Genrikh Novozhilov — Soviet aircraft designer and Ilyushin chief

Notable designs

• Il-18 — a turboprop airliner that became a backbone of domestic and international routes in the 1950s and 1960s; see Il-18.
• Il-62 — a long-range jetliner introduced as a flagship of Soviet civil aviation; see Il-62.
• Il-76 — a four-engine strategic transport whose development Novozhilov led; it proved versatile for freight, airborne forces and civil relief; see Il-76 and details of its development.
• Il-96 — a wide-body airliner representing a later generation of Ilyushin passenger aircraft; see Il-96.

Technically, the programmes he guided emphasized rugged structures, straightforward maintenance and the ability to operate from austere fields—qualities prized for Soviet domestic networks and export customers. The Il-76 in particular became an enduring platform for military transport and humanitarian missions, and it helped cement Ilyushin's reputation for heavy-aircraft expertise.

Born in Moscow in 1925, Novozhilov remained active in engineering circles after his formal retirement, advising younger designers and preserving institutional knowledge of large-aircraft design. He died on 28 April 2019 at age 93. For further reading and archival materials consult dedicated aerospace histories and collections linked by institutional repositories and museum catalogues (design records, biographical entries, technical summaries, aircraft registries, Il-18 history, Il-62 profile, Il-76 data, Il-96 notes, development timelines, political service, personal records).