Description:
The twin-engine An-72/An-74, dubbed 'Coaler' by NATO, were developed by Antonov to replace the An-26 tactical transport aircraft in the 1970s. Key to its design its the many features introduced in this aircraft to maximize short take-off and landing (STOL) from rough airfields. Its primarily role is to conduct airlift missions as a light tactical transport aircraft. Nevertheless, its airframe is so flexible that it has been adapted to carry weapons and to conduct passenger transport assuming airliner role. This aircraft was purchased by both the Soviet Armed Forces and Aeroflot.
Externally, the An-72/An-74 can be easily identified because its two D-36 turbofan engines are mounted forward and above the wing. This configuration was chosen to maximize operations from short runaways because it provides considerably more lift. By the way, foreign objects damage is minimized. The landing gear also includes some improvements to withstand operations from rough fields such as low pressure tires.
The An-74/An-72 family of aircraft features a rear mechanized door and ramp for rapid loading/unloading cargo operations. It can carry up to 7.5 tons of cargo but this figure varies depending on the aircraft model. Typically, the An-72 designation refers to military applications of this aircraft, while An-74 are applications for the commercial market. The An-72/74, powered by D-36 series 2A engines, is an aircraft optimized for operations in cold climate supporting search and rescue, reconnaissance and transport missions.
The An-74 was developed on the basis of the An-72 retaining the majority of its awesome capabilities. Originally, the An-74 were intended to operate in extremely cold temperatures in the Arctic and the Antarctic where snow and ice are common. In fact, a ski-landing gear and de-icing equipment were developed to operate in these conditions. Nevertheless, there are An-74 models designed to conduct military operations such as the An-74MP or An-74 Madcap.
The An-74TK airplanes were designed to perform as both regional jetliners and freighters. This aircraft fits into to routes where passengers are carried to destinations and freight is carried back or routes where the cargo varies cyclically from passengers to freight and vice versa. The An-74TK airplanes can be equipped with any interior of the customer choice.
The An-74TK model can accommodate alternatively up to 52 passengers or 10 tons of cargo. Switching from cargo to passenger configuration can be done by the crew within two hours in any regular airport. The aircraft's range in the passenger configuration is 2,750 km and falls down by 950 km carrying 10 tons of cargo.
The crew for the An-74TK-100 model is four persons and only two are requested to pilot the An-74TK-200 and the An-74TK-300. The An-74TK-300 compared with previous models features a more conventional wing/engine configuration for with the D-36-3A/D-36-4A turbofan engines attached to under wing pylons instead of the forward and above wing configuration used on the other An-72/74 aircraft. The -300 model features modern avionics and more seating capacity for up to 68 passengers which is expected to translate into more sales.
Other members of the An-74TK family are the An-74TK-100C ambulance aircraft; the An-74D-200 executive aircraft intended to carry 12 passengers experiencing high comfort; and the An-74VIP capable of carrying 16 passengers in high comfort as well as cargo at ranges of 5,000 kilometers.
Specifications Accommodation: Passengers 52
Weights: Max Weight 36,000 kg (79,365 lb), Payload 10,000 kg (22,046 lb)
Engine/s Performance: Thrust 28,660 lb (13,000 kg)
Performance: Max Range 3,600 km (1,944 nm)
Other: Number of Engines 2
Operators
Ukraine
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Notes (*) lead contractor
IOC: Initial Operating Capability
FOC: Full Operating Capability
CEP: Circular Error Probable
Comm: Commissioning Date
Meters (m) Kilometers (km) Nautic Miles (nm) Inch (in) Yard (yd) Foot (ft) Millimeter (mm)
Pound (lb) Kilogram (kg) kN (KiloNewton) Ton (t)
Meters per Second (mps) Kilometers per Hour (kph) Knot (kt) Miles per Hour (mph)
Liter (l) Galon (gl)
Year (yr) Minutes (min) Second (sec)
Shaft-Horse-Power (shp)
Ukraine