cargo plane to the Indian Air Force. India owns older models of the Il-76, which have been plagued by maintenance issues.
Safe to say, this specific plane probably did not pass this particular test. You just know the Indians (dot, not feather) are impressed. Great sales tool: “Okay, maybe the old ones broke down a lot. But our news ones blow up in low pressure by themselves! No maintenance intervention needed!”*
* if you think I am kidding, you have never seen a great salesman at work.
Category: International Affairs, Russia
We had a similar incident at the KC-135 Depot at Tinker AFB a few years back.
A man with his own homemade pressure test gauge destroyed one tanker.
Saw an IL-76 land at Bangor years ago. It went right over me
as I traveled on Interstate 95 where it passes by the end of
the runway. So huge it appeared to just hang in mid air.
That’s what happens when russian the job.
From memory IL-76 was comparable to C-141 B. Making it smaller than current C-17 and the reigning Solid Aluminum overcast (C-5B)
https://www.militaryfactory.com/aircraft/compare-aircraft-results.php?form=form&aircraft1=191&aircraft2=32&Submit=COMPARE
A neighbor, callsign “Dutch,” got an IL-76 during Desert Storm. It was carrying a bunch of high ranking muckety mucks from Iraq to Iran. He was in an F-15C and cleared by an AWACs to fire a Sparrow down through the clouds to an unsuspecting target. He did not get confirmation until weeks later when a team reached the wreckage.
I read the title and thought they were talking about the Russian SU-34 that Russian ADA shot down the other day. That was a $50M oopise.
Ukraine Situation Report: Russian Su-34 Fullback Goes Down In Flames Over Donetsk (msn.com)
Tuffski-shitski for the Russkies!
I have the same problem after I eat Mexican food.
Bean awhile since I’ve bean away from beans. Guys in the Fire house used to light them off when the gas came out through their pants over their butts.
I don’t know which thing I did made my Sister spazz the worst, if it was when I taught my nephews what “Pull my finger” means or when i showed them that farts do indeed catch on fire when lit!
“* if you think I am kidding, you have never seen a great salesman at work.” Dale Carnegie approve this message.
Bad seals have made other things go ‘splodey. Maybe the tech shouldn’t have gone to throttle up.
Good SEALs have made things go all ‘splodey, too.
We were doing pre-flights on C-130 Aircrew Life Support Equipment one night on mids at Rhein Main AB, Germany.
When they announced that they were going to do a pressure check of the aircraft we were on. Man did it get humid in there real quick. Took awhile for the check to be finished, which sucked as we had a ton of aircraft that needed pre/post flighted. That was the only time I got trapped on an aircraft during a pressure check.
Fixture at the Sarajevo airport for years:
” India owns older models of the Il-76, which have been plagued by maintenance issues.”
Gee whiz, ya-think that the Ivans might have made them in a hurry like the Chinese produce “Wal Mart fall-apart” merchandise?