Lightweight compact aircraft IL-103, designed for a pilot and three passengers, was developed and produced in the nineties of the last century in the JSCB. S. V. Ilyushin. This machine is notable for its maneuverability, ease of use, it has various purposes and, according to its technical capabilities, can rise to a maximum height of 4,000 kilometers.
According to operational specifications, the aircraft is officially rated for 15 years of service, which equates to 14,000 flight hours.
Today, about forty of these single-engine piston passenger aircraft fly in the world, but their production has been suspended. In case of interest from Western investors, mass production of machines will be resumed. To date, design solutions are being developed for a deep modernization of the aircraft, options for re-equipping engines for unmanned models are being considered. In the event of the resumption of production of aircraft, the manufacturing enterprise - the Lukhovitsky Plant - will launch aircraft on the market at a price of approximately150-20 thousand dollars, a very good offer within this segment.
In Soviet times, about 100 aircraft of this type were successfully produced and produced at the facilities of the enterprise.
Applications
IL-103 is a multi-purpose aircraft, mainly used for the transport of passengers, it also performs training flights, it is used as a communications device.
The aircraft can also be operated as:
- air taxi;
- a means of patrolling coastal zones;
- research machine.
IL-103 can serve as a mobile laboratory and be used for environmental monitoring, in researching the situation on land and at sea.
The machine is not intended for the transport of goods.
IL-103: specifications
This is not a new member of the Ilyushin family, its first flight took place on May 17, 1994. The domestic certificate was received only on February 15, 1996. At the end of 1998, the United States of America approved a document on the aircraft's compliance with international FAA standards. This meant that the machine was completely ready for operation, passed all the tests and complied with the standards. Serial production of the Il-103 was launched at the Lukhovitsky Machine-Building Plant.
Maximum curb weight is 1460kg, empty weight is 765kg. The maximum payload content is 395 kg. The maximum amount of fuel,which is taken into account when loading the aircraft, should not exceed 150 kg.
With an eight-meter length of the machine, the span of each wing is 10.56 m, the horizontal tail - 3.9 m. The Il-103 aircraft is only 3.135 m high and has a chassis gauge of 2.404 m. is as much as 1.9 m.
The machine is equipped with a tricycle fixed landing gear. The aircraft is equipped with nose supports and springs, can be operated without a runway, and can be landed on hard-packed ground.
IL-103 - design description
The aircraft is designed according to the standard scheme, the wings have a low landing, thanks to the simplicity and efficiency of which the IL has improved aerodynamic performance, with flaps extended, it maintains a wide range of air attack angles.
IL-103 is controlled by a handle and pedals, steering elements are located in the handle. From the left side of the cab, the flaps are adjusted using special devices. For the comfort of the pilot, the pedals are adjustable in height, and a steering wheel can be additionally installed. The equipment inside the cabin allows you to maintain an optimal level of microclimate, a three-mode air conditioning system works to support the circulation of the air flow, as well as cooling and heating.
Engine
The engine has a mass of 158.9 kg. The aircraft can reach speeds of up to 250 km/h, while cruising speed is 225 km/h. The maximum flight distance of the car is 1070 km.
Whencruising flight at an altitude of 3000 meters hourly fuel consumption is an average of 22.3 kg. An alternative engine can be installed on the IL, in particular, manufactured by Lycoming.
Modifications
In October 1996, a deep modification of the machine, retooling, adding new functions was planned.
For example, the possibility of replacing one installed 210 hp Teledyne Continental Motors IO-360ES engine was considered. With. for two - in other words, to release a model with two motors. In addition, the issue of increasing engine power to 270-280 hp was on the agenda. With. From the point of view of experts, this optimization, while maintaining the current level of load, would improve the flight performance during takeoff and landing, which in a commercial sense would bring tangible benefits, as it would expand the possibilities of using the aircraft.
There is another option to modify the float structure model, which was supposed to be equipped with the most powerful engine, its launch was planned in 1997. An aircraft with a ski undercarriage took off for the first time in 1996.
Equipment
The first IL-103s, produced in 1996, were equipped with domestic on-board installations, while there was no navigation equipment in them, later all the necessary instrumentation system from Bendix King was installed additionally, modern machines began to meet all safety requirements flights.
