Antonov An-2 Totally Explained

Everything about An-2 totally explained

The Antonov An-2 (Russian nickname: кукуру́зник kukuruznik - a kolkhoz maize worker (inherited from Polikarpov Po-2) also nicknamed Annushka; NATO code name Colt) is an extremely durable, light, single-engine biplane which first flew in 31 August 1947 and was the first plane designed by Antonov. It is used as a light transport, capable of carrying 12 passengers, and for parachute drops and agricultural work. Its extraordinary slow-flight and STOL capabilities make it supremely 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 the longest ever, for any aircraft.

Design and development

The An-2 is the largest single-engine biplane ever produced. By 1960 the USSR had produced over 5,000 units. Since 1960, most An-2s have been built at Poland's WSK factory in Mielec, with over 13,000 made there before full production ended in 1991. Limited production from parts stocks, as well as spares and maintenance coverage continues. China also builds the An-2 under license as the Shijiazhuang Y-5.
The An-2 was designed as a utility aircraft for use in forestry and agriculture. However, the basic airframe is highly adaptable and numerous variants 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, lightly armed combat versions for dropping paratroops, and of course the most common An-2T version, which is the 12-seater passenger aircraft. All versions (other than the An-3) are powered by a 1000-horsepower 9-cylinder Shvetsov ASh-62 radial engine, which was developed from the Wright R-1820.
The An-2 has design features which make it suitable for operation in remote areas with unsurfaced airstrips:

It has a pneumatic brake system (similar to those used on heavy road vehicles) to stop on short runways.
It has an air line fitted to the compressor, so the pressure in the tires and shock absorbers can be adjusted without the need for special equipment.
The batteries are large and easy to remove, so the aircraft doesn't need a ground power unit to supply power.
There is no need for an external fuel pump to refuel the aircraft, as it has an onboard pump that allows the tanks to be filled from simple fuel drums.
It has a minimum of complex systems. The crucial wing leading edge slats that give the aircraft its slow flight ability are fully automatic, being held closed by the airflow over the wings. Once the airspeed drops below 40 mph (64 km/h), the slats will extend because they're on elastic rubber springs.
Take-off run: 170 m, landing run: 215 m (these numbers will of course vary depending on take-off/landing weight, outside air temperature, surface roughness, and headwind).

An interesting note from the pilot's handbook reads: "If the engine quits in instrument conditions (blind flying when you can't see the ground) or at night, the pilot should pull the control column full aft (it won't stall) and keep the wings level. The leading-edge slats will snap out at about 40 mph (64 km/h), and when the airplane slows to a forward speed of about 25 mph [40 km/h], the airplane will sink at about a parachute descent rate until the aircraft hits the ground." The An-2 has no stall speed quoted in the operating handbook. Pilots of the An-2 say one can fly the aircraft in full control at 30 mph (as a contrast, a modern Cessna 4-seater light aircraft has a stall speed of around 55 mph). This slow stall speed makes it possible for the aircraft to fly backwards (if the aircraft is pointed into a headwind of, say, 35 mph, it'll travel backwards at 5 mph whilst under full control). (This is, of course, also possible with almost any other real Short Take Off and Landing (STOL) aircraft.)
   Since the collapse of the Soviet Union and the Eastern European communist states, most airlines in these areas have been withdrawing their An-2s from service as some of these aircraft are now over 40 years old. Private operators are still using the planes as their stability, capacity and slow-flying ability make them very popular, for instance for skydiving.
   In the early 1980s Antonov experimented with a development of the An-2 powered by a modern turboprop engine. The unit used was a 1450 horsepower Glushenkov engine, and aircraft fitted with this engine were fitted with a longer, more streamlined nose to accommodate it. See Antonov An-3 article for more information.
   Whilst their high noise levels, increasing maintenance costs, high fuel consumption and unsophisticated nature (the pre-flight checks alone take between 30 and 40 minutes) makes them obsolete in Europe, the huge number of aircraft available means that prices are low (from as little as $30,000 for a serviceable example). This makes them ideal for the developing world, where their ability to carry large loads into short airstrips makes them assets to airlines on a budget. Many ex-Aeroflot An-2s work as regional airliners in Africa, Central and South America, Cuba and the Indian subcontinent. North Korea has a number of the aircraft.(External Link

) It is believed that the wooden propellers and canvas wings on their variants (the Y-5 version license-built in China) give them a low radar cross-section, and therefore a limited degree of "stealth".(External Link

