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63-707: Development of the Y-9 may have begun as early as 2002 as the Y-8X program. The program was a collaborative effort with Antonov – the designers of the An-12 that it was ultimately derived from – and was aimed at competing with the Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules . By September 2005, the Y-9 designation was being used. The Y-9 received design features originally intended for the Y-8F600, which

126-636: A bilateral agreement with Poland. The An-2 was adopted in bulk by both the Soviet Air Force and other Eastern Bloc military forces. It was first used in a military context during the Korean War of the early 1950s. The Vietnam People's Air Force (VPAF) was another prolific user of the AN-2; during the Vietnam War , the service occasionally used the type as an attack aircraft. During

189-604: A budget. Many ex-Aeroflot An-2s have since found work with regional operators across Africa , Central and South America , Cuba and southeast Asia . As of 2015, there were thousands of An-2s remaining in operation around the world, including over 1,500 in Russia, 294 in Kazakhstan and 54 in Ukraine . In September of 2024, Vladimir Putin ordered the single-engine UZGA LMS-901 Baikal aircraft into serial production as

252-459: A large slow biplane. Its slow flight and good short field performance make it suited for short, unimproved fields, and some specialized variants have also been built for cold weather and other extreme environments. The Guinness Book of World Records states that the 45-year production run for the An-2 was for a time the longest ever for any aircraft and challenged the well over two decades-long run of

315-458: A length of 16.2 (53), a width of 3.2 (10), and a height of 2.35 (7.7). The aircraft can fit up to 106 passengers, 132 paratroopers, or 72 stretchers. For vehicles, it can carry two para-droppable ZBD-03 airborne combat vehicles as well as various other military equipment such as light trucks, cargo containers, or pallets. The cargo bay has an internal volume of 155 m3 and is fitted with cargo handling rollers and tie-down rings. The rear entrance to

378-457: A longer, more streamlined nose to accommodate it. It received the designation of Antonov An-3 . During 2013, Antonov announced that it had successfully flown for the first time a new version of the An-2, dubbed the An-2-100 , which was fitted with a three-blade reversible propeller and a 1,100-kilowatt (1,500 shp) Motor Sich MS-14 turboprop running on kerosene rather than Avgas, which

441-505: A new multifunctional cargo plane An-132 – a demonstration plane An-132D – took to the air from the runway of Sviatoshyn airfield. The An-132 development program had been implemented in the framework of a contract with a customer from Saudi Arabia. On 24 February 2022, at the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion in Ukraine , the first attacks were launched at Kyiv-Antonov-2 airfield , the site of Antonov's test flights and home base of

504-657: A producer of gliders. Antonov's aeroplanes (design office prefix An ) range from the rugged An-2 biplane through the An-28 reconnaissance aircraft to the massive An-124 Ruslan and An-225 Mriya strategic airlifters (the latter being the world's heaviest aircraft and was the only one in service). Sometimes defunct and sometimes normal, the An-24 , An-26 , An-30 and An-32 family of twin turboprop , high-winged, passenger-cargo-troop transport aircraft are important for domestic/short-haul air services particularly in parts of

567-430: A replacement for the much lighter, largely wooden-airframed Polikarpov Po-2 , which was used in large numbers in both agricultural and utility roles. Antonov designed a large single bay biplane of all-metal construction, with an enclosed cockpit and a cabin with seats for twelve passengers. The first prototype, designated SKh-1 and powered by a Shvetsov ASh-21 radial engine, flew on 31 August 1947. The second prototype

630-528: A result of the decline in the production of avgas to fuel the type. Private operators are typically still using the An-2s, as their stability, capacity and slow-flying ability has made them relatively popular for some functions, such as for skydiving . Whilst their relatively high noise levels, increasing maintenance costs, high fuel consumption and unsophisticated nature (the pre-flight checks alone take between 30 and 40 minutes) has rendered them obsolete for

