An-72 / An-74
Antonov An-74T at Gostomel, Ukraine.
Role	Military transport
Manufacturer	Antonov
First flight	22 December 1977
Status	Operational
Primary user	Aeroflot
Number built	200
Unit cost	$17-20 million (2006)
Variants	Antonov An-71

Ukrainian An-74 at Gostomel Airport (Antonov airport)

Moving with reverse thrust

Two An-72s at Tallinn Airport in 2006

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.

[edit] Design and development

The An-72 first flew on 22 December 1977. 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, 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 Boeing YC-14, which also used overwing engines and the Coandă effect.

The An-72 is often called cheburashka by Russians because with its large intake ducts located close to the fuselage, it resembles a popular animated creature in Russian cartoons.

Price for a new built An-74 in 2006 is quoted as being $17-20 million.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Variants

An-72 - Pre production aircraft. Two flying prototypes, one static test airframe and 8 pre-production machines.

An-72A - Main production version with increased fuselage length and wing span.

An-72AT - Specialist cargo-carrying version equipped to accommodate standard containers.

An-72S - Executive version with three cabins separated by bulkheads. Rear contains 24 armchairs.

An-74 - Arctic support version. Increased fuel capacity. Can be fitted with skis. Identified by observation blisters on fuselage sides and enlarged radome.

An-74MP - Marine Patrol version. Can transport 44 soldiers, 22 para-troops, 16 stretchers with medical staff, or 10 tonnes of cargo.

An-72P - Patrol version.

An-74T

An-74D

An-74-100

An-74-200

An-74TK-100

An-74TK-200

An-74TK-200C

An-74T-200

An-74T-200A

An-74TK-300

An-74TK-300D

[edit] Operators

[edit] Civil operators

In 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]

 Armenia

• Air Armenia

 Estonia

• Enimex

 Russia

• Gazpromavia

 Soviet Union

• Aeroflot

 Sudan

• Badr Airlines

[edit] Military Operators

 Egypt

• Egyptian Air Force - 3(6 more on order)

 Georgia

• Georgian Air Force

 Iran

• IRGC AF - 4 (An-74TK-200) 7 (An-74T-200)

 Moldova

• Moldovan Air Force - 2

 Russia

• Russian Air Force

 Ukraine

• Ukrainian Air Force - 26

[edit] Specifications (An-72P)

General characteristics

• Crew: 3
• Capacity: 32-68 passengers
• Length: 26.58 m (87 ft 2 in)
• Wingspan: 25.83 m (84 ft 9 in)
• Height: 8.24 m (27 ft 0 in)
• Wing area: 98.62 m² (1,062 ft²)
• Empty weight: 7,500 kg (16,500 lb)
• Loaded weight: 19,050 kg (42,000 lb)
• Max takeoff weight: 33,000 kg (72,750 lb)
• Powerplant: 2× Lotarev D-36 turbofans, 63.7 kN (14,300 lbf) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 705 km/h (380 knots, 440 mph)
• Cruise speed: 600 km/h (320 knots, 370 mph) at 10,000 m (33,000 ft)
• Range: 4,800 km (2,980 mi)
• Service ceiling 11,800 m (38,700 ft)

Armament

• Guns: 1× 23 mm (0.905 in) gun pod
• Rockets: 1× UB-32M rocket launcher under each wing
• Bombs: 4× 100 kg (220 lb) bombs carried internally

[edit] See also

• Coandă effect
  

Related development

• Antonov An-71
  

Comparable aircraft

• Boeing YC-14
  

Related lists

• List of military aircraft of the Soviet Union and the CIS
  

[edit] References

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Antonov An-72

• An-74TK-200 modification at KSAMC site
• An-74TK-300 modification at KSAMC site
• AN-74TK modification at Antonov's site
• AN-74T modification at Antonov's site