Antonov An-72 "Coaler"

Antonov · Soviet Union · first flew 1977 · transport aircraft

The Antonov An-72 is a Soviet/Ukrainian twin-turbofan STOL transport that places its engines above and forward of the wing to exploit upper-surface blowing for exceptional short-field performance. It replaced the An-26 in demanding polar and rough-strip roles.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	High-mounted, swept
E — Engines	2 × turbofan, wing-mounted
F — Fuselage	28.07 m fuselage
T — Tail	T-tail

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

Spot it by:

Engines mounted high above and ahead of the wing for upper-surface blowing STOL effect
T-tail and high-mounted swept wing
Short-field cargo transport with distinctive engine-over-wing position

The over-wing engine nacelles mounted prominently ahead of and above the wing leading edge are the unmistakable identifier; combined with the T-tail and high-set swept wing.

Specifications

The Antonov An-72 has a length of 28.07 m (92 ft).
It has a wingspan of 31.89 m (105 ft).
Its maximum speed is 705 km/h (438 mph).
Typical crew: 3.

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

History

First flying in 1977, the An-72 was developed to serve remote Arctic and Antarctic airstrips. Production took place at Kharkiv Aviation Plant (KhAZ) and the Antonov Serial Production Plant, with deliveries to Soviet military and civil operators through the 1980s and 1990s.

Variants

Variants include the An-74 cold-weather version with enhanced de-icing, the An-74TK-100 convertible passenger/cargo model, and the An-74TK-200 with upgraded avionics.

Where you'll see it

The An-72/74 family serves with Russian, Ukrainian, Kazakh, and various African and Middle Eastern air forces and airlines, particularly valued for polar and high-altitude operations.

Related aircraft

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