693-810: A result, Antonov aeroplanes were often assembled by the specialist contract manufacturers . In 2009, the once-independent " Aviant " aeroplane-assembling plant in Kyiv became part of Antonov, facilitating a full serial manufacturing cycle of the company. However, the old tradition of co-manufacturing with contractors is continued, both with Soviet-time partners and with new licensees like Iran 's Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company . In 2014, Antonov produced and delivered only two An-158 airplanes. This trend continued into 2015, producing one An-148 and one An-158 . Since 2016, no aircraft have been produced or delivered to clients. In June 2016, Ukraine's major state-owned arms manufacturer Ukroboronprom announced

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756-563: A salvo of SA-6s at the aircraft. Reportedly, North Korea has operated a number of the AN-2s. The Korean People's Army Special Operation Force is known to use the An-2 to facilitate the infiltration of paratroopers. It has been speculated that in wartime, these aircraft could possibly be used to deliver troops behind enemy lines for sabotage operations. During the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war Azerbaijan Forces operated unmanned AN-2 for surveillance and bombing of Armenian defenses, however

819-405: A single economic entity under unified management) will be liquidated as a residual corporate entity. Antonov State Company, Kharkiv State Aviation Manufacturing Enterprise and Plant No.410 of Civil Aviation were transferred under the management of another state-owned concern Ukroboronprom in 2015. Antonov State Company continues to function as an enterprise. On 31 March 2017, the first prototype of

882-740: A total of 825 lives. One of the most recent accidents occurred around 13:30 on 14 November 2022 in the Everglades , when an An-2, which had been seized by U.S. Customs and Border Protection was being transported to Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport and overturned during a forced landing caused by an engine failure. Both pilots survived. The first known post-WWII act of suicide by pilot was with an An-2. Timofei Shovkunov stole an An-2 and flew it directly into his apartment building in Voroshilovgrad (now Luhansk ) on March 27, 1972, apparently despondent after his wife having left along with his son

945-476: Is a Soviet mass-produced single-engine biplane utility/agricultural aircraft designed and manufactured by the Antonov Design Bureau beginning in 1947. Its durability, high lifting power, and ability to take off and land from poor runways have given it a long service life. The An-2 was produced up to 2001 and remains in service with military and civilian operators around the world. The An-2

1008-568: Is no longer produced in CIS countries. That same year, the company stated that it had received orders for upgrading "hundreds" of the An-2 planes still in operation in Azerbaijan , Cuba and Russia to the An-2-100 upgrade version. The Siberian Research Institute of Aviation (SIBNIA) has test flown a highly modified An-2 with carbon fibre winglet-like braces and carbon fibre wing structures. It

1071-637: Is powered by four WoJiang WJ-6 C turboprop engines. The propellers are six-bladed and made with Chinese JL-4 composites, and closely resemble the Dowty R406. The WJ-6C is replaced by the Pratt & Whitney Canada PW150B in the Y-9E export variant. The cruise speed is 300 knots (560 km/h; 350 mph) with an endurance of around 10.5 hours. The Y-9 is designed for 25 tons of cargo but can carry up to 30 tons in overload configuration. The cargo area has

1134-620: Is since regarded as a strategic national asset. Since independence, Antonov has certified and marketed both Soviet-era and newly developed models for sale in new markets outside of the former soviet sphere of influence. New models introduced to serial production and delivered to customers include the Antonov An-140 , Antonov An-148 and Antonov An-158 regional airliners . Among several modernisation projects, Antonov received orders for upgrading "hundreds" of its An-2 utility planes still in operation in Azerbaijan , Cuba and Russia to

1197-646: Is the An-2T 12-seater passenger aircraft. All versions (other than the An-3 and the An-2-100) are powered by a 750 kW (1,010 hp) nine-cylinder Shvetsov ASh-62 radial engine , which was developed from the Wright R-1820 . The An-2 typically consumes 2.5 L/min (0.66 US gal/min; 0.55 imp gal/min). The Antonov An-2 was designed to meet a 1940s Soviet Ministry of Forestry requirement for

1260-643: The Aeronautical Scientific-Technical Complex named after Antonov or Antonov ASTC , and earlier the Antonov Design Bureau , for its chief designer, Oleg Antonov ) is a Ukrainian aircraft manufacturing and services company. Antonov's particular expertise is in the fields of very large aeroplanes and aeroplanes using unprepared runways . Antonov (model prefix "An-") has built a total of approximately 22,000 aircraft, and thousands of its planes are operating in

