GEN-FAM PHOTOGRAPHY

Second IL62 in Vatry

Rada Airlines' Ilyushin Il-62MGR (EW-505TR) lands on February 12 2021

February 12 2021 the second registred IL62 of radar airlines land in Paris-Vatry Airport (LFOK). On that day, an iconic Soviet aircraft, an Ilyushin Il-62MGR, touched down on the tarmac in Champagne, an event as rare as it was unexpected.

Rada Airlines: Belarus's Unusual Cargo Carrier

Founded in 2015 in Minsk, Rada Airlines is a private Belarusian airline specializing in chartered cargo transportation. With two former Ilyushin Il-62M passenger aircraft converted into cargo aircraft, it is now one of the few operators of this type of aircraft in civilian service.

This military cargo version of the famous Soviet four-engine jet has aroused great curiosity among enthusiasts, particularly due to its imposing silhouette and its retro engine—four Soloviev D-30KU turbofans mounted at the rear of the fuselage.

An unusual fleet for extraordinary missions

Two Il-62M Gr (notably the EW-450TR) modified in 2007 at the Kazan plant: equipped with a large cargo door (3.45 x 2 m) and compliance with ICAO Chapter 3 noise standards Load capacity: up to 40 tons, 190 m³ volume, with a range of up to 6,200 km fully loaded.with varied missions and sensitive areas, Rada has made missions in difficult environments a specialty:

Its first flight in October 2015 connected Odessa to Thailand with an unusual transport... of dolphins for a dolphinariumIt operates in Europe and Africa (high-risk areas) such as Libya) and Southeast Asia, including humanitarian, technical, and even hazardous material cargo.

A notable accident in August 2018 in Khartoum: the Il-62 EW-450TR veered off the runway without injury or major damage.

Conclusion

Beyond the logistical aspect, this stopover revived interest in the history of Soviet aviation and offered an almost nostalgic interlude for those who remember the long-haul flights operated by Aeroflot in the 1970s and 1980s with this aircraft.

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