Ilyushin Il-62

Quad Jet

The Ilyushin IL-62 holds the distinction of being the Soviet Union's first long-range jet airliner, designed in the early 1960s to compete with Western types like the Vickers VC10 and Douglas DC-8. Its most striking feature is the aft-mounted quartet of turbofan engines clustered at the tail, paired with a T-tail configuration that gave it a distinctive silhouette on Cold War-era tarmacs. First flown in 1963 and entering Aeroflot service in 1967, the IL-62 became the flagship of Soviet civil aviation, carrying cosmonauts, heads of state, and ordinary passengers across intercontinental routes from Moscow to Havana, Montreal, and Tokyo. The type was built in two main variants: the original IL-62 and the improved IL-62M with more powerful Soloviev D-30KU engines, increased fuel capacity, and a maximum range approaching 10,000 kilometers. Its operating envelope includes a service ceiling of 42,000 feet and a cruising speed around Mach 0.85, respectable figures that allowed it to compete on trunk routes throughout the 1970s and 1980s. The IL-62M's maximum takeoff weight of 165 tonnes placed it firmly in the heavy jet category, and its approach speeds of around 155 knots reflected the era's design philosophy favoring sturdy, high-wing-loading airframes. Though production ended in 1995 after 292 aircraft, a handful remain in service with government operators and niche cargo carriers, primarily in Russia and Belarus. The type's longevity owes much to its rugged construction and the post-Soviet availability of spare parts and maintenance expertise. SkyMeter has tracked 2 flights across 2 airframes and 1 operators, spanning routes.