The Antonov An-74 (Russian: Антонов Ан-74, NATO reporting name: Coaler) is a Soviet/Ukrainian transport aircraft developed by Antonov. It is a variant of the An-72.

An-74
An An-74T formerly operated by Antonov Airlines
Role Transport aircraft
National origin Soviet Union / Ukraine
Manufacturer Antonov
First flight September 29, 1983 [1]
Introduction 1983
Status In service
Primary users Russian Air Force
Egyptian Air Force
Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force
Produced 1986–present
Number built 195 (An-72 & An-74)[2]
Developed from Antonov An-72
Developed into Antonov An-148
Front view which suggested the nickname "Cheburashka"

The An-72 and An-74 get their nickname, Cheburashka, from the large engine intake ducts,[3] which resemble the oversized ears of the popular Soviet animated character of the same name.

Design and development

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The An-74 was initially an upgrade of the An-72 test aircraft, intended to be used in the Arctic and Antarctica; and had the designation An-72A "Arctic".[4] The aircraft's main purpose is to deliver cargo, equipment and personnel over short- and medium-range routes in any climatic conditions ranging from −60 to 45 °C (−76 to 113 °F) and at any latitude, including the North Pole, and high altitudes. It can operate to and from low grade airstrips such as concrete, pebble, ice and snow aerodromes.

Produced in tandem with the An-72, the An-74 can be fitted with wheel-ski landing gear, de-icing equipment and a number of other upgrades allowing the aircraft to support operations in Arctic or Antarctic environments.

 
An-74 on landing with thrust reversers deployed

An unusual design feature of the An-74 (as well as An-72) is the use of the Coandă effect to improve STOL performance, utilizing engine exhaust gases blown over the wing's upper surface to boost lift. The powerplant used is the Lotarev D-36 turbofan engine. The An-74 bears some resemblance to the unsuccessful Boeing YC-14, a prototype design from the early 1970s 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. The An-74 has a payload of around 11 tons including up to ten passengers in the cargo version, or up to 52 seats in the passenger version; the operating ceiling is 10,100 metres (33,100 ft) and cruising speed is 550 to 700 kilometres per hour (300 to 380 kn; 340 to 430 mph).[5] The aircraft may also be used for highly specialized operations:

  • pilotage and vessel escort;
  • establishing and servicing of drifting stations;
  • research operations in Arctic or Antarctic regions;
  • visual ice patrol;
  • fishery reconnaissance.

Operational history

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The first An-74 flight took place on September 29, 1983, four years after the An-72, its parent aircraft. Almost immediately after, cold-weather testing and Arctic operations began taking place, fulfilling the intentions of the aircraft designers. Notably, an An-74 evacuated the crew of Arctic station SP-32 on March 6, 2004.[6]

As of January 1, 2006, twenty-three out of thirty aircraft registered in Russia were in operation.[citation needed]

Variants

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Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine An-74TK-200VIP
 
Shar Ink An-74D
  • 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.
  • An-74-200: Military transport based on the An-74T
  • An-74-200D: VIP/executive transport version of the An-74TK-200. Also called An-74D.
  • An-74A: Passenger or freighter model.
  • An-74MP: Marine Patrol version. Can transport 44 soldiers, 22 paratroops, 16 stretchers with medical staff, or ten tonnes of cargo.
  • An-74T: Freighter version equipped with an internal winch, roller equipment, and cargo mooring points, can also be fitted with static lines for paratroops or dropping air cargo.
  • An-74T-100: Cargo version with four crew.
  • An-74T-200: Cargo version with two crew.
  • An-74T-200A: Military Transport aircraft[7][8]
  • An-74TK-100: Convertible version of the An-74T-100. It could be configured for passengers, cargo or both.
  • An-74TK-100S: Medevac version of An-74TK-100.
  • An-74TK-200: Convertible version of the An-74T-200.
  • An-74TK-200C: Cargo variant of An-74TK-200
  • An-74TK-200S: Medevac version of An-74T-200.
  •  
    The An-74TK-300D variant, with underslung engines
    An-148: An-74 model designed primarily for civil customers with more fuel-efficient, conventionally mounted engines that trade the STOL capabilities of earlier models for lower operating costs and higher speed. Additional emphasis is placed on improved avionics and passenger comfort features. It was initially designated An-74TK-300, making its first flight in 2004.[9]
  • An-158: Modification of the An-148.
  • An-74-400: Proposed stretch model of the An-148 (An-74TK-300) with a fuselage insert to extend its length by 26 ft (8 m) and uprated engines.

