On December 15, regular transport aircraft Il-76MD-90A (serial number: 0108), produced by the Ulyanovsk aircraft manufacturers, made its first flight, starting a series of factory flight tests. The new aircraft is built under in terms of the state contract.

At 13.40 by Moscow the aircraft took off to the sky fr om the runway of the "Ulyanovsk-Vostochny" airport. The flight lasted 1 hour and 35 minutes and was passed successful. The crew, headed by test pilot of "Aviastar-AP" Oleg Ganovich, performed a predetermined program in full, wh ereupon made a soft landing.

"During the first test flight the overall behavior of the aircraft in the sky, work of the engines, the aircraft systems and equipment, communications, navigation, the ability to approach in automatic and semi-automatic modes were checked, the evaluation of its controllability and stability features was made. This year the plant has already put into maintenance two of such aircrafts. This is the third machine, which also will be sent to the customer immediately after completion the test flight program", - explained the Deputy General Director for flight tests of "Aviastar-AP" Yuri Kapscha.

Today, about ten machines of the "IL" mark, being in different stages of readiness, are produced by "Aviastar". Among them is another perspective modification - a tanker Il-78MD-90A. By this moment, the process of joining the wing to its fuselage is being accomplished. The plant administration plans to complete production of the first aircraft-tanker and send it to the state tests in the next year.