An-12 (Cub)
Antonov · Soviet Union · first flew 1957 · transport aircraft
The Antonov An-12 is a four-engined turboprop military transport, the Soviet Union's workhorse counterpart to the Lockheed C-130 Hercules.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 4 × turboprop, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Upswept rear fuselage with cargo doors for paradrop and freight |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- High straight wing carrying four turboprops with large four-blade props
- Glazed navigator nose and a defensive tail gun position
- Upswept rear fuselage with cargo doors for paradrop and freight
A high straight wing with four turboprops, a glazed nose, a stepped tail gun position and an upswept tail mark it as the Soviet Hercules equivalent.
Specifications
- The An-12 (Cub) has a length of 33.1 m (109 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 38 m (125 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 660 km/h (410 mph).
- Typical crew: 5-6.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
First flown in December 1957, the An-12 entered service in 1959 and was built in huge numbers in the USSR, with a related Y-8 family produced under licence in China. Over 1,200 were constructed.
Variants
Numerous versions served as freighters, paratroop transports, electronic-warfare and reconnaissance platforms. Many civilian An-12s continued in cargo work long after military retirement.
Where you'll see it
Operated by the Soviet VTA and dozens of allied and export air forces, the type remains in cargo service worldwide, occasionally seen at British airports on charter freight runs.
Related aircraft
- Antonov An-10 Ukraina
- Antonov An-14 Pchelka
- Antonov An-8
- Antonov An-24
- Avia 14T
- Canadair CP-107 Argus
- Cessna U-3A
- Mil Mi-6
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