Operators

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Civilian

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An UTair Cargo An-74TK-100 with United Nations livery
  Iran
  Russia
  Ukraine

Military

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An An-74TK-200 of the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps
  Egypt
  Iran
  Turkmenistan

Notable accidents and incidents

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Specifications

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Data from The Osprey Encyclopaedia of Russian Aircraft 1875–1995

General characteristics

  • Crew: five (captain, first officer, navigator, flight engineer, loadmaster)
  • Capacity: up to 52 passengers
  • 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 , 63.9 kN (14,330 lbf) thrust each

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 700 km/h (435 mph, 378 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 550 or 600 km/h (342 or 373 mph, 297 or 324 kn)
  • Range: 4,325 km (2,688 mi, 2,336 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 10,100 m (33,136 ft)

See also

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Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

References

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  1. ^ "29.09.1983 року, перший політ здійснив багатоцільовий літак #Ан74" (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  2. ^ "✈ russianplanes.net ✈ наша авиация". russianplanes.net. Archived from the original on 10 February 2015. Retrieved 18 February 2015.
  3. ^ "SimplePlanes | Antonov An-72 "Cheburashka"". www.simpleplanes.com. Retrieved 2023-06-09.
  4. ^ "✈ russianplanes.net ✈ наша авиация". russianplanes.net. Retrieved 18 February 2015.
  5. ^ "Antonov An-74". www.aircharterservice.com. Retrieved 2024-02-24.
  6. ^ Antonov Company (2024). "AN-74". Antonov Company. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
  7. ^ "AN-74T-200A". naumenko.info. Retrieved 18 February 2015.
  8. ^ "AN-74T-200A". use.kiev.ua. Archived from the original on 25 October 2014. Retrieved 18 February 2015.
  9. ^ "АН-148 Regional Turbojet Airplanes". Antonov. Antonov Company. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  10. ^ "World Air Forces 2019". flightglobal.com. Retrieved 2019-05-17.
  11. ^ Harro Ranter (16 September 1991). "ASN Aircraft accident Antonov 74 CCCP-74002 Lensk Airport". aviation-safety.net. Retrieved 18 February 2015.
  12. ^ Harro Ranter (23 April 2006). "ASN Aircraft accident Antonov 74TK-200 UR-74038 Kousséri". aviation-safety.net. Retrieved 18 February 2015.
  13. ^ Accident description for 15-2255 at the Aviation Safety Network
  14. ^ Wastnage, Justin (27 November 2006). "Picture: Iranian Revolutionary Guards An-74 crashes in Tehran, killing 36. Causes unknown". London: Flightglobal. Archived from the original on 2013-12-30.
  15. ^ "BBC News - Laos Deputy PM Douangchay Phichit dies in plane crash". BBC News. 2014-05-17. Retrieved 18 February 2015.
  16. ^ "UR-CKC Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
  17. ^ "Accident: Cavok AN74 at Sao Tome on Jul 29th 2017, rejected takeoff due to flock of birds results in runway overrun". AvHerald. Retrieved 18 August 2018.
  18. ^ Noëth, Bart (2020-08-03). "UTair Cargo Antonov An-74, operating for MINUSMA, crashes during landing at Gao Airport, Mali". Aviation24.be. Retrieved 2020-08-04.
  19. ^ Ranter, Harro. "ASN Aircraft accident Antonov An-72TK-100 RA-74044 Gao Airport (GAQ)". aviation-safety.net. Retrieved 2020-08-04.
  20. ^ "Antonov's sources claim that the world's largest aircraft An-225 Mriya was destroyed". 27 February 2022. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
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