Ilyushin Il-96 (RA-96102)

A rare visitor gets airborne off runway 23. I was told some time later that the pilot broke a rule by turning too soon in the climb. To quote the closing lyric of the Boney-M song ‘Rasputin’ - “Oh those Russians”.

Great shot and catch! I am envious as I have not photographed this type yet. Congrats on this one!

Thanks Darryl - one and only as far as I know, lucky to be there.

You lucky.!!...M & M Durbin from the SFO area would k*ll for a picture like this! I've never seen this before! 5 russians!!

Nice shot!

Tom and Daniel - thanks guys.

Always fascinated and impressed by the Russians and their aeronautical creations.
Some may call some of them "recreations", such as this one, which seems to be very much like the AB 340.
Totally agree with Tom Vance, FIVE RUSSIANS!

AB340 with small head

Thanks Robert. This time the Russians were first, unusually. The Il-96 was first in the air by a couple of years and was a reworking of the larger Il-86 from the 70s.

They're all ex-fighter pilots Gavin and they fly them like they still are!

Allan - indeed!

这图片好！

这图片好！

这图片好！

Awesome. Never saw this one before Gavin .

Found some info: At the time this was operated by Polet Flight, one of three in service with them. It was named Valerie Menitsky - that's the name in red beneath the cockpit. It's in English on the other side. Technically it's an IL-96-400T, also on the forward fuselage in white on the blue. In May 2015 it went to the Russian Federation Air Force. The other two are stored.

Pas facile de le différencier d'un Airbus A340
https://www.dataero.fr/differencier-un-airbus-a340-dun-iliouchine-il-96/