Antonov An-2

An-2
An-2 formerly used by the Soviet Union
General information
TypeAgricultural, utility aircraft and military transport aircraft
ManufacturerAntonov
Designer
StatusIn limited service
Primary usersSoviet Union (historical)
Number built18,000+[1]
History
Manufactured1947–2001
First flight31 August 1947[2]
VariantsAntonov An-3

The Antonov An-2 (USAF/DoD reporting name Type 22,[3] NATO reporting name Colt[4]) is a Soviet mass-produced single-engine biplane utility/agricultural aircraft designed and manufactured by the Antonov Design Bureau beginning in 1947.[1] 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.[5]

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.[1] The An-2 typically consumes 2.5 L/min (0.66 US gal/min; 0.55 imp gal/min).[6]

  1. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference An-2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Sharpe, Michael. Biplanes, Triplanes, and Seaplanes, p. 32. London, England: Friedman/Fairfax Books, 2000. ISBN 1-58663-300-7.
  3. ^ "Designations of Soviet and Russian Military Aircraft and Missiles". Designation-systems.net. 18 January 2008. Archived from the original on 11 October 2017. Retrieved 8 March 2014.
  4. ^ "Designations of Soviet and Russian Military Aircraft and Missiles". Designation-systems.net. 18 January 2008. Archived from the original on 11 October 2017. Retrieved 8 March 2014.
  5. ^ Harpole, Tom. "Antonovs in America" Archived 2012-08-03 at the Wayback Machine p2 Archived 2013-04-08 at the Wayback Machine p3 Archived 2013-04-08 at the Wayback Machine Air & Space/Smithsonian, August 2012. Retrieved: 31 July 2012.
  6. ^ Soviet Ministry of Agriculture (1989). Защита растений [Crop Protection] (in Russian). Moscow: Kolos (publishing house) [ru]. p. 36.