Design and materials
All modifications are a construction of rivetedall-metal aluminum airframe with additional alloys. In the production of machines, the developed technology of riveting thin-sheet skins was applied.
As for the instruments, they are made of titanium alloys, composite materials, as well as clad sheet D-16 - this is the optimal composition for various parts of the aircraft. In the production of the aircraft, riveting and fiberglass were used. Upholstery made of modern materials was made taking into account the basic requirements for combustibility according to FAR 28.853 regulation.
When creating the interior of the machine, US developments were used, in particular, parts of on-board equipment, engines and propellers were made according to American technology.
Geography of distribution
Regular operators of the Il-103 are Russia (30 machines), as well as Belarus, which has four aircraft at its disposal. Latin America did not stand aside: Peru acquired six copies for educational purposes. Today, a total of 40 machines of this series fly around the world. Three aircraft were acquired by Laos in 2002. South Korea purchased 23 aircraft, while some of the aircraft were delivered on account of public debt.
Begin production
The history of the creation of the IL-103 dates back to 1988, it was then that the design and implementation of the idea of a new aircraft began. An open competition was announced for the creation of a machine, inthe project was willingly joined by young specialists headed by Pupkov. Under the terms of the competition, it was necessary to create an easily implementable design in accordance with the existing production conditions. Novozhilov was chosen as the general designer.
The design was carried out by highly qualified specialists of the Ilyushin Design Bureau, who implemented a huge amount of work on the aerodynamic layout, the created models were presented in several versions. A thorough study was also carried out as part of the technical side of aircraft control, it was decided to simplify it as much as possible.
After some time, the project was changed, and the competition changed the conditions - innovations related to expanding the capabilities of the aircraft in terms of its operation. Only the technical requirements of the main indicators were unchanged. The designers had the opportunity to choose the concept and basic schemes of the future car on their own, thus opening up a whole horizon of opportunities for them to implement their ideas.
Tests
The first Il-103 took off on May 17, 1994, pilot Gudkov was at the helm. The data obtained from the tests confirmed the excellent characteristics of the machine, it was decided to mass-produce aircraft at the Lukhovitsky plant. The plane did not fall on the wing, descended on the nose and immediately began to pick up speed. Tests were also carried out in extreme situations, when the pilots let go of the steering, did not use the flaps, and ignored the engine. According to the data received, the aircraft can perform aerobatics, which distinguishesit from similar models.
In addition to the domestic one, an American certificate of the aircraft's suitability for operation was also received. The IL-103 was recognized as an excellent aircraft with optimal performance and satisfactory payload, which means it should have become in demand on the market.
Misfortunes
Officially, there were 4 crashes involving this model. The first Il-103 crash occurred on June 21, 2011 in South Korea during a training flight. Pilot and instructor died due to trainee pilot error.
In 2016, on August 12, in the Altai Territory, an Il-103 crashed during takeoff, according to the official version, an engine failure occurred at a height of 20 meters. A private jet crashed 100 meters from the runway.
IL-103 today - revival
According to Pavel Cherenkov, First Deputy General Director of PJSC Il, today foreign customers have shown interest in the light-engine aircraft, and production of the modernized Il-103 can be restored.
The production of aircraft of this series was fully mastered in Lukhovitsy near Moscow (now MiGs are assembled at the Lukhovitsky plant).
Cherenkov stressed that a ready-made comfortable aircraft could be offered to the market for $150,000-200,000, this is simply a uniquely profitable offer.
There are many issues to be solved within the framework of the project. While this is an initiative development of the Ilyushin Design Bureau, how realistic it will be to bring it to life -time will tell and demand for cars.
For example, engines of the size that it is planned to equip new aircraft are not yet produced in Russia, so the possibility of using foreign power plants for commercial use is being considered as an alternative. It is also necessary to resolve issues of balanced heating of the aircraft cabin.
Employees of the Simonov Design Bureau are currently developing engines for a drone based on the light-engine Il-103.
This beautiful light aircraft is suitable for more than just domestic tasks. It is easy to train pilots on it, including for work on fighter jets, to deliver humanitarian aid as part of military operations. Good luck to our developers!
