The Ilyushin Il-12 (NATO reporting name: Coach) is a Soviet twin-engine cargo aircraft, developed in the mid-1940s for small and medium-haul airline routes and as a military transport.

The Il-12 was developed as a private venture by the Ilyushin Design Bureau from autumn 1943 and was intended as a replacement for the Lisunov Li-2, a license-produced version of the Douglas DC-3.

[2][3] Initial studies proposed a 29-seat airliner powered by four 1,000 hp (750 kW) supercharged M-88V engines (as used in the Ilyushin Il-4 bomber) and with a pressurized cabin, allowing the aircraft to cruise at an altitude of 6,000–7,000 m (20,000–23,000 ft), with a range of 5,000 km (3,100 mi) at almost 400 km/h (250 mph).

[2][6][7] It was soon decided to re-engine the aircraft with Shvetsov ASh-82 radial engines, as it was expected to take too long to develop the ACh-31 to an acceptable reliability and time between overhauls for commercial service.

[11] However, factory test pilots praised the quality of the new aircraft, with much better performance and handling than the Li-2, which contributed to the decision to launch the Il-12 in series production.

Subsequently, as a result of the accident investigation, the magnesium was replaced by aluminium alloys and the fire extinguishing system was redesigned.

The first export customer for the Il-12 was LOT Polish Airlines, who placed an order for five Il-12Bs after it was displayed at the Poznan Fair in Poland in the spring of 1948.