Aeroflot777 From Russia, joined Mar 2004, 2957 posts, RR: 30 Reply 1, posted (9 years 1 month 3 weeks 3 days 15 hours ago) and read 1851 times:
This aircraft is wonderful. It is very spacious, more room than any other western aircraft I've seen. It is very interesting that people used to board from the bottom leave their coats on hangars and then go up to the main cabin by stairs. Also people could go downstairs whenever they wanted to. It is very nice. Also another spacious aircraft in the skies is the IL-96. Just look how much more room you get when there is no upper compartment for bags:
LVZXV From Gabon, joined Mar 2004, 2041 posts, RR: 44 Reply 3, posted (9 years 1 month 3 weeks 3 days 14 hours ago) and read 1802 times:
I think the IL-86 is also Russia's safest airliner (in terms of age, numbers, etc.). As far as I know, one was written-off in a belly-landing at Dubai in 2001, and then there was the one that crashed on take-off from Moscow on ferry flight, killing all 5 crewmembers. In over 20 years of service, 2 hull losses ain't bad!
OD720 From Lebanon, joined Feb 2003, 1919 posts, RR: 36 Reply 6, posted (9 years 1 month 3 weeks 3 days 13 hours ago) and read 1651 times:
I have flown on the Il-86 so many times. Could be over 30 times.
I've always said here that it feels better than current western widebodies, both Airbus and Boeing.
It's very spacious, and the lower compartments leading to the cabins are very nice. They have three of those, front, middle and rear.
All of my flights have been smooth and comfortable.
Tha cabin is nosier than current Airbus and Boeing widebodies.
Ben From Switzerland, joined Aug 1999, 1391 posts, RR: 52 Reply 7, posted (9 years 1 month 3 weeks 3 days 13 hours ago) and read 1627 times:
I have been on 4 Il-86's, all with Aeroflot between London LHR and Moscow.
I found them all to be comfortable and smooth. They felt 'heavy' handling, smooth in the cruise.
The seats were slightly better than the standard Aeroflot seats (I have found that aircraft made after about 1985 had a different type of seat which is much better).
As for the cabin, it's absolutely cavernous. No central overhead storage makes it look huge, as others have said. I never got the chance to fly on an L-1011 so I can't compare it.
The seats have an oxygen mask and fan (with own motor) in the back where you might find a PTV on other aircraft.
The landings were all 'Boeing style', firm, flown into the runway...
Overall, it's a good, comfortable and safe airliner. I have no complaints.
Horus, the Il-96 and Il-86 are completely different aircraft, they just look similar externally.
RIX From United States of America, joined Aug 2000, 1785 posts, RR: 1 Reply 9, posted (9 years 1 month 3 weeks 3 days 12 hours ago) and read 1527 times:
Had flown on it 4 times from 1986 to 1996, including two international flights. "Good, comfortable and safe" - rather agree in general, but as for "very spacious" - I'd prefer to have more overhead storage bins. Overall, the interior feels obsolete in compare to, say, MD11 (forget about 777). Very noisy systems (wing, gear, ... - sitting "on the wing" it was hard to talk when one was activated!) plus just vibrating in the rear cabin.
"people could go downstairs whenever they wanted to" - ??? On all my flights the stairs were locked! But I was impressed to see... an elevator to the lower deck for cabin crew! Was really impressed on my first flight (which was my first widebody flight ever) but today I'd rather take Tu154 if I ever have an opportunity to get onboard something Soviet-built...
Aeroflot777 From Russia, joined Mar 2004, 2957 posts, RR: 30 Reply 10, posted (9 years 1 month 3 weeks 3 days 12 hours ago) and read 1469 times:
RIX: before that was the case, passengers could go down into the lower part of the aircraft. I believe after Aeroflot became Russian International Airlines instead of Soviet Airlines, they closed the stairs up to be like the western carriers.
RIX From United States of America, joined Aug 2000, 1785 posts, RR: 1 Reply 11, posted (9 years 1 month 3 weeks 2 days 13 hours ago) and read 1273 times:
Well, the stairs were definitely locked on my first three IL86 flights, 1986 to 1991 (domestic and two international)... which still doesn't mean it was a common practice. As for the last flight, in 1996 ("Vnukovo", intra-CIS) - actually, I didn't see the stairs locked as never left my seat during flight. So, the passengers might have an access to lower deck (well, just small "hallways" there) - quite interesting...
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