Antonov An-14 Pchelka "Clod"

Antonov · Soviet Union · first flew 1958 · transport aircraft

The Antonov An-14 Pchelka (Little Bee) is a Soviet light utility transport designed for short takeoff and landing operations from unprepared strips. Its high aspect ratio wing and large flaps give it exceptional STOL performance.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	High-mounted, straight
E — Engines	2 × piston, wing-mounted
F — Fuselage	11.36 m fuselage
T — Tail	Twin fin

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Spot it by:

Small high-wing twin-piston utility transport with twin-boom tail
Very large full-span slotted flaps for short-field performance
Fixed spatted undercarriage and prominent glazed nose

The twin-boom tail arrangement combined with a very high-aspect-ratio straight wing and large circular fuselage cross-section distinguish the An-14 from all contemporaries.

Specifications

The Antonov An-14 Pchelka has a length of 11.36 m (37 ft).
It has a wingspan of 21.99 m (72 ft).
Its maximum speed is 210 km/h (130 mph).
Typical crew: 1-2.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

First flown in 1958, the An-14 was developed to replace the ageing An-2 in some light transport roles. It entered Aeroflot service in 1965 and was used for feeder routes, aerial survey, and liaison duties across the USSR. Production was modest at around 300 aircraft.

Variants

The baseline An-14A was the main production model; a turboprop-powered An-14M was proposed but did not enter production. The An-28 is a turboprop-powered and enlarged successor.

Where you'll see it

Operated by Aeroflot and Soviet military aviation; exported in small numbers to several Warsaw Pact and friendly states.

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