Antonov An-72

An unusual design feature of the An-72 is the use of the Coandă effect to improve STOL performance, using engine exhaust gases blown over the wing's upper surface to boost lift.

The An-72 first flew on 31 August 1977 and was likely developed as a response to the never-manufactured USAF Advanced Medium STOL Transport (AMST) initiated ten years earlier.[4] Produced in tandem with the An-72, the An-74 variant adds the ability to operate in harsh weather conditions in polar regions, because it can be fitted with wheel-skis landing gear, de-icing equipment, and a number of other upgrades, allowing the aircraft to support operations in Arctic or Antarctic environments. Other An-72 versions include the An-72S VIP transport and An-72P maritime patrol aircraft.

Its first flight was made on 31 August 1977, but production started in the late 1980s. The powerplant used is the Lotarev D-36 turbofan engine.[5] The An-72 resembles the unsuccessful Boeing YC-14,[6] a prototype design from the early 1970s (design submitted to the United States Air Force in February 1972,[7]) which had also used overwing engines and the Coandă effect.

The rear fuselage of the aircraft has a hinged loading ramp with a rear fairing that slides backwards and up to clear the opening. Up to 7.5 tonnes (7.4 long tons; 8.3 short tons) can be airdropped while it has folding side seats for 52 passengers.

In 2018, six An-72 aircraft were reported to be upgraded for the Russian Aerospace Forces and Navy to carry more fuel and payload for Arctic operations.[8]

The An-72 has STOL capabilities; its take-off roll is 620 m (2,000 ft) and its landing run is 420 m (1,400 ft).[9] This aircraft was designed to be used on unprepared surfaces; its robust undercarriage and high-flotation tyres allow operations on sand, grass, or other unpaved surfaces.

Russian Border Guard An-72P at Vladivostok Airport

• An-71 "Madcap": Prototype AWACS aircraft developed from the An-72.
• An-72 "Coaler-A": Preproduction aircraft. Two flying prototypes, one static test airframe and eight preproduction machines.
• An-72A "Coaler-C": Initial production STOL transport with a longer fuselage and increased wingspan.
• An-72AT – "Coaler-C": Freight version of the An-72A compatible with standard international shipping containers.
• An-72S – "Coaler-C": Executive VIP transport fitted with a galley in a front cabin, work and rest areas in a central cabin, and 24 armchairs in a rear cabin, can also be reconfigured for transporting freight or 38 passengers or as an air ambulance carrying eight stretchers.
• An-72P: Patrol aircraft. Armed with one 23 millimetres (0.91 in) GSh-23L cannon plus bombs and/or rockets.[10]
• An-72R (also known as An-72BR): Prototype electronic intelligence (ELINT) aircraft, with conformal antenna fairings running up each side of the fuselage.[11] Known as 'Aircraft 88' during development and erroneously known as An-88.
• An-72-100: Demilitarized An-72.[11]
• An-72-100D: Demilitarized An-72S.[11]
• An-74: Arctic/Antarctic support model with room for five crew, increased fuel capacity, larger radar in bulged nose radome, improved navigation equipment, better de-icing equipment, and can be fitted with wheel-skis landing gear.

As of May 2022, there have been 24 known accidents and incidents involving the An-72 or An-74; of these, the following involved fatalities:[14]

• 17 September 1991 — CCCP-74002 attempted to take off from Lensk Airport overloaded with fish. All 13 human occupants died when it crashed 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) from the airport.[15]
• 10 February 1995 — An Antonov An-72 chase plane had a mid-air collision while following the Antonov An-70 prototype aircraft during a test flight. The collision caused the An-70 to crash into a forested area, killing all seven An-70 crew members.[16] The An-72 lost a right wing flap,[17] but it was able to return to base safely.[16]
• 22 December 1997 — ER-ACF, an Antonov An-72 disappeared on a cargo flight from Port Bouet Airport, Côte d'Ivoire to Rundu Airport, Namibia. The aircraft and its five crew members disappeared without a trace over the South Atlantic. The cause of the incident remains undetermined.[18]
• 23 April 2006 — UR-74038 carrying food aid to Chad from Libya crashed in Cameroon, killing all 6 crew.[19][20]
• 27 November 2006 — An Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Air Force An-72 crashed after takeoff from Mehrabad International Airport in Tehran, killing 37 of the 38 aboard.[21]
• 25 December 2012 — An An-72 carrying Kazakhstani border patrol officials crashed in Shymkent, killing all 27 people on board.[22][23]
• 10 October 2019 — An An-72 operated for the DRC Air Force with 4 crew and 4 passengers crashed in Congo; none survived.[24][25]

Data from The Osprey Encyclopædia of Russian Aircraft 1875–1995[26]

General characteristics

• Crew: five
• Capacity: up to 52 passengers or 10 tonnes of cargo
• Length: 28.07 m (92 ft 1 in)
• Wingspan: 31.89 m (104 ft 7.5 in)
• Height: 8.65 m (28 ft 4.5 in)
• Wing area: 98.62 m² (1,062 sq ft)
• Empty weight: 19,050 kg (42,000 lb)
• Gross weight: 34,500 kg (76,058 lb)
• Powerplant: 2 × Lotarev D-36 series 1A Turbofan, 63.9 kN (14,330 lbf) thrust each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 700 km/h (435 mph, 378 kn)
• Range: 4,325 km (2,688 mi, 2,336 nmi)

Related development

• Antonov An-71
• Antonov An-74
• Antonov An-148
• Antonov An-178

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

• Boeing YC-14
• McDonnell-Douglas YC-15

Related lists

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

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Antonov An-72.

• An-72/An-74 Family (Data for An-72A & List of all known An-72/An-74 Family variants )
• An-74 Pictures
• AN-74TK-300 modification at Antonov's site
• AN-74T modification at Antonov's site
• AN-74T-200A INFO
• AN-74TK-300D INFO
• "An-71, O.K.Antonov 'Madcap'". Russian Aviation Museum. 1999-06-18. Archived from the original on 2017-12-01.
• An-71 Article, Images Archived 2009-09-22 at the Wayback Machine
• An-71 Specs at globalsecurity.org