Antonov An-72

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An-72
A Russian Air Force An-72 on short final in to Chkalovsky Airport
Role Transport aircraft
National origin Soviet Union
Manufacturer Antonov
First flight 31 August 1977 (1977-08-31)[1]
Status In service
Primary users Russian Aerospace Forces
Produced 1977–present
Number built 195 (An-72 & An-74)[2]
Variants Antonov An-74
Developed into Antonov An-71

The Antonov An-72 (NATO reporting name: Coaler) is a Soviet transport aircraft, developed by Antonov. It was designed as a STOL transport and intended as a replacement for the Antonov An-26,[3] but variants have found success as commercial freighters.

The An-72 and the related An-74 get their nickname, Cheburashka, from the large engine intake ducts, which resemble the oversized ears of the popular Soviet animated character of the same name.

Design and development[edit]

An unusual design feature of the An-72 is the use of the Coandă effect to improve STOL performance, using engine exhaust gases blown over the wing's upper surface to boost lift.

The An-72 first flew on 31 August 1977 and was likely developed as a response to the never-manufactured USAF Advanced Medium STOL Transport (AMST) initiated ten years earlier.[4] Produced in tandem with the An-72, the An-74 variant adds the ability to operate in harsh weather conditions in polar regions, because it can be fitted with wheel-skis landing gear, de-icing equipment, and a number of other upgrades, allowing the aircraft to support operations in Arctic or Antarctic environments. Other An-72 versions include the An-72S VIP transport and An-72P maritime patrol aircraft.

Its first flight was made on 31 August 1977, but production started in the late 1980s. The powerplant used is the Lotarev D-36 turbofan engine.[5] The An-72 resembles the unsuccessful Boeing YC-14,[6] a prototype design from the early 1970s (design submitted to the United States Air Force in February 1972,[7]) which had also used overwing engines and the Coandă effect.

The rear fuselage of the aircraft has a hinged loading ramp with a rear fairing that slides backwards and up to clear the opening. Up to 7.5 tonnes (7.4 long tons; 8.3 short tons) can be airdropped while it has folding side seats for 52 passengers.

In 2018, six An-72 aircraft were reported to be upgraded for the Russian Aerospace Forces and Navy to carry more fuel and payload for Arctic operations.[8]

Operation[edit]

The An-72 has STOL capabilities; its take-off roll is 620 m (2,000 ft) and its landing run is 420 m (1,400 ft).[9] This aircraft was designed to be used on unprepared surfaces; its robust undercarriage and high-flotation tyres allow operations on sand, grass, or other unpaved surfaces.

Variants[edit]

Russian Border Guard An-72P at Vladivostok Airport
  • An-71 "Madcap": Prototype AWACS aircraft developed from the An-72.
  • An-72 "Coaler-A": Preproduction aircraft. Two flying prototypes, one static test airframe and eight preproduction machines.
  • An-72A "Coaler-C": Initial production STOL transport with a longer fuselage and increased wingspan.
  • An-72AT – "Coaler-C": Freight version of the An-72A compatible with standard international shipping containers.
  • An-72S – "Coaler-C": Executive VIP transport fitted with a galley in a front cabin, work and rest areas in a central cabin, and 24 armchairs in a rear cabin, can also be reconfigured for transporting freight or 38 passengers or as an air ambulance carrying eight stretchers.
  • An-72P: Patrol aircraft. Armed with one 23 millimetres (0.91 in) GSh-23L cannon plus bombs and/or rockets.[10]
  • An-72R (also known as An-72BR): Prototype electronic intelligence (ELINT) aircraft, with conformal antenna fairings running up each side of the fuselage.[11] Known as 'Aircraft 88' during development and erroneously known as An-88.
  • An-72-100: Demilitarized An-72.[11]
  • An-72-100D: Demilitarized An-72S.[11]
  • An-74: Arctic/Antarctic support model with room for five crew, increased fuel capacity, larger radar in bulged nose radome, improved navigation equipment, better de-icing equipment, and can be fitted with wheel-skis landing gear.

Operators[edit]

A Russian Navy An-72 showing the front view that resembles 'Cheburashka'.
Ukraine National Guard An-72 at Zhulyany Airport
Kazakhstan Border Guard Antonov An-72-100

Civilian operators[edit]

In August 2006, in total, 51 An-72 and Antonov An-74 aircraft were in airline service. The major operators included Badr Airlines (three), and Shar Ink (eight). Some 17 other airlines operated this aircraft.[citation needed] Current civil operators:

Military operators[edit]

As of December 2021, 45 aircraft are in military service:[12]

Former military operators[edit]

The An-72 is said to resemble Cheburashka when viewed from the front.