1323-662: The An-225 "Mriya" in 1985. "Mriya" was the world's largest and heaviest aeroplane. The end of the Cold War and perestroika allowed the Antonov company's first step to commercialisation and foreign expansion. In 1989, the Antonov Airlines subsidiary was created for its own aircraft maintenance and cargo projects. Antonov Design Bureau remained a state-owned company after Ukraine achieved its independence in 1991 and

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1386-718: The former Soviet Union and in developing countries . Antonov Company is a state-owned commercial company originally established in Novosibirsk , Russia. In 1952, the company relocated to Kiev , Ukrainian SSR, then part of the Soviet Union. On 12 May 2015, it was transferred from the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade to the Ukroboronprom (Ukrainian Defense Industry). In June 2016, Ukraine's major state-owned arms manufacturer Ukroboronprom announced

1449-669: The 1960s, a single An-2 that was attempting to engage South Vietnamese naval units was shot down by a United States Air Force McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II fighter, under the control of an Air Intercept Controller on the USS ; Long Beach . On 12 January 1968, a clandestine TACAN site ( call sign : Lima Site 85 /Phou Pha Ti) installed by the United States Air Force in Northern Laos for directing USAF warplanes flying from Thailand to Vietnam

1512-526: The An-2 under licence as the Shijiazhuang Y-5 . It has been occasionally and erroneously reported that there was East German production of the An-2; while An-2s often underwent extensive refurbishment in East German facilities, no new aircraft were constructed there. The An-2 is commonly used as a light utility transport, parachute drop aircraft, agricultural work and other tasks suited to

1575-565: The An-2-100 upgrade version. In 2014, following the annexation of the Crimea by Russia , Ukraine cancelled contracts with Russia, leading to a significant income reduction in Ukraine's defense and aviation industries. However Ukraine has been slowly recovering the deficit from breaking ties with Russia by entering new markets such as the Persian Gulf region and expanding its presence in old ones such as India. In July 2018, Antonov

1638-565: The An-2s while the second aircraft was forced down by combined ground and air fire, eventually crashing into a mountain. The surviving Antonov returned to its home base, Gia Lam, near Hanoi. During the Croatian War of Independence in 1991, a number of aged An-2 biplanes previously used for crop-spraying were converted by the Croatian Air Force to drop makeshift barrel bombs . They were also used to conduct supply missions to

1701-511: The An-2’s intended replacement. However, certification of that aircraft's Klimov VK-800SM engine is not expected until 2025, with engine deliveries not starting until 2026. The aircraft is popular with air charter companies and small airlines, and is operated by private individuals and companies. [REDACTED]   Transnistria [REDACTED]   Ukraine As of 8 January 2023 there have been 802 An-2 hull-loss accidents, claiming

1764-635: The Antonov Bureau, also appeared in Kiev during this period. In the 1970s and early 1980s, the company established itself as the Soviet Union's main designer of military transport aircraft with dozens of new modifications in development and production. After Oleg Antonov's death in 1984, the company was officially renamed as the Research and Design Bureau named after O.K. Antonov (Russian: Опытно-конструкторское бюро имени О.К. Антонова ) while continuing

1827-783: The National Guard in January and February 2022 and thus obstructed preparations for defence. The investigators consider that Bychkov's negligence is the direct cause of the loss of Mriya , because the plane could have been sent to Germany long before February 24. In March 2023, Serhiy Bychkov was arrested, in April he faced formal suspicion in connection with the loss of An-225 Mriya and damages to Antonov amounting to ₴8.4 million. Fields of commercial activity of Antonov ASTC include: Antonov's primary activity has generally been in developing large military transport aircraft , including

1890-509: The Novosibirsk Aviation Plant. Sukhoi says the design change improved the speed of the An-2 by 50%, and testing also has shown the minimum flying speed of the aircraft is "close to zero". The Antonov An-2 is a mass-produced single-engine biplane that has been commonly used as a utility and agricultural aircraft. It is deliberately furnished with a minimum of complex systems. The crucial wing leading edge slats that give

