Antonov An-30 "Clank"

Antonov · Soviet Union · first flew 1974 · transport aircraft

The Antonov An-30 is a dedicated aerial survey and photographic reconnaissance aircraft developed from the An-24 airliner, identifiable by its raised cockpit and extensively glazed nose section. It was used across the Soviet Union for cartographic and Open Skies treaty verification flights.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	High-mounted, tapered
E — Engines	2 × turboprop, wing-mounted
F — Fuselage	24.26 m fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.

Spot it by:

Twin-turboprop aerial survey aircraft derived from An-24
Distinctive glazed nose with multiple camera windows in the belly
High flight deck stepped up to give navigator forward view beneath

The stepped, raised cockpit and the greatly enlarged glazed nose immediately distinguish the An-30 from the An-24/26 family; camera ports along the belly are visible on close inspection.

Specifications

The Antonov An-30 has a length of 24.26 m (80 ft).
It has a wingspan of 29.2 m (96 ft).
Its maximum speed is 540 km/h (336 mph).
Typical crew: 5-7.

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

History

Developed in the late 1960s and first flown in 1974, the An-30 replaced older piston-engined survey aircraft in Soviet service. Its raised cockpit allows a bomb-aimer-style glazed nose with camera ports in the underside. It participated in Open Skies verification overflights in the 1990s and 2000s.

Variants

The An-30A is the standard survey version; the An-30B (Meteo) carries meteorological equipment. Minor avionics updates distinguish late-production examples.

Where you'll see it

Operated by Soviet Aeroflot and air forces of Warsaw Pact states; some examples remain in service with Ukrainian, Czech, and Bulgarian air forces.

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