Aeroplane: Antonov An-26 (NATO: Curl-A)
USSR
transport plane
1969
|
Span
|
29.2 m (95 ft) |
Length
|
23.8 m (75.4 ft) |
Take-off weight
|
24,000 kg (52,910 lb) |
Maximum speed
|
540 km/h (291 kt) |
Ceiling
|
7500 m (25000 ft) |
Range |
2700 km (1458 NM) |
Armament
|
– |
Powerplant
:
two AI-24WT turboprop engines rated at 2,820 hp and RU-19-300A auxiliary turbojet rated at 8,8 kN |
|
The basic medium transport of the Polish Air Force from 1972 to 2009.
The An-26 is a medium transport aircraft, powered by two turboprop engines, developed at the Antonov design bureau in the USSR, based on the An-24 passenger aircraft design. The prototype first flew in 1969. The aircraft is capable of carrying 5,500 kg of maximum payload, 30 paratroopers or 24 wounded on stretchers. The crew comprises two pilots, flight engineer, navigator and wireless operator.
In the rear fuselage there is a ramp which can be swung down for loading and drop. The aircraft is capable of carrying and dropping vehicles, for example UAZ off-road cars. The RU-19A jet engine, used as auxiliary power unit and to assist take-off with heavy load from high airfields, is mounted in the starboard engine nacelle.
In 1972 the Polish Air Force purchased 12 aircraft, operated by 13th Air Transport Regiment (later Squadron) at Kraków-Balice until January 2009. They are also used in commercial aviation for cargo transport. Production totaled 1410 aircraft, operated in 27 countries.
Back