First issues first: this put up is strictly about aviation. It isn’t about politics, and we ask that feedback and dialogue deal with the distinctive aviation facet of this occasion — particularly the Ilyushin Il-96.
A Uncommon Arrival on American Soil
On Thursday, 14 August 2025, an Ilyushin Il-96-300PU — the VIP transport variant of Russia’s long-range four-engine Il-96 airliner — touched down at Ted Stevens Anchorage Worldwide Airport (ANC) simply after dawn.
Working as Particular Flight Detachment Rossiya 381 (RSD381), registration RA-96023, the jet departed Moscow Vnukovo (VKO) at 0750 native time, arriving in Anchorage at 0641 native time. The flight took a polar route throughout the Arctic to succeed in Alaska.
Such a routing required particular airspace exemptions, as Russian-registered plane stay banned from American airspace below present restrictions. These exceptions are hardly ever granted, making in the present day’s arrival notably vital.
A number of Russian Plane Heading to ANC
Whereas on-line hypothesis instructed President Vladimir Putin might need been aboard, the Kremlin denied this, stating that the flight carried an advance crew and senior members of the Russian delegation, together with ahead help and safety personnel.
On the time of writing, at the least three different Russian authorities flights — together with two extra Il-96-300s (RSD171 and RSD308) — had been inbound to ANC. A Bombardier World Specific (JTC9580) was additionally en route from Vnukovo.
It’s value noting that, if President Putin had been to reach, Elmendorf — not ANC — could be the probably touchdown level. The identical applies to US President Donald Trump, who is anticipated to reach at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER) for Friday’s summit.
Summit Context and Geographic Significance
The Trump–Putin assembly, set for 15 August at 1130 native time (1530 EDT), will happen at JBER, which is situated roughly 14 miles northeast of ANC and simply over eight miles from downtown Anchorage. Strategically, Elmendorf is simply about 630 miles from Russia’s Chukotka area.
Solely 2.4 miles and the Worldwide Date Line separate Russia’s Huge Diomede Island from America’s Little Diomede Island within the Bering Strait, underscoring Alaska’s geographic proximity to Russia.
This would be the first time Trump and Putin have met on US soil, and the primary time Putin has visited america in a decade.
The Plane: “Flying Kremlin” vs. Air Pressure One
The Il-96-300PU (PU = Punkt Upravleniya, “Command Publish”) is the Russian counterpart to america’ VC-25A Air Pressure One. Although about 50 toes shorter, the Il-96-300PU’s wingspan is barely longer than that of the VC-25A.
Base Plane
Ilyushin Il-96-300PU: Based mostly on the Ilyushin Il-96-300, first launched within the early Nineteen Nineties, powered by 4 × Aviadvigatel PS-90A turbofans, totally Russian-built.
Boeing VC-25A: Based mostly on the Boeing 747-200B, first launched in 1990, powered by 4 × GE CF6-80C2B1 turbofans, globally acknowledged.
Measurement & Efficiency
Particular Modifications
Il-96-300PU: Safe communications, encrypted information hyperlinks, convention rooms, non-public places of work, medical amenities, defensive countermeasures, hardened electronics for EMP resistance, doable in-flight refueling.
VC-25A: EMP-hardened, safe satellite tv for pc comms, aerial refueling, anti-missile techniques, onboard medical suite, and in depth employees capability.
Il-96 Visits to the US: Uncommon however Not Unprecedented
The Ilyushin Il-96-300 is an unusual customer to america, however not totally absent:
Ted Stevens Anchorage Worldwide Airport and Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson
Ted Stevens Anchorage Worldwide Airport is a world-class cargo hub, however VIP arrivals of Russian four-engine plane are uncommon. Joint Base Elmendorf–Richardson (JBER) in Anchorage, Alaska, was fashioned in 2010 by merging Elmendorf Air Pressure Base with Fort Richardson. The set up spans roughly 25,899 hectares and serves as a serious joint navy hub. It hosts key models together with the 673rd Air Base Wing, the third Wing, the 176th Wing, and the headquarters for Alaskan Command, Alaskan NORAD Area, and different essential operational instructions.
The 673rd Air Base Wing helps over 5,500 joint navy and civilian personnel, operates one of many Air Pressure’s largest hospital amenities within the Pacific area, and gives complete medical providers to greater than 35,000 servicemembers, dependents, and veterans. It additionally manages and maintains base infrastructure valued at roughly $11.4 billion.
Strategically situated on the intersection of the Arctic and Asia-Pacific areas, JBER performs an important position in air sovereignty, fight readiness, Arctic operations, and fast international mobility. Its twin Air Pressure–Military construction allows built-in joint coaching, large-scale workouts, and fast deployment capabilities unmatched by most U.S. installations.
JBER options two primary runways:
RWY 06/24: 10,000 ft (~3,048 m)
RWY 16/34: 7,500–8,033 ft, being prolonged to 10,000 ft (~2,284–2,447 m)
Elmendorf is not any stranger to internet hosting high-profile historic occasions. It hosted the 1971 assembly between President Nixon and Emperor Hirohito, the first-ever assembly between a US president and a reigning Japanese emperor.
Flight Restrictions
The FAA has issued a Momentary Flight Restriction (TFR) for a 30-mile radius round Anchorage from 0915 to 1615 native time on Friday, 15 August. Industrial visitors at ANC ought to stay largely unaffected, however all pilots are urged to file flight plans and keep radio contact. NORAD warns it is going to reply to any unauthorized plane coming into the TFR.
A Vanishing Kind
Within the industrial world, the Ilyushin Il-96 is now a near-extinct species. Solely Cubana nonetheless lists the kind in its fleet, and even of their case, solely two of the kind exist (and just one is listed as lively).
In Russia, simply 18 Il-96-300s stay in lively service, together with 11 lively airframes with the Russian authorities, tasked with official transport duties.
Born within the twilight years of the Soviet Union, the Il-96 was their reply to Western long-haul giants from Airbus and Boeing. It mixed the spirit of Chilly Battle engineering with ambitions of worldwide attain, but it by no means gained the worldwide foothold its designers envisioned. That historical past makes its arrival in Anchorage not simply uncommon, however a fleeting echo of one other aviation period.
Regardless of the geopolitical backdrop, the sight of a four-engine Russian widebody touching down at ANC in 2025 is a present for spotters and us avgeeks. Even in an age dominated by environment friendly twin-engine airliners, an plane can nonetheless catch you off guard and spark a way of surprise. For a quick second on the tarmac, historical past, know-how, and human curiosity converge, proving that aviation can transcend borders, bridging variations to unite those that share a ardour for flight.
