The Antonov An-2 is the largest single engined biplane ever made, it has with fabric-covered wings and tail plane and a semi-monocoque aluminium fuselage, thousands remain in use around the world. The Antonov An-2 prototype first flew on the 31st of August 1947, with production commencing in 1948. The Antonov An-2 has exceptional STOL capabilities and can be fully controlled in flight at as little as 30mph and requires as little as 170 m for takeoff making it ideal for use from short and ill prepared runways, to reduce its dependency on ground based equipment it is fitted with a compressor to inflate it's tyres and pneumatic shock absorbers, a re-fuelling pump is also fitted as standard equipment making it easy to re-fuel from 50 gallon drums. Although originally designed as a utility aircraft for forestry and agriculture use, a lightly armed version of the An-2, the An-2TD, was used for dropping paratroops and was given the code name "Colt" by NATO. Over 20,000 Antonov An-2's have been produced, approximately 6,000 in the USSR, the rest built under licence in Poland and China (Shijiazhuang Y-5), large scale production continuing until 1992. The aircraft pictured above was taken at the 2006 Biggin Hill International Air Fair, it depicts cn 1G223-43 HA-MKF (formerly OK-UIN, OM-UIN, OM-248) an Antonov An-2 built in Poland by PZL-Mielec. |
Antonov An-2 Specifications: - Crew: Pilot only, or pilot and co-pilot
- Capacity: 12 passengers
- Length: 12.4 m (40 ft 8 in)
- Wingspan: 18.2 m (59 ft 8 in)
- Height: 4.1 m (13 ft)
- Maximum weight weight: 5,500 kg (12,000 lb)
- Maximum load: 2,140 kg
- Engine: Single 1,000 hp (750 kW) Shvetsov ASh-62R 9-cylinder supercharged radial piston engine
- Maximum speed: 258 km/h
- Cruise speed: 190 km/h (100 knots, 120 mph)
- Stall speed: ~50 km/h (26 knots, 30 mph)
- Range: 845 km (456 nm, 525 mi)
- Service ceiling: 4,500 m (14,750 ft)
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