1953-598: The Soviet Union. The model became the first Soviet wide-body aircraft , and it remains the world's largest turboprop-powered aircraft. Antonov designed and presented a nuclear-powered version of the An-22. It was never flight tested. In 1966, after the major expansion in the Sviatoshyn neighbourhood of the city, the company was renamed to another disguise name: "Kiev Mechanical Plant". Two independent aircraft production and repair facilities, under engineering supervision of

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2016-567: The Soviet era, the An-2 was used as a short-range airliner in Estonia , performing regular flights between the towns of Kuressaare and Kärdla , which reside on separate islands, Saaremaa and Hiiumaa . Since the collapse of the Soviet Union and the various communist states of Eastern Europe, most airlines in these regions have been withdrawing their An-2s from service. This is due to some of these aircraft being over 40 years old, as well as

2079-435: The aircraft its slow flight ability are fully automatic, being held closed by the airflow over the wings. Once the airspeed drops below 64 km/h (40 mph), the slats will extend because they are on elastic rubber springs. Under typical conditions, the take-off is complete within 170 m (560 ft) while the landing run requires 215 m (705 ft); these figures will vary dependent upon various factors, such as

2142-413: The aircraft's take-off/landing weight, the external air temperature, surface roughness, and headwind . The An-2 is equipped with various design features which make it suitable for operation in remote areas with unsurfaced airstrips. It is fitted with a pneumatic brake system (similar to those used on heavy road vehicles) to stop on short runways, along with an air line attached to the compressor , so

2205-425: The airplane will sink at about a parachute descent rate until the aircraft hits the ground." As such, pilots of the An-2 have stated that they are capable of flying the aircraft in full control at 48 km/h (30 mph) (as a contrast, a Cessna four-seater light aircraft has a stall speed of around 80 km/h (50 mph)). This slow stall speed makes it possible for the aircraft to fly backwards relative to

2268-523: The border with Ukraine , it was speculated that the aircraft are to be used as part of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine . Over the years, dozens of nations and companies alike have employed the An-2 in civil roles. The type was heavily used throughout the Soviet Union and the Eastern Bloc nations; in particular, Russian airline Aeroflot has operated a large number of the An-2s. During

2331-508: The cargo bay also functions as a ramp. Some special purpose variants such as the Y-9G (GX-11) have the rear ramp door removed. Data from Jane's All the World's Aircraft 2010-11 General characteristics Performance Related development Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era Related lists Antonov Antonov ( d/b/a Antonov Company , formerly

2394-590: The creation of the Ukrainian Aircraft Corporation within its structure, thereby combining all aircraft manufacturing enterprises, including the assets of Antonov into a single cluster, according to Ukroboronprom's press service. On 19 July 2017, the Ukrainian government approved the liquidation of Antonov's assets. The State Concern "Antonov" (a business group, created in 2005 from the merger of several legally independent companies into

2457-590: The creation of the Ukrainian Aircraft Corporation within its structure, to combine all aircraft manufacturing enterprises in Ukraine. The company was established in 1946 at the Novosibirsk Aircraft Production Association as the top-secret Soviet Research and Design Bureau No. 153 ( OKB-153 ). It was headed by Oleg Antonov and specialised in turboprop military transport aircraft . The task

2520-454: The day before. He was the lone casualty. In the third known post-WWII act of suicide by pilot , on September 26, 1976, Russian national Vladimir Serkov made an unauthorized takeoff with an An-2 (Reg # USSR-79868) from Novosibirsk-Severny Airport . He crashed it into the stairwell of an apartment complex at Stepnaya st., house 43 / 1, where his ex-wife's parents lived, in an attempt to kill his ex-wife. After completing two laps around

2583-664: The ground: if the aircraft is pointed into a headwind of roughly 56 km/h (35 mph), it will travel backwards at 8 km/h (5 mph) whilst under full control. The An-2's ability, looks and flying characteristics, and its status as one of the world's biggest single-engined production biplanes, mean that demand for the An-2 is increasing in Western Europe and the United States, where they are prized by collectors of classic aircraft, making it an increasingly common sight at airshows. Many western countries prohibit

