Antonov An-26
"Tactical transport
Powerplants: An-26B -Two 2075kW (2780ehp) ZMKB Progress (formerly Ivchenko) Al-24VT
turboprops driving four blade propellers, and one auxiliary 7.85kN (1765lb) Soyuz (formerly
Tumansky) RU-19A300 turbojet. An-32 - Two 3760kW (5042ehp) ZMKB Progress Al-20D Series 5 turboprops.
Performance: An-26B - Cruising speed 435km/h (235kt). Max initial rate of climb 1575ft/min. Takeoff run on sealed runway
870m (2855ft). Range with max payload and no reserves 1240km (670nm), range with max fuel and no reserves 2660km
(1435nm). An-32 - Max cruising speed 530km/h (285kt), economical cruising speed 470km/h (254kt). Service ceiling
30,840ft. Takeoff run on sealed runway 760m (2495ft/min). Range with max payload 1200km (645nm), range with max fuel
2520km (1360nm).
Weights: An-26B - Empty 15,850kg (34,943lb), max takeoff 24,000kg (52,910lb). An-32 - Empty 16,800kg (37,038lb), max
takeoff 27,000kg (59,525lb).
Dimensions: An-24B - Wing span 29.20m (95ft 2in), length 23.80m (78ft 1in), height 8.58m (28ft 2in). Wing area 75.0m^2
(807.1sq ft). An-32 - Wing span 23.78m (78ft 0in), length 23.80m (78ft 1in), height 8.75m (28ft 9in). Wing area 75.0m^2
(807.1sq ft).
Accommodation: An-24B - Flightcrew of two pilots, flight engineer, navigator and radio operator, plus loadmaster. Seating
for up to 40 troops or 24 stretcher patients. An-32 - Flightcrew of two pilots and navigator.
Armament: None, although some have been fitted with bomb racks.
.
Operators: An-26 -Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Bulgaria, Cape Verde, China, Cuba, Congo, Czech Republic,
Ethiopia, Guinea Bissau, Hungary, Iraq, Laos, Libya, Madagascar, Mali, Mongolia, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Poland,
Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Ukraine, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia. An-32 - Afghanistan, Cuba, Czech Republic, India,
Mongolia, Peru, Tanzania.
History: The An-26 has been the standard light tactical transport aircraft of almost every former Soviet Bloc country since
the 1970s.
The An-26 (NATO reporting name 'Curl') is a militarized development of the An-24 airliner, which first flew in April 1963.
The pressurized An-26 (first flight in 1968) differs from the An-24 in featuring a rear loading freight ramp, more powerful
Ivchenko turboprops and a turbojet APU which can serve as an auxiliary engine for takeoff. More than 1400 An-26s and
An-26Bs (with improved freight handling system) were built until the type was replaced in production by the improved An-
32 (NATO reporting name 'Cline').
The An-32 first flew in the 1976 and features much more powerful engines for improved hot and high performance (the
type finding favour with air forces which operate in such environments). The An-32 features improved systems and is
visually identifiable by its above wing mounted engines, which give greater ground clearance for the increased diameter
propellers.
Meanwhile Xian in China has developed the Y7 and the Y7H from the An-24, and some are in Chinese military service.
(source: International Directory of Military Aircraft, 1998-1999)