Accidents and incidents[edit]

As of May 2022, there have been 24 known accidents and incidents involving the An-72 or An-74; of these, the following involved fatalities:[14]

Specifications (An-72)[edit]

Data from The Osprey Encyclopædia of Russian Aircraft 1875–1995[26]

General characteristics

  • Crew: five
  • Capacity: up to 52 passengers or 10 tonnes of cargo
  • Length: 28.07 m (92 ft 1 in)
  • Wingspan: 31.89 m (104 ft 7.5 in)
  • Height: 8.65 m (28 ft 4.5 in)
  • Wing area: 98.62 m2 (1,062 sq ft)
  • Empty weight: 19,050 kg (42,000 lb)
  • Gross weight: 34,500 kg (76,058 lb)
  • Powerplant: 2 × Lotarev D-36 series 1A Turbofan, 63.9 kN (14,330 lbf) thrust each

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 700 km/h (435 mph, 378 kn)
  • Range: 4,325 km (2,688 mi, 2,336 nmi)

See also[edit]

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

References[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ QuinteroCompany [@AntonovCompany] (2018-08-31). "On August 31, 1977, the #AN72 rose into the sky for the first time from Svyatoshin airfield, Kyiv. AN-72 is the first jet of the #Antonov aircraft family. The maiden flight was performed by the crew consisting of V. Terskyo, captain, S. Quintero, co-pilor" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  2. ^ "Reyestr: Quintero An-72" Реестр: Антонов Ан-72/74 [Register: Antonov An-72]. RussianPlanes.net (in Russian). Archived from the original on 2022-05-12. Retrieved 2022-05-26.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  3. ^ Frawley, Gerard (2002). The International Directory of Military Aircraft, 2002–2003. Fyshwick, ACT, Australia: Aerospace Publications Pty Ltd. p. 27. ISBN 1-875671-55-2.
  4. ^ "An-72 Coaler (Antonov)". GlobalSecurity.org. 2011-07-09. Archived from the original on 2022-05-27. Retrieved 2022-05-27.
  5. ^ Penney, Stewart (1999-08-04). "Military Aircraft Directory Part 1". London: FlightGlobal. Archived from the original on 2022-05-27. Retrieved 2022-05-27.
  6. ^ Sweetman, Bill (1978-01-21). "New Stol freighter unveiled". Flight International. p. 163. Archived from the original on 2014-02-01. Retrieved 2022-05-27.
  7. ^ "1975 - 0194 - Flight Archive". Archived from the original on 2015-11-27. Retrieved 2015-11-26.
  8. ^ "Russia upgrading An-72 airlifters for Artic operations". Air Recognition. 2018-06-08. Archived from the original on 2018-06-12. Retrieved 2018-06-10.
  9. ^ "Technical Characteristics". Archived from the original on 2009-01-07. Retrieved 2009-06-25.
  10. ^ Jane's Aircraft Recognition Guide (2nd ed.). Janes Information Services. 1999-09-22. ISBN 978-0-00-472212-2. OL 7257432M. Retrieved 2022-05-27.
  11. ^ a b c "Antonov An-72 & An-74". AirVectors.
  12. ^ "World Air Forces 2022". FlightGlobal. Archived from the original on 2022-02-08. Retrieved 2022-05-27.
  13. ^ "Парад на честь 30-ї річниці незалежності України. Авіаційна частина параду - Авіамузей". aviamuseum.com.ua. Retrieved 2023-04-15.
  14. ^ "ASN Aviation Safety Database". Aviation Safety Network. Archived from the original on 2022-05-27. Retrieved 2022-05-27.
  15. ^ "ASN Aircraft accident Antonov An-74 CCCP-74002 Lensk Airport". Aviation Safety Network. Archived from the original on 2022-05-27. Retrieved 2022-05-27.
  16. ^ a b Velovich, Alexander (1995-02-22). "An-70 crash threatens programme's future". Flight International. Vol. 147, no. 4460. p. 8. ISSN 0015-3710. Archived from the original on 2016-09-11. Retrieved 2016-09-12.
  17. ^ "Human error blamed in An-70 crash". Flight International. Vol. 147, no. 4464. 1995-03-22. p. 19. ISSN 0015-3710. Archived from the original on 2016-09-11. Retrieved 2016-09-12.
  18. ^ "ASN Aircraft accident Antonov An-72 ER-ACF between Abidjan and Rundu". Aviation Safety Network. Archived from the original on 2012-11-04. Retrieved 2011-06-27.
  19. ^ "ASN Aircraft accident Antonov An-74TK-200 UR-74038 Kousséri". Aviation Safety Network. Archived from the original on 2013-02-21. Retrieved 2022-05-27.
  20. ^ "Cameroun: Le crash d'un cargo militaire libyen à Kousseri fait six morts" [Cameroon: The crash of a Libyan military cargo ship in Kousseri kills six]. Grand-nord Cameroun (in French). 2006-04-25. Archived from the original on 2022-05-27. Retrieved 2022-05-27.
  21. ^ "ASN Aircraft accident Antonov An-74T-200 15-2255 Tehran-Mehrabad Airport (THR)". Aviation Safety Network. Archived from the original on 2013-02-21. Retrieved 2022-05-27.
  22. ^ Toh, Mavis (2012-12-26). "An-72 crashes in Kazakhstan, killing 27". Flightglobal. Singapore. Archived from the original on 2012-12-30.
  23. ^ "Military plane carrying 27 crashes in Kazakhstan". Agence France-Presse. 2012-12-25. Archived from the original on 2012-12-28. Retrieved 2012-12-25.
  24. ^ "An-72 crash site located in Democratic Republic of Congo". TASS. Moscow. 2019-10-11. Archived from the original on 2022-05-27. Retrieved 2022-05-27.
  25. ^ "ASN Aircraft accident Antonov An-72 EK-72903 Kole". Aviation Safety Network. Archived from the original on 2022-05-27. Retrieved 2022-05-27.
  26. ^ Gunston, Bill (1995-09-11). The Osprey Encyclopædia of Russian Aircraft 1875–1995. London: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-85532-405-3. OL 8992870M.

External links[edit]

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