Of all the mysteries around the world, there exists an abandoned Ilyushin IL-76 alongside the Barracuda Beach Resort crumbling its value, of which any left, beneath the scorching heat of Dubai's desert. Being one of the several visited tourist spots in the country, it does have an interesting tale behind it.
Umm Al Quwain (UAQ), one of the seven constituent Emirates, located in the north of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), is popular with destinations like Dreamland Aqua Park, Al Sinniyah Island, and Falaj Al Mualla,
This IL-76, with the advert of Palma Beach Hotel, printed across its fuselage, rests beside the Barracuda Beach Resort, A laid back hotel, which is approximately 20 mins walk from Dreamland Aqua Park.
Although located at Umm Al Quwain Aeroclub a prominent spot for skydiving and paragliding, has been closed officially due to several accidents and mishaps, yet is still noticeable from a distance as you drive along the E-11 highway.
History of the Ilyushin IL-76
A multi-purpose four-engine turbofan aircraft, designed by the Soviet Union, was originally meant to be a commercial freighter in 1967, though used as emergency response transport, and disaster relief for civilians. Besides its ability to operate in unpaved runways, it is capable of coping with the most unfavourable weather conditions and handle remote and poorly accessible areas.
Although delivered initially to the Soviet Air Force in June 1974, Around 38 countries have operated more than 850 Ilyushin IL-76 for military and civil operations.
How and why did it end up in the UAE
 |
| TL-ACN at the Umm Al Quwain (UAQ) Aeroclub |
According to Aero Transport Data Bank, the aircraft entered service as registration (CCCP-86715) throughout 1970-1980 for the operator Aeroflot. After the downfall of the Soviet Union in 1988-1991, it was re-registered as RA-86715, for private transportation in Russia.
Following, the aircraft was re-registered as (EL-RDT) in 1977 for a cargo based airline in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, which held a fleet size of 5 in late August 2006, and is non-operational currently
The story becomes more questionable when the aircraft was registered as 3D-RTT to Air Pass until 1998 and later to Centraafrican Al, as TL-ACN, which can be seen as its current registration.
Air Pass formed by Victor Bout's airline Air Cess. Victor Bout, an entrepreneur, and former Soviet military translator, managed multiple air transport companies to smuggle weapons from Eastern Europe to Africa and the Middle East during the 1990s and early 2000s.
Moreover, the airline had a fleet capacity of 28 aircraft ranging from Antonov-24 to the IL-76. However, the airline was dismissed by South Africa's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), thereby charging Air Cess with 146 breaches of civil aviation law.
 |
| The cockpit of the abandoned Ilyushin IL-76 |
Victor Bout, who yet again, restructured and formed a new airline, the Centraafrcian Al, the last registered owner of the abandoned Ilyushin IL-76.
Moreover, the organisation did involve in various illicit arms shipments and with UN investigators finding credible evidence of Bout being involved in the exchange and purchase of the aircraft, the company ceased operations in 2001 after the United Arab Emirates (UAE) authorities forbade Bout from entering the country in the early 2000s.
Since 2012, Bout has been held at United States Penitentiary,Marion sentenced to 25 years of imprisonment, for conspiracy to kill US citizens and officials, granting aid to a terrorist organisation, and the distribution of numerous anti-aircraft missiles.
 |
| The Abandoned IL-76 used as a billboard for Palma Beach Hotel |
Besides this past, the aircraft did have a number of speculations as to why it ended up at Umm Al Quwain (UAQ).
Even with the Palma Beach Hotel printed across its fuselage, the hotel has no reliable knowledge as to how and why the aircraft arrived.
Although having the accessibility to a lot of used aviation parts and aircraft nowadays, It could have been purchased, for converting into either a restaurant or cafe or rather used as an exhibit.
There is also a possibility, that the aircraft was on the way to the Northern Emirates, but had to make an emergency landing at UAQ, due to engine failure or pilot error.
However, with all these theories, it is puzzling as to why the aircraft ended up in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), even with the history of the notorious arms dealer following " The Merchant of Death", We may never know.
Whatever could be the reason, it is one of the few sites where you could experience the IL-76 in such proximity and be awe-struck by such a brilliant megastructure.
Reference
TheNationalNews.com 2014, Shrouded in mystery: the Russian cargo plane abandoned in Umm Al Quwain, Viewed on 22 Nov 20
No comments:
Post a Comment