Exactly 60 years ago, on June 22, 1956, the first flight of the modified Il-14T transport aircraft took place. The crew was commanded by Honored Test Pilot of the USSR twice Hero of the Soviet Union Vladimir Konstantinovich Kokkinaki.
The transport and landing version was created on the basis of the Il-14M. In the left side of the fuselage, a cargo door (2, 71 m wide and 1, 6 m high) crashed into with an additional hatch, through which, like through the front door for the crew and passengers, paratroopers and cargo in soft containers were dropped.
The aircraft's cargo compartment was lengthened by the rear luggage compartment and the movement of the toilet to the rear bulkhead. The increased width of the cargo door made it possible to load a GAZ-69 type vehicle and other equipment into the aircraft. To accommodate the paratroopers, 21 folding seats are installed on the sides of the cockpit. The onboard transporter made it possible to drop loads with a total weight of 2000 kg in 12-15 seconds at a speed of 300 km / h. In addition, goods could be transported under the center section on girder holders.
Il-14T was used in cargo, airborne transport, ambulance or towing versions, each of which had airborne transport equipment.
Tests of the Il-14T at the Air Force Research Institute, which began on September 12, 1956, on the basis of military unit No. 55599, stationed in Tula, generally confirmed the declared flight data. In terms of piloting technique, the aircraft practically did not differ from the passenger Il-14P, but with loads on an external sling, the maximum speed dropped to 366 km / h. The tests lasted until December, and the Il-14T in the civilian version (without landing and other special equipment) was widely used in the transportation of various cargoes, and especially in the Polar Aviation to support various scientific expeditions in the Arctic and Antarctica. At the same time, the aircraft could operate from various airfields with concrete, unpaved and snow-covered runways.
It is difficult to overestimate the contribution of this machine to the successful support of high-latitude expeditions. The ability of the IL-14T in the Arctic version to make long flights in the most difficult meteorological conditions, in thin air, at temperatures of -70 ° C and severe icing, the ability to take off and land on limited ice areas, including those selected from the air, ease of maintenance determined long life of the aircraft in the Soviet Polar Aviation.
In the late 1970s, the Il-14 aircraft of Polar Aviation took an active part in providing such unprecedented Arctic experiments as the voyage of the nuclear-powered icebreaker Arktika and an ice skiing trip from the shores of the USSR to the North Pole.
A total of 356 Il-14Ts were produced at two enterprises: 291 at the Moscow machine-building plant "Znamya Truda" (plant number 30) and 65 at the Tashkent aviation production association (plant number 84).
The extensive field of application of the Il-14 aircraft of various modifications for such a long time confirms its high flight technical and operational data, makes this aircraft one of the outstanding examples of world aviation technology.
Interest in this aircraft does not fade even today. At present, two Il-14Ts have been restored by the enthusiasts of the Albatross-Aero aviation sports club.
