Antonov An-72

An-72

A Russian Air Force An-72 on short final in to Chkalovsky Airport
Role	Military transport
National origin	Soviet Union Ukraine
Manufacturer	Antonov
First flight	22 December 1977
Status	Operational
Primary users	Russian Air Force Ukrainian Air Force
Produced	1977–present
Number built	195 (An-72 & An-74)^[1]
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, but variants have found success as commercial freighters.

The An-72 and 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

The An-72 first flew in December 1977 (1977-12).^[2] 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.

An unusual design feature of the An-72 is the use of the Coandă effect to improve STOL performance, utilizing engine exhaust gases blown over the wing's upper surface to boost lift. The first flight was made on 31 August 1977, but it was only in the 1980s that production started. The power plant used is the Lotarev D-36 turbofan engine.^[3] The An-72 bears a resemblance to the Boeing YC-14,^[2] a prototype design from the early 1970s (design submitted to the Air Force in February 1972^[4]) 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 tons can be airdropped whilst there are folding side seats for 52 passengers.

Operational history

The An-72 has STOL capabilities: its takeoff roll is 620 metres and its landing run is 420 metres.^[5] 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.

In January 1997 and 1998, the Paris-Dakar rally was assisted by two An-72 aircraft. In 1999, a total of four aircraft of this type joined the rally.

Variants

An-72 "Coaler-A": Pre production aircraft. Two flying prototypes, one static test airframe and eight pre-production machines.
An-72A "Coaler-C": Initial production STOL transport with a longer fuselage and increased wing span.
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 mm GSh-23L cannon plus bombs and/or rockets.^[6]
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

Civil operators

Two An-72s at Tallinn Airport in 2006

In August 2006, a total of 51 An-72 and Antonov An-74 aircraft remain in airline service. Major operators include Badr Airlines (three), Air Armenia (three), Enimex (five), Gazpromavia (12), and Shar Ink (eight). Some 17 other airlines operate smaller numbers of the type.^[7]

Armenia

Air Armenia

Estonia

Enimex

France

Darta

Russia

Sudan

Ukraine

Military operators

A Russian Navy An-72 showing the front view that resembles 'Cheburashka'

Equatorial Guinea

Military of Equatorial Guinea: Two

Moldova

Moldovan Air Force: Two

Russia

Russian Air Force: 39

Ukraine

Ukrainian Air Force: 26
National Guard of Ukraine: 2^[8]

Former military operators

Angola

National Air Force of Angola

Armenia

Armenian Air Force

Georgia

Georgian Air Force

Kazakhstan

Military of Kazakhstan - one (crashed on 25 December 2012)

Libya

Libyan Air Force

Peru

Peruvian Air Force – two (operated until late 1990s and sold to civilian market)

Soviet Union

Soviet Air Force

Accidents and incidents

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

On 22 December 1997, ER-ACF, an Antonov An-72 disappeared on a cargo flight from Port Bouet Airport, Côte d'Ivoire to Rundu Airport, Namibia. The aircraft and its five crew members disappeared without a trace over the South Atlantic. The cause of the incident remains undetermined.^[9]
On 25 December 2012, an An-72 carrying Kazakhstani border patrol officials crashed in Shymkent, killing all 27 people on board.^[10]^[11]

Specifications (An-72)

Data from The Osprey Encyclopaedia of Russian Aircraft 1875–1995

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 7½ in)
Height: 8.65 m (28 ft 4½ in)
Wing area: 98.62 m² (1,062 ft²)
Empty weight: 19,050 kg (42,000 lb)
Gross weight: 34,500 kg (76,058 lb)
Powerplant: 2 × Lotarev D-36 series 1A, 63.9 kN (14,330 lbf) thrust each

Performance

Maximum speed: 700 km/h (435 mph)
Cruising speed: 550 / 600 km/h (342 / 373 mph)
Range: 4,325 km (2,688 miles)

References

Notes

↑ "✈ russianplanes.net ✈ наша авиация".
1 2 "New Stol freighter unveiled". Flight International: 163. 21 January 1978. Archived from the original on 14 July 2013.
↑ Penney, Stewart (4 August 1999). "Military Aircraft Directory Part 1". London: Flightglobal. Archived from the original on 14 July 2013.
↑ "1975 - 0194 - Flight Archive".
↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20090107030001/http://www.m9.com.ua/en/vs/passenger/an-74/characteristics.html. Archived from the original on 7 January 2009. Retrieved 25 June 2009. Missing or empty |title= (help)
↑ Jane's Aircraft Recognition Guide, 1999
↑ Flight International, 3–9 October 2006
↑ "Ukrainian aircraft manufacturer Antonov restores An-72P plane for National Guard - 30.01.2015 10:41 — Ukrinform News".
↑ "ASN Aircraft accident: Antonov 72 ER-ACF between Abidjan and Rundu." Aviation Safety Network, 2010. Retrieved: 27 June 2011.
↑ Toh, Mavis (26 December 2012). "An-72 crashes in Kazakhstan, killing 27". Singapore: Flightglobal. Flight International. Archived from the original on 16 July 2013.
↑ "Military plane carrying 27 crashes in Kazakhstan". AFP. 25 December 2012. Archived from the original on 25 December 2012. Retrieved 25 December 2012.

Bibliography

Gunston, Bill. The Osprey Encyclopaedia of Russian Aircraft 1875–1995. London: Osprey, 1995. ISBN 1-85532-405-9.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Antonov An-72.

An-72/An-74 Family ( Data for An-72A & List of all known An-72/An-74 Family variants )
An-74 Pictures
AN-74TK-300 modification at Antonov's site
AN-74T modification at Antonov's site
AN-74T-200A INFO
AN-74TK-300D INFO
http://www.ctrl-c.liu.se/misc/RAM/an-71.html
An-71 Article, Images
Specs at globalsecurity.org

Antonov aircraft

Airliners	An-10 An-24 An-28 An-74 An-140 An-148 An-158 An-174 An-180 An-218

Transports	OKA-38 An-2 An-3 An-4 An-8 An-12 An-14 An-22 An-26 An-32 An-38 An-50 An-70 An-72 An-74 An-112 An-124 An-132 An-178 An-225

Reconnaissance and surveillance	An-6 An-30 An-71 An-88

Experimental	An-13 SKV An-188

Gliders	A-1 A-2 A-7 A-9 A-10 A-11 A-13 A-15 A-40

Microlights	T-2M

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