Ilyushin Il-76

Of all the large (military) transport aircraft the Ilyushin Il-76 - NATO reporting name Candid - cannot be missed easily. While the noise produced by most versions is already phenomenal, the external appearance is also like no other aircraft. The most recognisable characteristic of the Il-76 is the glass chin under the nose (below which is a bulb with a radar). Also the cockpit has a lot of windows, in two rows. The landing gear is typical as well with four wheels on a single axis on all five legs, including the nose gear. Finally the big forward pointing bullet fairing on top of the vertical stabiliser is reminisent of the Il-62.

This is the sight that most typically describes the Il-76: the glass lower half of the nose. Also note the four wheels of the nose gear, all on one axis.

The large bullet fairing on top of the vertical stabiliser is similar to that of the Il-62.

All four main landing gear legs have four wheels on a single axis, retracting in pods attached to the fuselage.

How to recognise the different versions of the Il-76

The different versions of the Ilyushin Il-76 can be recognised by looking at (amongst others)

the shape of the tail cone
the shape of the engine nacelles
the length of the fuselage
the presence of a radar disk on top of the fuselage
the presence of refueling pods under the wings and the left rear side of the fuselage

Details will be added later.

Similar aircraft

Some airplanes look so similar to the Il-76 that you may confuse them. Below you can read how to distinguish them.

Differences Il-76 & Xian Y-20

y20

The Xian Y-20 looks like being composed from several other types, with the wings and engines coming from the Il-76, and the tail and landing gear from the C-17. The Y-20 has a different nose though and no winglets. (photo: wc/WikiMedia)

Differences Il-76 & C-141 Starlifter

Especially the wings and engines (and possibly the tail) of the Starlifter might confuse you as they look similar to those of the Il-76. However, the C-141 has no glass nose and fewer wheels on the landing gear (ten instead of twenty). Also the fuselage is narrower.

Differences Il-76 & C-17 Globemaster III

They are part of the same aircraft class but the differences between the C-17 and Il-76 are quite obvious: the C-17 has no glass nose, two wheels on the nose gear, winglets, separate fan exhausts for the engines and no bullet fairing on top of the vertical stabiliser.