Overview The Antonov An-124 Ruslan was designed in the mid-1970s to replace the turboprop-powered Antonov An-22. It is slightly larger than its U.S. counterpart, the Lockheed C-5 Galaxy, but smaller than the An-225 “Cossack” which was originally designed to carry the Russian space shuttle. The first prototype (SSSR 82002, Number 318) flew on 26 December 1982 and made its …
Overview Currently the world’s largest aircraft, the first Antonov An-225 Mriya (meaning “Dream”) prototype flew on 21 December 1988. It was designed and built by Antonov Design Bureau (headquarters in Kiev, Ukraine), known for their outstanding achievements in producing heavy transport aircraft. It is the largest aircraft to ever takeoff more than once. Capable of …
Overview The Antonov An-72 “Coaler” was designed as a Short TakeOff and Landing (STOL) aircraft which can operate from unprepared airfields. The An-72 originated as An-32, but was later fitted with jet engines. The first prototype flew on 22 December 1977, and the aircraft entered service in 1979. The wings are high-mounted with two turbofans located in …
Overview The Antonov An-70 is a new medium-size widebody Short TakeOff and Landing (STOL) transport aircraft intended to replace the aging An-12 “Cub”. The Ukraine-based program, which began in 1975, rolled out its first prototype on 20 January 1994, but a short first flight did not take place until 16 December of that year. The program received …
Overview Antonov designed the An-22 Antheus (named for the giant son of Greek god Poseidon) to carry the Soviet Army’s mightiest fighting vehicles, including main battle tanks and missile launchers. Its NK-12 turboprops, which also power the Tu-95/Tu-142 “Bear” family of Russian bombers and maritime patrol aircraft, are the most powerful turboprop engines in service. …
Overview The Antonov An-12 “Cub” is a cargo development of the AN-10 commercial transport. The first prototype flew in March of 1957. The civilian version, the An-12B, first flew in 1961 and went in production in 1962. Over 900 military and civilian versions had been built before production finally ended in 1973. The An-12BP entered …
