Antonov An-2

The Antonov An-2 (Russian nickname: kolkhoznik - a kolkhoz worker or кукуру́зник (kukuruznik, inherited from Polikarpov Po-2) also nicknamed Annushka; NATO code name Colt) is an extremely durable, light, single-engine biplane which first flew in 1947. 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.

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Usage and characteristics

The An-2 is the largest single-engine biplane ever produced. It was produced in great numbers; over 5,000 had been built by 1960 in the USSR. Since 1960, most An-2s have been built at Poland's WSK factory in Mielec, with over 12,000 made there before full production ended in 1992. Limited production from part stocks, as well as spares and maintenance coverage continues. The An-2 is also built under license in China as the Shijiazhuang Y-5. It is the biggest biplane still flying.

The An-2 was designed as a utility aircraft for use in government-owned 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 para-troops, and of course the most common An-2T version, which is the 12-seater passenger aircraft.

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) allowing it 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, meaning that the aircraft does not 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 the 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 are on elastic rubber springs.
The aircraft has very sophisticated navigation systems.
Take-off run: 170 m, landing run: 215 m (these may vary depending on weight).

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 handbooks (the stall speed being the speed at which the aircraft is travelling too slowly for the airflow over the wings to keep it aloft). Pilots of the An-2 say the aircraft can be flown 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 will travel backwards at 5 mph whilst under full control). This is a rare ability, even amongst other Short Take Off and Landing (STOL) aircraft. Only the German Fieseler Fi156 'Stork' of World War II has better slow-speed ability.

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 (some of these aircraft now being over 40 years old). These aircraft are still put to use by private operators. Their stability, capacity and slow-flying ability makes them very popular parachute aircraft.

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 servicable 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 are now employed as regional airliners in Africa, Central and South America, Cuba and the Indian subcontinent.

Ukrainian Hryvna depicting the An-2 airplane.

North Korea has a number of the aircraft.[1] 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.[2] In a war that they would probably be used to parachute special forces troops behind enemy lines for sabotage operations.

The An-2s 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 are 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.) the An-2 is not able to be used commercially (despite its obvious potential as a bush plane and parachute aircraft). This is because the aircraft has not been certified by the relevant national aviation authorities which places restrictions on its use. These vary from country to 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 they can only land at that same airfield; An-2s produced by PZL, however, are exempt due to a bilateral agreement with Poland.

Variants

File:An-6.jpg

Antonov An-6 (An-2ZA) Meteo, showing its rear glass housing

Antonov An-2E WIG

Antonov An-2 converted into a WIG

Source: [3] [4] [5] [6]

Soviet/Russian built models

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[7]
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 — floatplane version, also known as An-4[8]
An-2VA — water bomber
An-2ZA — Zondirovanie Atmosfery (athmosphere sampling), high altitude meteorological research (also known as An-6 Meteo)[9]
An-2E — Ekranoplan conversion (Russian: Ан-2Э) [10] [11]

Russian/Ukranian built models

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

Polish built models

An-2 Geofiz — Geofiz geophysical model
An-2T — Polish version of initial An-2 model
An-2M — Polish version of An-2V floatplane[12]
An-2P — passenger version with better soundproofing and propeller
An-2PK — VlP transport with 5 seats
An-2P-Photo — modified for photography
An-2PR — TV relay work
An-2R — agricultural model
An-2S — ambulance with 6 seats
An-2TD — paratrooper version with 12 seats
An-2TP — passenger/cargo, modified from An-2TD
Lala-1 — experimental version with revised, open-frame tail to accommodate turbofan engine; used as development model for M-15 Belphegor agricultural aircraft.[13] [14] Pictures [15] [16] [17]

Chinese built models

Y-5 — Chinese version of An-2, initially built from Soviet blueprints and with supervision from Soviet advisors.[18]
Y-5A — First mass-produced Chinese version, light passenger transport [19]
Y-5B — Improved version introducing avionics upgrades and a new engine; some built as paratrooper transports [20]
Y-5C — Amphibian version of Y-5A [21]
Y-5D — Bomber crew trainer

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).

Operators

Current

Afghanistan, Albania, Angola, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Cambodia, China, Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Germany, Egypt, Estonia, Ethiopia, Hungary, Iraq, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lithuania, Mali, Mongolia, Nicaragua, North Korea, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia-Montenegro, Slovakia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vietnam and Yemen.

Former

Czechoslovakia, DDR (East Germany), North Vietnam, North Yemen and Soviet Union.

Specifications (An-2)

Orthographically projected diagram of the Antonov An-2.

Drawing of Antonov An-2T.

General characteristics

Crew: 1-2
Capacity: 12 passengers

Performance

References and external links

An2plane.ru (Russian)
www.aviation.ru