The Antonov An-2 is a multi-role light utility biplane initially produced under the Soviet flag. Despite its 1940's pedigree, the system has continued service and operations throughout the world and production itself has totaled over 18,000 examples as of this writing. The An-2 goes under the NATO codename of "Colt" and is designated in US DoD nomenclature as the "Type 22". The Soviet Union/Russia, Poland and China have all lent a hand in production of local base and specialized variants. Operators are numerous and range from those with military service to those with civilian-minded needs.
Antonov An-2 Walk-Around
Externally, the An-2 shares many similarities with other light aircraft of this class. The engine - powering a four-bladed propeller - is held in the extreme forward of the fuselage to which the cockpit is situated directly aft. The cockpit is heavily glazed and observation port windows can be seen along the fuselage sides. The wing arrangement on this aircraft is of a sesquiplane (uneven span) biplane assembly with the top wing noticeably wider than the lower element. Each wing is connected via a single large vertical strut making up a single wing bay and each wing system showcases dihedral (upward angle). The fuselage tapers slightly into the empennage to which is affixed a single large, smooth-edge vertical tail fin and its applicable stabilizers mounted to either tail fin side. Like other aircraft of this classification, the An-2 sports a pair of fixed landing gear legs complimented by a smaller tail wheel. The main landing gear legs feature wheel bogies decidedly angled inwards with each leg braced at two points along the underside of the fuselage. Power is supplied from a single Shvetsov ASh-62IR 9-cylinder, supercharged radial piston engine of 1,000 horsepower. Maximum speed is a reported 160 miles per hour with a listed range of 525 miles and a service ceiling equal to 14,750 feet.
Accommodations are generally made for a crew of one pilot but an observer/co-pilot is preferred. Cabin seating can hold an additional 12 passengers.
Beyond the typical prototype and evaluation models, the Soviet Union/Russia has produced the majority of the existing An-2 variants while Poland contributed as well. Produced types ranged from basic observation and reconnaissance aircraft to specialized floatplanes, artillery observation, mail carrier, cargo transport, VTOL-minded projects, survey and photographic platforms, fire bombers and firefighters, research and VIP transports. Agricultural versions have seen extended use in for both Poland and China.
Chinese Production
China has produced many versions of the An-2 beginning with the Fong Shou-2 ("Harvester-2"). This was the first An-2 built to agricultural specifications. The Nanchang Y-5 is a transport version since taken over in production by Harbin with 727 examples delivered. Nanchang Y-5II was an agricultural form seeing production number 229. Shijiazhuang Y-5A was a light passenger model based on the An-2T and produced in 114 examples. The agricultural derivative became the Shijiazhuang Y-5B based on the An-2 SKh. The PLAAF makes use of the Shijiazhuang Y-5B(T) para-drop model. The Nanchang Y-5C is an amphibious version of the Y-5A while the Nanchang Y-5D is a bomber crew trainer. The Nanchang Y-5K became a VIP passenger transport seating five.
Antonov An-2 Operators
Notable operators of the An-2 include (or have included) Afghanistan, China, Cuba, East Germany (and Germany proper), Egypt, Georgia, Hungary, Iraq, Laos, Lithuania, Macedonia, North Yemen, North Korea, Poland, South Korea, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Turkey, Ukraine, Vietnam, Yemen and Yugoslavia.
Combat History
Despite its fragile appearance, the Antonov An-2 has seen its fair share of combat action. It was debuted in such a manner during the Korean War (1950-1953) and later in the Vietnam War - the latter by the North Vietnamese. Some An-2's were converted from their traditional crop dusting roles to become make-shift bombers in the Croatian War of Independence (1991).
Azerbaijan utilized a locally-modified form of the Soviet-era Antonov An-2 as an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) in the kamikaze role. About sixty are in service (2020).
July 2017 - A Fully-composite reworking of the classic An-2 biplane aircraft was debuted at MAKS 2017. The aircraft is designated as An-2TVS-2DTS. The aircraft recorded a first-flight in July 2017 and is powered by 1 x Honeywell TPE331-12 turboprop engine.
Power & Performance Those special qualities that separate one aircraft design from another. Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for the Antonov An-2 (Colt) Single-Engine Biplane Utility Aircraft.
City-to-City Ranges Operational range when compared to distances between major cities (in KM).
