Soviet Union 1991

The third update

In addition to the consideration of the big policy and strategy, Yanayev will not let go of the details. Sometimes an inadvertent turn will directly affect a series of changes and developments afterwards. The result of the butterfly effect is amazing, and all Yanayev has to do is to make the butterfly flap its wings.

Yanayev once ridiculed himself as the Soviet General Secretary with the widest management in this term. From the satellite launch plan to the equipment update of the Red Navy's warships, from foreign military sales projects to domestic economic development issues, he has experienced historical changes and great changes in the times. He can always find the most critical point in a lot of complicated environments. The long-term development path of various industries in the Soviet Union may be a casual remark made by Yanayev.

Although it is a little late, before Boeing and Shell divide the big cake of the world's civil aviation market, Yanayev wants his Ilyushin Design Bureau to also seize a market. After all, the huge profits brought by civil airliners are no less than the Soviet Union's sales of tanks and fighters all over the world.

As for this task, it was handed over to Noorzhilov, director of the Ilyushin Design Bureau. After 2010, when China and Russia realized the importance of the civil aviation market, it was too late. Boeing and empty shells have divided up most of the world's civil aviation market and have been operating for many years. It has become difficult for new civil airliners to seize market share. Although China's concept of civil airliners is still at the level of buying rather than making.

Yanayev did not want to wait until that time to regret it. In fact, changing a world is just a matter of one person's will.

Fortunately, Yanayev came from the future.

The 1990s happened to be a gamble for Boeing to upgrade. If the Boeing 777 failed to sell, then Boeing would probably go bankrupt completely. If the Soviet Union could design a new civil airliner to seize the market at this time, it would be a huge blow to Boeing. And once Boeing went bankrupt, the scope of influence would not be as simple as the US aviation industry. The series of chain reactions and the economic weakness in the 1990s would simply put President Mario on the fire. The bankruptcy and reorganization of a century-old brand is enough to trigger a financial tsunami on Wall Street.

In the office of the Ilyushin Design Bureau, Yanayev explained his views to the designers of Ilyushin as a reference.

"The performance of civil airliners designed by the Soviet Union should be similar to that of the Boeing 777, or even better than that of the Boeing 777. If it is based on the design of the Il-96, equipped with a 40-ton economic new engine, plus modern avionics and comfortable interior facilities. And our aircraft has always been cheap and durable, it will always be a very good choice to open up the world civil aviation market. The 737 has died, and now is the opportunity to fill the market gap."

When Yanayev visited the Ilyushin Design Bureau, he said this to Onozhilov. Of course, in addition to seizing the world market, the Soviet Union also has another hidden political purpose.

After listening to Yanayev's suggestions, the people around him felt a little incredible, because what Yanayev said just coincided with their research.

The Il-96 was originally a four-engine long-range wide-body passenger aircraft designed by the Russian Ilyushin Design Bureau. It is an improved version of the Soviet Union's first wide-body passenger aircraft, the Il-86, after shortening the fuselage length, extending the range and adding high-tech equipment. With a maximum passenger capacity of 5 people, the maximum range of the Il-96 can reach 7,000 nautical miles, which means that it can complete cross-water routes and fly directly from Moscow to the west coast of the United States, and can compete with Airbus A340 and Boeing 777 and other passenger aircraft of the same level. And its pricing is more than 30% cheaper than Western passenger aircraft of the same level.

If the newly designed passenger aircraft is better than the Il-96, then it is not a problem to seize most of the market.

Originally, the Il-96 was also selected by Russian President Vladimir Putin as his VIP aircraft. However, the glory of the Il-96 was only a flash in the pan. After the disintegration of the Soviet Union, the Ilyushin Design Bureau was no longer able to develop new models, and was eventually merged and reorganized under the state of business difficulties. The legendary model that could have become the biggest competitor of Boeing and Airbus was later sealed because of unqualified materials.

Yanayev's plan coincided with the plan that designer Onozhilov had been preparing three years ago. Since the interview of Il-96, he has been trying to make improvements. The first is to cancel the four-engine and change it to a twin-engine.

"To be honest, General Secretary Yanayev, we started this plan three years ago. Due to insufficient preparation in terms of funds, the development of the new Il-96 model has progressed slowly. Now we have only completed three-quarters, and the rest has been temporarily terminated due to lack of funds."

Onozhilov moved a large stack of manuscripts from a cabinet. On it was a project plan for the transformation of the Il-96 passenger aircraft. From the smallest components to the adjustment of the entire civil aircraft body structure, Onozhilov described it in great detail. It was only six months ago that Ilyushin terminated the research on the new model due to funding issues, which was undoubtedly the heaviest blow to him at the time.

Yanayev touched the dusty manuscripts and felt a lot of emotions. If his coup had failed and the Soviet Union had collapsed, these precious design drawings would have been thrown away as garbage and eventually turned into waste paper for burning. How many designers’ precious efforts were contained in this, and it would be painful for anyone to just burn it.

Thinking of this, Yanaev felt fortunate. He prevented an incurable fool and a villain with ulterior motives from destroying the empire that his fathers had spent several generations of efforts to build.

As long as he was still there, the Soviet Union would not fall.

Onozhilov scratched his head. As the leader of the Ilyushin Design Bureau, he had been committed to completing this plan for many years, but the plan ran out of funds at the last step. Onozhilov, who originally wanted to seal the design drawings, did not expect that he would usher in a turning point.

Or the general secretary spoke in person.

Yanaev said, "As long as you can develop a civil airliner that is as good as Boeing and Airbus but more affordable, we will strongly support your development plan. Including a series of plans such as follow-up promotion. Comrade Onozhilov, there is nothing more effective than using the Il-96 as the special plane for the top leader of the Soviet Union, right?"

Because Yeltsin did not become president as before, Yanaev's special plane is still the slightly shabby Il-62, rather than the luxurious modified Il-96. It is just the opportunity to use the opportunity of changing the model to help the Ilyushin Design Bureau open up the road to the world civil aviation market.

Onozhilov's eyes widened, and he couldn't believe what Yanaev said. The president took the lead in riding the Il-96 passenger plane, which meant that the research and development of the Il-96 rose to the level of national politics. This is a surprise for the Ilyushin Design Bureau.

After experiencing a short period of financial difficulties in the mid-1990s, the Ilyushin Design Bureau finally ushered in spring. Even if Yanaev did nothing, just announcing that the Il-96 would become the presidential plane was equivalent to injecting adrenaline into the Ilyushin Design Bureau.

"Of course there is no problem, General Secretary Yanaev." Onozhilov wiped his eyes with the back of his hand and choked up, "I'm just too excited, really, I didn't expect to see this plan implemented again."

Yanaev patted him on the shoulder and comforted him, "It's been difficult for you in the past few years. Not only Ilyushin, Sukhoi, Antonov, and Mikoyan are facing the same financial difficulties. But it will be fine after these few years. I believe your spring is coming."

Yanaev's words gave Onozhilov confidence. He believed that this leader who led the Soviet Union to revival would insist on the development of new Il-96 models as always.

This is different from Boeing's gamble. This is the belief of the Ilyushin Design Bureau and Onozhilov's dream.

Soviet civil airliners will one day occupy the civil aviation market around the world. (~^~)