IL-76 Candid – PDF

The Ilyushin Il-76 “Candid” was developed during the late 1960s to provide the Soviet Union with a modern jet-powered heavy transport capable of replacing older turboprop aircraft such as the An-12. Designed by the Ilyushin bureau, the Il-76 combined a large cargo compartment and rear loading ramp with four powerful jet engines and rugged multi-wheel landing gear. It was designed to carry troops, armored vehicles, artillery, supplies, and other heavy equipment while retaining the ability to operate from relatively austere airfields.

Entering Soviet service during the 1970s, the Il-76 quickly became a mainstay of Soviet Military Transport Aviation. Its ability to transport and airdrop troops, vehicles, and supplies made it particularly important to the Soviet Airborne Forces. The Candid provided the Soviet Union with the ability to rapidly move substantial military forces across the enormous distances of the USSR or deploy them abroad.

The Il-76 played an important logistical role during the Soviet-Afghan War, carrying personnel, ammunition, vehicles, and supplies into Afghanistan. The aircraft was also widely exported and has served with numerous foreign military and civilian operators throughout Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and the former Soviet Union. Its combination of payload capacity and rugged-field performance made it particularly useful in regions where conventional commercial transports could be difficult to operate.

The Il-76 proved sufficiently successful that its basic airframe became the foundation for several specialized military aircraft, most notably the Il-78 “Midas” aerial-refueling tanker and A-50 “Mainstay” airborne early warning aircraft. Modernized Il-76 variants remain in production and military service decades after the aircraft first appeared. Its longevity, worldwide service, and central role in Soviet military airlift make the NATO-designated “Candid” one of the defining transport aircraft of the Cold War.

Service Branch: Soviet Air Forces / Russian Aerospace Forces
Soviet/Russian Service: 1974–Present
Number Built: 1,000+

What’s Included:

• 12 1.5” square counter images
• 24 1” square counter images
• 35 .75” square counter images
• 40 .625” square counter images
• Numbered Images to assist with game organization and tracking
• Printable PDF format for personal gaming use

Each image size is contained on a ½ sheet.

• Enables users to save paper and print 2 types of aircraft on the same page.
• Print one set of aircraft images then reverse the page in the printer and print a second type of your choice on the same page.