Aircrafttotal Encyclopedia


Type	Agricultural, utility aircraft and military transport aircraft

The Antonov An-2 ("kukuruznik"—corn crop duster; USAF/DoD reporting name Type 22, NATO reporting name Colt) is a Soviet mass-produced single-engine biplane utility/agricultural aircraft designed and manufactured by the Antonov Design Bureau beginning in 1947. Its durability, high lifting power, and ability to take off and land from poor runways have given it a long service life. The An-2 was produced up to 2001 and remains in service with military and civilian operators around the world.

The An-2 was designed as a utility aircraft for use in forestry and agriculture, but the basic airframe is highly adaptable and numerous variants of the type 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 and lightly armed combat versions for dropping paratroops. The most common version is the An-2T 12-seater passenger aircraft. All versions (other than the An-3 and the An-2-100) are powered by a 750 kW (1,010 hp) nine-cylinder Shvetsov ASh-62 radial engine, which was developed from the Wright R-1820. The An-2 typically consumes 2.5 L/min (0.66 US gal/min; 0.55 imp gal/min

Design and development

Origins[edit]

The Antonov An-2 was designed to meet a 1940s Soviet Ministry of Forestry requirement for a replacement for the much lighter, largely wooden-airframed Polikarpov Po-2, which was used in large numbers in both agricultural and utility roles. Antonov designed a large single bay biplane of all-metal construction, with an enclosed cockpit and a cabin with seats for twelve passengers. The first prototype, designated SKh-1 and powered by a Shvetsov ASh-21 radial engine, flew on 31 August 1947. The second prototype was fitted with a more powerful Shvetsov ASh-62 engine, which allowed the aircraft's payload to be significantly increased from 1,300 to 2,140 kg (2,870 to 4,720 lb), and in this form it was ordered into production.

On the static display of "Oldtimer Fliegertreffen" Hahnweide 2011

Initial Soviet production was at State Factory 473 in Kiev, Ukrainian SSR, where the bulk of up to 5,000 units had been produced by 1960. Later Soviet production (after 1965, of model An-2M especially) was at State Factory 464 at Dolgoprudniy, Russian SFSR. After 1960, most An-2s were constructed at Poland's WSK factory in Mielec; it is believed that over 13,000 aircraft were built in Poland before principal manufacturing activity ended during 1991.

Aeromacchi Leonardo

WSK "PZL-Mielec
Antonov An-2 Colt "kukuruznik"
First flight 31 August 1947 Produced 1947–2001

General Info

Crew: 1–2
Capacity: 12 passengers / 2,140 kg (4,718 lb)
Length: 12.4 m (40 ft 8 in)
Upper wingspan: 18.2 m (59 ft 9 in)
Lower wingspan: 14.2 m (46 ft 7 in)
Height: 4.1 m (13 ft 5 in)
Wing area: 71.52 m² (769.8 sq ft)

Powerplant

Empty weight: 3,300 kg (7,275 lb) Gross weight: 5,440 kg (11,993 lb) Fuel capacity: 1,200 L Powerplant: 1 × Shvetsov ASh-62IR 9-cylinder air-cooled supercharged radial piston engine, (1,010 hp) Propellers: 4-bladed constant-speed propeller

Performance

Maximum speed: 258 km/h (160 mph
Cruise speed: 190 km/h (120 mph,
Stall speed: 50 km/h (31 mph,
Range: 845 km (525 mi, 456 nmi)
Service ceiling: 4,500 m (14,800 ft)
Rate of climb: 3.5 m/s (690 ft/min)

Related development

Special Links WSK "PZL-Mielec

Links to Youtube & Others

An-2G (a.k.a. An-2Geo) – During 1974 WSK-Mielec developed a geo-physical survey aircraft for the Polish State Geophysical Survey Agency (Państwowe Przedsiębiorstwo Poszukiwań Geofizycznych), with equipment for measuring magnetic fields, radiation and other instruments for prospecting.

Antonov An-2 Colt "kukuruznik"

The PZL TS-11 Iskra (English: Spark) is a Polish jet trainer, developed and manufactured by aircraft company PZL-Mielec.

Youtube Link

Recorded Nov. 14th 2009, I had the opportunity to fly with Dr. Wayne Clark in his PZL-WSK-Mielec TS-11 ISKRA JET

PZL Mielec
Antonov An-2 ("kukuruznik"
First flight 31 August 1947
Produced 1947–2001