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2646-472: The majority of commercial routes in Europe, the large number of aircraft available means that unit prices are especially low in comparison to contemporaries (being available from as little as US$ 30,000 for a serviceable example). The price factor has made them highly attractive for continued use in the developing world , where their ability to carry large loads into short airstrips makes them assets to airlines on

2709-492: The much lighter, late-1920s origin Polikarpov Po-2 biplane it was intended to replace. The An-2's record was exceeded by the four-turboprop, 1954-origin, Lockheed C-130 Hercules military transport. During the early 1980s, Antonov experimented with a development of the An-2 powered by a modern turboprop engine. The unit used was a 1,080-kilowatt (1,450 hp) Glushenkov engine. Aircraft fitted with this engine had

2772-401: The planes of Antonov Airlines . The planes Аn-225 Mriya , An-26 , An-74 and administrative premises were destroyed. The planes Аn-12, Аn-22, Аn-28, Аn-132D and Аn-124-100-150, the hangars and other infrastructure were severely damaged. The Security Service of Ukraine established that the former director general of Antonov Company Serhiy Bychkov had not provided access to the site for

2835-796: The present; the An-10 / An-12 were used most notably in the Vietnam War , the Soviet–Afghan War and the Chernobyl disaster relief megaoperation . In 1959, the bureau began construction of the separate Flight Testing and Improvement Base in suburban Hostomel (now the Antonov Airport ). In 1965, the Antonov An-22 heavy military transport entered serial production to supplement the An-12 in major military and humanitarian airlifts by

2898-412: The pressure in the tires and shock absorbers can be adjusted without the need for installing specialised equipment. The batteries, while sizable, are relatively easy to remove, so the aircraft does not need a ground power unit to supply power for starting the engine. Likewise, there is no need for an external fuel pump to refuel the aircraft as it is provided with an inbuilt onboard pump, which allows

2961-408: The scene, Serkov attempted to pilot the plane to the parents' apartment where his wife and two-year-old son were visiting. The aircraft pierced the stairwell between the 3rd and 4th floors, and being fueled with 800 liters of gasoline, ignited a large fire inside the stairwell that ultimately spread to damage 30 total apartments. Firefighters were on scene in five minutes, taking 57 minutes to extinguish

3024-449: The tanks to be filled from simple fuel drums. According to the operating handbook, the An-2 has no stall speed. A note from the pilot's handbook reads: "If the engine quits in instrument conditions or at night, the pilot should pull the control column full aft and keep the wings level. The leading-edge slats will snap out at about 64 km/h (40 mph) and when the airplane slows to a forward speed of about 40 km/h (25 mph),

3087-421: The town of Vukovar and other besieged parts of Croatia. The chief advantage for the An-2 was that they could take off and land in small or improvised airstrips. They were also frequently used to drop supplies by parachute on isolated garrisons. At least one AN-2 was shot down on 2 December 1991 over Vinkovci , eastern Slavonia , by a Serbian surface to air missile (SAM) emplacement which purportedly launched

3150-405: The type of the drone was unknown as of October 2020. Armenian forces revealed footage of the alleged shootdown of an Azerbaijani An-2, according to video evidence at least 11 An-2 have been destroyed, with 10 confirmed as shot down and one crashing after takeoff. On March 2, 2022, Russian An-2s were observed being stationed at Seshcha Air Base , Bryansk Oblast . As the base is situated close to

3213-491: The use of "Kiev Mechanical Plant" alias for some purposes. In the late 1980s, the Antonov Bureau achieved global prominence after the introduction of its extra large aeroplanes. The An-124 "Ruslan" (1982) became the Soviet Union's mass-produced strategic airlifter under the leadership of Chief Designer Viktor Tolmachev . The Bureau enlarged the "Ruslan" design even more for the Soviet spaceplane programme logistics, creating

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3276-402: The use of the An-2 commercially because the aircraft has not been certified by the relevant national aviation authorities. These restrictions vary by country, but all prevent the An-2 being used for any 'for profit' purpose, with the exception of the United States, where An-2s imported since 1993 are limited to experimental certification, but PZL-built An-2s are exempt from this restriction due to