NYC
LON
LON
PAR
PAR
BER
BER
MOS
MOS
TOK
TOK
SYD
SYD
LAX
LAX
NYC
Structure The nose-to-tail, wingtip-to-wingtip physical qualities of the Antonov An-2 (Colt) Single-Engine Biplane Utility Aircraft.
2 (MANNED) Crew
40.7 ft 12.40 m O/A Length
59.7 ft (18.20 m) O/A Width
13.5 ft (4.10 m) O/A Height
7,275 lb (3,300 kg) Empty Weight
12,125 lb (5,500 kg) MTOW
Design Balance The three qualities reflected below are altitude, speed, and range. The more full the box, the more balanced the design.
RANGE
ALT
SPEED
Armament Available supported armament and special-mission equipment featured in the design of the Antonov An-2 (Colt) Single-Engine Biplane Utility Aircraft .
Typically none. Some may be fitted with defensive machine guns. Crews may carry individual weapons while other An-2s modified for dropping bombs as needed.
Variants Notable series variants as part of the Antonov An-2 (Colt) family line.
SKh-1 - Initial Series Designation
An-2F - Experimental Artillery Observation Platform; revised empennage with twin vertical fins; dorsal machine gun.
An-2L - Fire-Fighter Variant
An-2LV - Fire-Fighter Variant
An-2M - Agricultural Variant
An-2P (modifizirovannij) - Passenger Transport
An-2P (passazhirskij) - Fire-Fighter Variant
An-2S - Air Ambulance Variant
An-2V (An-4) - Floatplane Variant
An-2VA - Fire-Fighter Variant
An-2ZA - Atmospheric Research Platform
An-2E - Ekranoplan Conversion Model
An-3 - Sub-Variant of the An-2; fitted with turboprop; revised throughout.
An-6 "Meteo" - High-Altitude Weather Research Platform; based on the An-2 production model.
An-2 Geofiz (An-2Geo) - Polish Geophysical Variant.
An-2D5 - Polish VIP Transport; seating for 5.
An-2D6 - Polish VIP Transport; seating for 6.
An-2T - Polish An-2 Production Model (initial version).
An-2M (An-2W) - Polish An-2V floatplane.
An-2P - Polish passenger transport; seating for 12 passengers.
An-2P Photo - Polish Photo Reconnaissance Platform.
An-2PK - Polish VIP Transport; seating for 5; cold weather modifications.
An-2PF - Polish Photo Reconnaissance Platform.
An-2PR (An-2PRTV) - Polish Television Relay Variant.
An-2R - Polish Agricultural Variant
An-2S - Polish Air Ambulance; seating for 6 passengers.
An-2TD - Polish Paratrooper Variant; seating for 12 passengers.
An-2TP - Polish Passenger / Cargo Transport; based on the An-2TD.
An-2TPS - Polish Air Ambulance based on the An-2TP.
An-2TVS-2MS - Metal-based construction; debuting in 2011; 25 examples completed.
An-2TVS-2DTS - All-composite reworking of the An-2TVS-2MS variant; debuted at MAKS 2017.
An-3M - Polish Prototype; turboprop powered; fitted with TWD-20 engine.
Lala-1 - Polish Experimental Variant; fitted with turbofan in empennage.
Y-5 - Chinese designation of An-2 production model.
Y-5A - Chinese designation of large-scale production An-2 for passenger duty.
Y-5B - Chinese Designation for improved An-2; new powerplant; revised avionics suite.
Y-5C - Floatplane Amphibious Variant; based on the Y-5A production model.
Y-5D - Bomber Crew Trainer Variant
Operators Global customers who have evaluated and/or operated the Antonov An-2 (Colt). Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national aircraft listing.
Total Production: 18,000 Units Contractor(s): Antonov - Soviet Union / WSK PZL-Mielec - Poland / Shijiazhuang - China
The "Military Factory" name and MilitaryFactory.com logo are registered ® U.S. trademarks protected by all applicable domestic and international intellectual property laws. All written content, illustrations, and photography are unique to this website (unless where indicated) and not for reuse/reproduction in any form. Material presented throughout this website is for historical and entertainment value only and should not to be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance, or general operation. We do not sell any of the items showcased on this site. Please direct all other inquiries to militaryfactory AT gmail.com. No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.