Antonov An-72
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Categories: All pages needing cleanup | Wikipedia articles needing factual verification since August 2007 | All articles with unsourced statements | Articles with unsourced statements since January 2008 | High wing aircraft | Soviet cargo aircraft 1970-1979 | Soviet military transport aircraft 1970-1979 | STOL | Jet aircraft | Multiple engine aircraft | Antonov
The Antonov An-72 (NATO reporting name Coaler) is a transport aircraft developed in the former Soviet Union. 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.
Design and developmentThe An-72 first flew on 22 December 1977.[verification needed] Produced in tandem with the An-72, the Antonov An-74 variant adds the ability to operate in harsh weather conditions in polar regions. Other An-72 versions include the An-72S VIP transport and An-72P maritime patrol aircraft. An unusual design feature of the An-72 and An-74 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 in August 31, 1977,[verification needed] but it was only in the 1980s that production started. The power plant used is ZMKB Progress D36. The An-72 bears a resemblance to an earlier aircraft, the experimental Boeing YC-14, which also used the Coandă effect. Boeing had considered entering the YC-14 as a new option for the United States Army's Joint Cargo Aircraft (JCA) competition. Had Boeing offered it, the YC-14 would have been the only turbofan-powered aircraft in the competition. The An-72 is often called cheburashka by Russians because with its large intake ducts located close to the fuselage, it resembles Cheburashka, a very popular animated creature in Russian cartoons. Some say the name is derived not only from the visual similarity, but from the verb Cheburahnulsya, meaning fell down like Cheburashka, thus characterizing the plane flight abilities. Price for a new built An-74 in 2006 is quoted as being $17-20 million.[citation needed] Civil operatorsIn August 2006 a total of 51 Antonov An-72 and Antonov An-74 aircraft remain in airline service. Major operators include Badr Airlines (3), Air Armenia (3), Enimex (5), Gazpromavia (12), and Shar Ink (8). Some 17 other airlines operate smaller numbers of the type.[1] Specifications (An-72P)
General characteristics
Performance
Armament
References
External linksSee also Wikimedia Commons has media related to:
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