Antonov An-8 "Camp"

Antonov · Soviet Union · first flew 1956 · transport aircraft

The Antonov An-8 was the Soviet Union's first purpose-built rear-loading military transport, powered by two Ivchenko AI-20 turboprops and capable of operating from unprepared airstrips.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — WingsHigh-mounted, tapered
E — Engines2 × turboprop, wing-mounted
F — FuselageHigh-mounted wing and upswept rear fuselage for ground-level cargo loading
T — TailConventional

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

Spot it by:

High-wing twin-turboprop transport with an upswept rear fuselage, a ventral rear cargo ramp, a rounded nose with a glazed navigator position, and a conventional tail with a tall fin.

Specifications

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

History

First flown in February 1956, the An-8 addressed the Soviet military's need for a robust tactical transport; however, production numbers were limited as the larger four-engine An-12 entered service shortly afterwards and largely supplanted it.

Variants

The An-8 was produced in a single primary variant; a small number served in modified civil configurations.

Where you'll see it

Served with Soviet military transport aviation from the late 1950s and saw limited export to a handful of Soviet-aligned states.

Related aircraft

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