The first Ilyushin 11-14 to serve with the Indian Air Force (IL859 “Meghdoot”) was presented to Prime Minister Nehru by the Soviet Union at a Palam ceremony on 24th December 1955 and this aircraft was to form part of the Communication Squadron. A second 11-14 (IL-860 “Meghdoot II”) was presented a year later, also for the Communication Squadron. An 11-14 established the Lhasa air link, pioneering an air route to the capital of Tibet. Five years later an Indian mission visiting Moscow negotiated the purchase of further I1-14s and a batch of twenty four were obtained in May 1961 to equip the newly raised No. 42 Squadron. This medium transport unit was soon under considerable pressure, flying troops and cargo in support of border posts on the frontiers with China, the I1-14s ranging far and wide from Ladakh to Assam during October-November 1962.
The military-freight 11-14 has proved reliable and its service with the Indian Air Force has been steady if not spectacular.
Notes :
A progressive development of the 11-12 freight and personnel transport, the 11-14 (NATO code “Crate”) was first observed in 1953 and has been produced in several versions for the Soviet military, Aeroflot and for export to most Communist countries as also Indonesia, Egypt, Congo and India. Powered by two 1900 h.p. Shevetsov AsH.82T-7 radial engines the 11-14 was also manufactured under licence in Czechoslovakia, E.Germany and Poland.
| Country of origin | U.S.S.R. |
| Performance | Maximum speed 247 m.p.h. (397 km./hr.) |
| Normal cruising 200 m.p.h. (322 km./hr.) at 6,500 ft. (1,980 m.) | |
| Normal range 1,345 miles (2,164 km ) | |
| Service ceiling 22,950 feet (6,995 m.) | |
| Weights | Empty 26,400 lb. (11,990 kg,) |
| Max. loaded 38,000 lb. (17,260 kg.) | |
| Dimensions | Span 104 ft. (31.70 m.) |
| Length 69 ft. 10 in. (21.29 m.) | |
| Height 25 ft. 11 in. (7.91 m.) | |
| Wing area 1,075 ft. (99.88 m.) |