3339-560: The world once led by communist governments. The An-72/An-74 series of small jetliners is slowly replacing that fleet, and a larger An-70 freighter is under certification. The Antonov An-148 is a new regional airliner of twin-turbofan configuration. Over 150 aircraft have been ordered since 2007. A stretched version is in development, the An-158 (from 60–70 to 90–100 passengers). Antonov An-2 The Antonov An-2 ( USAF/DoD reporting name Type 22 , NATO reporting name Colt )

3402-490: The world's largest airplanes, chiefly for the Russian Federation and its predecessor nations. Additionally, Antonov has produced airliners . It has also produced numerous variants of both transports and airliners, for operations ranging from air freight hauling to military reconnaissance , command and control operations. It has also developed various general aviation light aircraft, having originated as

3465-471: Was attacked by three North Vietnamese An-2s. A pair of An-2s fired on the outpost using a mixture of machine guns and rockets while a third An-2 orbited overhead to survey the assault. An Air America Bell UH-1 B, XW-PHF that had been resupplying the site gave chase to the two attacking aircraft. Using an AK-47 , the American crew (Ted Moore Captain, Glen Wood Kicker) succeeded in shooting down one of

3528-422: Was able to secure a deal with Boeing in order to procure airplane parts which were no longer available due to breakdown of relations with Russia. During the Soviet period , not all Antonov-designed aircraft were manufactured by the company itself. This was a result of Soviet industrial strategy that split military production between different regions of the Soviet Union to minimise potential war loss risks. As

3591-577: Was at State Factory 464 at Dolgoprudniy, Russian SFSR . After 1960, most An-2s were constructed at Poland's WSK factory in Mielec ; it is believed that over 13,000 aircraft were built in Poland before principal manufacturing activity ended during 1991. Up until 2001, limited production was undertaken using remaining stocks of components, spares and maintenance coverage, such as a small batch of four aircraft that were produced for Vietnam. China also builds

3654-648: Was cancelled in 2008. Shaanxi had hoped to conduct the first flight as early as 2006, but it was delayed. Design changes were made in 2006, with the design being frozen by January 2010. After the design freeze, it was suggested that the first flight would depend on securing a launch customer; construction had also not yet commenced. The aircraft finally flew in November 2010. The Y-9 entered People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) service in 2012, with full operating capability being announced in December 2017. The Y-9

3717-455: Was designed as a utility aircraft for use in forestry and agriculture, but the basic airframe is highly adaptable and numerous variants of the type have been developed; these include hopper-equipped versions for crop-dusting, scientific versions for atmospheric sampling, water-bombers for fighting forest-fires, flying ambulances , float-equipped seaplane versions and lightly armed combat versions for dropping paratroops . The most common version

3780-550: Was equipped with a five-bladed turboprop engine, most probably the Honeywell TPE331 already installed on a modernized version of the An-2 that entered service in 2014. According to Russian aviation company Sukhoi , this aircraft was built to demonstrate the aerodynamic and structural changes that were planned for an eventual An-2 replacement announced on 10 June 2015. The autoclave-cured carbonfibre composite materials – including wing panels, spars and ribs – were produced by

3843-486: Was fitted with a more powerful Shvetsov ASh-62 engine, which allowed the aircraft's payload to be significantly increased from 1,300 to 2,140 kg (2,870 to 4,720 lb), and in this form it was ordered into production. Initial Soviet production was at State Factory 473 in Kiev , Ukrainian SSR , where the bulk of up to 5,000 units had been produced by 1960. Later Soviet production (after 1965, of model An-2M especially)

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3906-400: Was relocated to Kiev , a city with a rich aviation history and an aircraft-manufacturing infrastructure restored after the destruction caused by World War II . The 1957 introduction of the An-10 / An-12 family of mid-range turboprop aeroplanes began the successful production of thousands of these aircraft. Their use for both heavy combat and civilian purposes around the globe continues to

3969-455: Was to create an agricultural aircraft CX-1 (An-2), the first flight of which occurred on 31 August 1947. The An-2 biplane was a major achievement of this period, with hundreds of these aircraft still operating as of 2013. In addition to this biplane and its modifications, a small series of gliders A-9 and A-10 were created and built in the pilot production in Novosibirsk . In 1952, the Bureau

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