Volga-Dnepr Airlines' RA-76950

Volga-Dnepr Airlines' IL-76TD-90VD, RA-76950 (c/n 2053420697, l/n 93-05) is making a stop at HNL as VDA1400 from IND [Indianapolis International Airport, Indianapolis, IN].

Volga-Dnepr Airlines' RA-76951

Volga-Dnepr Airlines' IL76-90VD, RA-76951(c/n 2073421704, l/n 93-06), is making a stop at HNL, as it makes a cargo flight from LFT [Paul Fournet Field, Lafayette Regional Airport, Lafayette, LA] to POM [Port Moresby Jackson International Airport, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea] as VDA2244. It also made a stop at IWA [Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport, Phoenix, AZ], before arriving at HNL.

photo to follow ...

Volga Dnepr Airlines' RA-76503

An Ilyushin IL-76TD-90VD of Volga Dnepr Airlines arrived in the early morning hours from Auckland, New Zealand as VDA4953. RA-76503 (c/n 2013422748, l/n 94-07) wears special markings of the Antarctic Logistics Centre International company. ALCI specializes in providing flights in, out, and within Antarctica utilizing the IL-76, Basler BT-67 Turbo Dakota, and DHC-6 Twin Otters. It will leave early tomorrow morning for Mountain View, CA [NUQ] as VDA4953.

Further information on its mission in New Zealand from MRC Aviation.

Volga-Dnepr's RA-76950

Volga-Dnepr Airlines's RA-76950 "Vladimir Kokkinaki" (msn 2043420697) arrived at JRF today from NGO, as it is the support aircraft for the Solar Impulse 2 Zero Fuel Aircraft. The Il-76TD-90VD is making its flight as VDA4494.

Volga-Dnepr's RA-76511

A lesser seen piece of Russian metal was in town today. A Volga-Dnepr Il-76TD-90VD arrived the previous night from Nandi International, Fiji (NAN/NFFN) and departed to Dallas Forth (KDFW) this afternoon as VDA6133. A search of RA-76511's (c/n 2123422752, l/n 94-08) recent flight history shows that it has been flying between Shanghai (PVG/ZSPD), Guam (GUM/PGUM), and Carins (CNS/YBCS) for the past week before heading to Texas.

Russian Air Force's RA-78818

RA-78818 (msn 0093495858), an Ilyushin Il-76MD of the Russian Air Force (Voyenno-Vozdushnye sily Rossiya [Военно-Воздушные сили Россия]) arrived at HNL this morning to bring in the limousines for President Dmitry Medvedev, for his visit for the APEC Conference. It's seen above taxiing to Taxiway F, where it will park until the end of the conference.

The Il-76 taxied on its own power to the parking spot, because the tow bar attached to the ground handler's tug had snapped right before towing from the UPS/FedEx ramp. A few minivans led the way to the parking to bring the cargo jet's crew back.

RA-78818 is assigned to the 224th Air Detachment of Military Transport Aviation, 61st Air Army, based at Tver Migalovo (KLD/UUEM), Kalinin, Russia.

VDA6238

A Volga-Dnepr Airlines Il-76TD-90VD arrived yesterday morning as VDA6238 from Vancouver Canada (CYVR/YVR). The flight originated from Keflavik International (BIKF/KEF), Iceland. RA-76590 (c/n 2043420697) was spotted before it left for Guam (PGUM/GUM). It later departed Guam, and headed for Australia's Darwin International (YPDN/DRW).

Volga-Dnepr's Il-76

A Volga-Dnepr Airlines Il-76TD-90VD arrived today as VDA4926 from San Deigo. The flight originated from KEF (Keflavik International Airport, Iceland). RA-76592 (c/n 2093422743, l/n 94-06) is currently en route to PPT (Faa'a International Airport, Papaete, Tahiti) at the time of this posting. In its cargo hold is from what I saw was at least one jet turbine.

RA-76592 also wears the 20th Anniversary logo on the tail. The Volga-Dnepr Il-76TD-90VDs are powered by Aviadvigatel PS90 engines, which have been Stage III approved globally, and this variant was specifically designed for VDA.

VDA6202

A Volga-Dnepr (Волга-Днепр) Airlines Ilyushin Il-76 (Илюшин ИЛ-76ТД-90ВД) is en route to HNL as VDA6202 from FHU (Sierra Vista Municipal Airport, Fort Huachaca, Sierra Vista, AZ). Its ETA to HNL is 13:00HST.

The aircraft arrived around 1220HST, and taxied to HIK ... so much for the photo op! The cargo jet sure looked small.

The above photo courtesy of team member MKU ADX, shows RA-76951 (msn 2073421704), an Il-76TD-90VD. The -90VD series is the new-build, re-engined (Perm PS-90A-76 engines) variant of the classic Soviet-era freighter. In fact, Volga-Dnepr was a financier and launch customer of the Il-76TD-90VD.