The Il-12 was designed as another ‘DC-3 (Li-2) replacement’, but was soon superseded by the improved Il-14. As a result very few remain in existence, with most known examples being in China, and the China Aviation Museum has in fact no less than three on display, all former Air Force machines. Most were probably used for regular transport operations, but 35141 was apparently modified and used to collect air samples and other data from China’s first atom bomb explosion on 16 October 1964.