Derived metrics
Computed by aircraft.fyi from the core specification — see how we calculate these.
How big is it, really?
The Ilyushin Il-86's wingspan, against things you already know the size of.
The numbers
| Length | 59.54 m |
|---|---|
| Wingspan | 48.06 m |
| Height | 15.68 m |
| MTOW | 215,000 kg |
| Range | ≈5,000 km |
| Typical seats | up to 350 |
| Engines | 4 × Kuznetsov NK-86 |
| First flight | 22 December 1976 |
| Built | 106 |
Put the Ilyushin Il-86 next to something
Last verified: 2026-07-14 · Spot an error? business@luck.fyi
What makes it different
The Il-86 was the Soviet Union's first widebody, and it solved a uniquely Soviet problem: airports without infrastructure. Passengers boarded up the aircraft's own built-in airstairs into the lower deck, hung their coats, stowed their own luggage on racks, then climbed internal staircases to the cabin — no jet bridges, no baggage handlers required.
It carried up to 350 people on trunk routes across the USSR for a quarter century, reliable and universally short on range — its engines were thirsty enough that Moscow to Havana needed multiple stops. Only 106 were built.
Airline service ended around 2011. A few airframes soldier on with the Russian military as the Il-80 'doomsday' airborne command posts — the Il-86's strangest legacy.
Ilyushin Il-86 — the short answers
How fast is the Ilyushin Il-86?
How far can the Ilyushin Il-86 fly?
How many people does the Ilyushin Il-86 carry?
Is the Ilyushin Il-86 still in production?
How big is the Ilyushin Il-86?
The Ilyushin Il-86 line
Il-86
Il-80
Who flies the Ilyushin Il-86
No current operators — this aircraft's flying days are over. The operators of record are below.