The ZIL-131 AL-30 (model PM-506 / PM-506D) is a classic Soviet fire truck with a hydraulic ladder. Built on the basis of the legendary ZiL-131 off-road chassis with a 6x6 wheel formula, this car was widely used by fire departments throughout the USSR and in the Warsaw Pact countries to carry out rescue operations and extinguish fires in high-rise buildings.

Main technical characteristics
Chassis: ZiL-131 / ZiL-131N (all-wheel drive 6x6, providing excellent off-road and rough terrain).

Type of superstructure: AL-30 (a climbing ladder with a lifting height of 30 meters), equipped with a telescopic ladder system with a hydraulic drive; production was carried out at specialized enterprises such as the Torzhok Plant (TMZ).

The maximum lifting height was from 30 to 32.2 meters, which made it possible to work with multi-storey residential and industrial buildings.

Workload / Load capacity: designed for the weight of firefighters and rescue equipment on the ladder sections (usually the nominal load on the structure or rescue cradle ranges from 120-160 kg or higher, depending on the specific modification and extension angle).

Boom reach: the maximum horizontal reach is about 16 meters under optimal operating conditions.

Engine: petrol V8 (models ZIL-508 / ZIL-130) with a volume of 6.0 liters and a power of about 150 hp, paired with a manual transmission and a two-speed transfer case.

Crew / Combat crew: the cabin could accommodate a crew of 3 people.

Gross weight: approximately 10.2–10.4 tons.

Purpose and application
Unlike standard urban fire trucks, designed primarily for transporting water and pumping equipment, the PM-506/PM-506D series was focused on providing access to heights, evacuating people, as well as supplying fire hoses or delivering rescuers directly to the upper floors of buildings. To ensure stability and reliable support, outriggers (support jacks) were extended on the sides of the chassis before lifting the heavy hydraulic ladder.