Description

The Ilyushin IL-18 is a large turboprop airliner manufactured in the Soviet Union from 1957 to 1985. Various records suggest a different number of IL-18 built, but the most accurate documented figure is 674 units. The type still remains operational today. As of 2024, there is a rough estimate of over 70 IL-18s in active use, mostly military, however, a few civilian airframes allegedly grace the skies with the most notorious one in North Korea, operated by Air Koryo.

The piece in your possession has been crafted from IL-18B with its unique history. CCCP-75661 entered service on December 12, 1958 with Aeroflot Soviet Airlines based in Moscow. In 1959 the aircraft was relocated to Baku division of Aeroflot (Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic), where it remained in full-time service till July 20, 1964. On that day during its routine flight the crew happened to hit a heavy hailstorm, which subsequently, led to the aircraft conducting a belly landing, gear up. The airframe was damaged beyond feasible repair and in May 1966 it was donated to the Kyiv Aviation Museum in Zhuliany Airport, where it remained part of a learning exhibition till 1996, when it got scrapped. It still remains undetermined why the decision to scrap the aircraft was made, however, the museum has another IL-18 on display, yet sections of our example are used as garage and storage facilities on site. In 2022 Fuselage Creations team in cooperation with the museum bought the sections of the aircraft to turn them into keychains for aviation enthusiasts across the world to enjoy.

PLEASE NOTE: YOU MAY REQUEST A PARTICULAR TAG OR COLOUR, BUT THIS CANNOT BE GUARANTEED. WE WILL DO OUR BEST TO FULFIL ANY REQUESTS WHERE POSSIBLE.