) In a war they'd probably be used to parachute or deliver special forces troops behind enemy lines for sabotage operations.
The An-2's ability, looks and flying characteristics, and its status as "The World's Biggest Biplane" mean that demand for the aircraft is increasing in the United States and Western Europe, where they're prized by collectors of classic aircraft. This makes the An-2 an increasingly common sight at airshows. However, in nearly all Western nations (the USA, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, etc.) one may not use the An-2 commercially (despite its obvious potential as a bush plane and parachute aircraft). This is because the aircraft hasn't been certified by the relevant national aviation authorities, which limits its use. These restrictions vary by country, but all prevent the An-2 being used for any 'for profit' purpose. In the United States, An-2s imported since 1993 are limited to flights within 300 miles of their home airport, and may only land at that same airfield; the An-2s that PZL produced, however, are exempt due to a bilateral agreement with Poland.

Combat service

During the 1960s an An-2 attempting to engage South Vietnamese naval units was shot down by an F-4 Phantom II under the control of an Air Intercept Controller (AIC) on the USS Long Beach (CGN-9). The An-2 was used also during the Vietnam war as a Navy interceptor. This modification had two "Skvall" torpedoes under the wing and was difficult to detect due to its low-altitude flight. Even when detected it was difficult to intercept because the plane's cruise speed was 135-160 km per hour (well below the landing speed of jet aircraft during the war).
During the Croatian War of Independence, in 1991, a few old Antonov An-2 biplane crop-dusters were converted to drop makeshift bombs and were used in supply missions to the besieged town of Vukovar.

Variants

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Soviet/Russian production

SKh-1 — the original designation of the An-2

An-2F — experimental artillery-observation with a revised twin-tail, under-fuselage observer's position and defensive machine-gun dorsal position(External Link

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An-2L — fire-fighting with chemicals

An-2LV — Lesnoj Vodnyj (forest hydroplane), firefighting waterbomber

An-2P — passazhirskij, passenger version

An-2P — protivopozharnij, fire-fighting with water

An-2S — ambulance

An-2V — seaplane version, also known as An-4(External Link

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An-2VA — water bomber

An-2ZA — Zondirovanie Atmosfery (atmosphere sampling), high altitude meteorological research (also known as An-6 Meteo)(External Link

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An-2E — Ekranoplan conversion (External Link

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Russian/Ukrainian production

An-3 — New-build turboprop derived from An-2 that has spawned its own line of sub-variants

Polish production

An-2 Geofiz or An-2Geo — Geofiz geophysical model

An-2D5 — VlP transport with 5 seats

An-2D6 — VlP transport with 6 seats

An-2T — Polish version of initial An-2 model

An-2M or An-2W — Polish version of An-2V floatplane(External Link

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An-2P — passenger version with 12 seats with better soundproofing and propeller

An-2P Photo — Special version equipped for photogrammetric operators.

An-2PK — VlP transport with 5 seats prepared to usage in Arctic climate

An-2PF — modified for photography

An-2PR or An-2PRTV — TV relay work (PR for Polish Radio, TV for television)

An-2R — agricultural model with tank for 1.300 kg chemical substanions

An-2S — ambulance with 6 seats

An-2TD — paratrooper version with 12 seats

An-2TP — passenger/cargo, modified from An-2TD

An-2TPS - — ambulance derrived forim An-2TP in 1974

An-3M — prototype with turboprop engine TWD-20 (1054 kW/1432 KM) build wits some components of PZL-106 Kruk

Lala-1 — experimental version with revised, open-frame tail to accommodate turbofan engine; used as development model for M-15 Belphegor agricultural aircraft.(External Link

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Chinese production

Y-5 — Chinese version of An-2, initially built from Soviet blueprints and with supervision from Soviet advisors.(External Link

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Y-5A — First mass-produced Chinese version, light passenger transport (External Link

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Y-5B — Improved version introducing avionics upgrades and a new engine; some built as paratrooper transports (External Link

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Y-5C — Amphibian version of Y-5A (External Link

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Y-5D — Bomber crew trainer

Antonov An-6

The An-6 "Meteo" was a high-altitude weather reconnaissance aircraft based on the An-2. It featured an extra glass cockpit just near the vertical stabilizer.

Operators

In addition to Aeroflot, the Soviet Air Force, and other Eastern Bloc military forces, dozens of nations and airlines have employed the An-2 in civil and military roles.

Specifications (An-2)

Further Information

Get more info on 'An-2'.

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