Antonov An-2 (Colt)

Single-Engine Biplane Utility Aircraft [ 1947 ]

The Antonov An-2 Colt biplane was developed to replace the Polikarpov Po-2 in the utility and agricultural roles.

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 10/05/2020 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site.

Image from the United States Department of Defense DVIDS imagery database.

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The Antonov An-2 is a multi-role light utility biplane initially produced under the Soviet flag. Despite its 1940's pedigree, the system has continued service and operations throughout the world and production itself has totaled over 18,000 examples as of this writing. The An-2 goes under the NATO codename of "Colt" and is designated in US DoD nomenclature as the "Type 22". The Soviet Union/Russia, Poland and China have all lent a hand in production of local base and specialized variants. Operators are numerous and range from those with military service to those with civilian-minded needs.

Antonov An-2 Walk-Around

Externally, the An-2 shares many similarities with other light aircraft of this class. The engine - powering a four-bladed propeller - is held in the extreme forward of the fuselage to which the cockpit is situated directly aft. The cockpit is heavily glazed and observation port windows can be seen along the fuselage sides. The wing arrangement on this aircraft is of a sesquiplane (uneven span) biplane assembly with the top wing noticeably wider than the lower element. Each wing is connected via a single large vertical strut making up a single wing bay and each wing system showcases dihedral (upward angle). The fuselage tapers slightly into the empennage to which is affixed a single large, smooth-edge vertical tail fin and its applicable stabilizers mounted to either tail fin side. Like other aircraft of this classification, the An-2 sports a pair of fixed landing gear legs complimented by a smaller tail wheel. The main landing gear legs feature wheel bogies decidedly angled inwards with each leg braced at two points along the underside of the fuselage. Power is supplied from a single Shvetsov ASh-62IR 9-cylinder, supercharged radial piston engine of 1,000 horsepower. Maximum speed is a reported 160 miles per hour with a listed range of 525 miles and a service ceiling equal to 14,750 feet.

Accommodations are generally made for a crew of one pilot but an observer/co-pilot is preferred. Cabin seating can hold an additional 12 passengers.©MilitaryFactory.com

Soviet / Russian Production

Beyond the typical prototype and evaluation models, the Soviet Union/Russia has produced the majority of the existing An-2 variants while Poland contributed as well. Produced types ranged from basic observation and reconnaissance aircraft to specialized floatplanes, artillery observation, mail carrier, cargo transport, VTOL-minded projects, survey and photographic platforms, fire bombers and firefighters, research and VIP transports. Agricultural versions have seen extended use in for both Poland and China.

Chinese Production

China has produced many versions of the An-2 beginning with the Fong Shou-2 ("Harvester-2"). This was the first An-2 built to agricultural specifications. The Nanchang Y-5 is a transport version since taken over in production by Harbin with 727 examples delivered. Nanchang Y-5II was an agricultural form seeing production number 229. Shijiazhuang Y-5A was a light passenger model based on the An-2T and produced in 114 examples. The agricultural derivative became the Shijiazhuang Y-5B based on the An-2 SKh. The PLAAF makes use of the Shijiazhuang Y-5B(T) para-drop model. The Nanchang Y-5C is an amphibious version of the Y-5A while the Nanchang Y-5D is a bomber crew trainer. The Nanchang Y-5K became a VIP passenger transport seating five.

Antonov An-2 Operators

Notable operators of the An-2 include (or have included) Afghanistan, China, Cuba, East Germany (and Germany proper), Egypt, Georgia, Hungary, Iraq, Laos, Lithuania, Macedonia, North Yemen, North Korea, Poland, South Korea, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Turkey, Ukraine, Vietnam, Yemen and Yugoslavia.

Combat History

Despite its fragile appearance, the Antonov An-2 has seen its fair share of combat action. It was debuted in such a manner during the Korean War (1950-1953) and later in the Vietnam War - the latter by the North Vietnamese. Some An-2's were converted from their traditional crop dusting roles to become make-shift bombers in the Croatian War of Independence (1991).

Azerbaijan utilized a locally-modified form of the Soviet-era Antonov An-2 as an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) in the kamikaze role. About sixty are in service (2020).©MilitaryFactory.com

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July 2017 - A Fully-composite reworking of the classic An-2 biplane aircraft was debuted at MAKS 2017. The aircraft is designated as An-2TVS-2DTS. The aircraft recorded a first-flight in July 2017 and is powered by 1 x Honeywell TPE331-12 turboprop engine.

Specifications

Antonov - Soviet Union / WSK PZL-Mielec - Poland / Shijiazhuang - China
Manufacturer(s)

Afghanistan; Albania; Angola; Azerbaijan; Belarus; Bulgaria; Cambodia; China; Croatia; Cuba; Czechoslovakia; East Germany; Egypt; Estonia; Georgia; Germany; Hungary; Iraq; Kyrgyzstan; Laos; Latvia; Lithuania; Macedonia; Mali; Moldova; Mongolia; Nicaragua; North Yemen; North Korea; North Vietnam; Poland; South Korea; Romania; Russia; Serbia; Somalia; Soviet Union; Sudan; Syria; Tajikistan; Tanzania; Tunisia; Turkey; Turkmenistan; Ukraine; Uzbekistan; Vietnam; Yemen; Yugoslavia
Operators

1947
Service Year

Soviet Union
National Origin

Active
Project Status

2
Crew

18,000
Units

CLOSE-AIR SUPPORT
Developed to operate in close proximity to active ground elements by way of a broad array of air-to-ground ordnance and munitions options.

MARITIME / NAVY
Land-based or shipborne capability for operating over-water in various maritime-related roles while supported by allied naval surface elements.

TRANSPORT
General transport functionality to move supplies/cargo or personnel (including wounded and VIP) over range.

COMMERCIAL AVIATION
Used in roles serving the commercial aviation market, ferrying both passengers and goods over range.

VIP SERVICE
Used in the Very-Important-Person (VIP) passenger transport role, typically with above-average amenities and luxuries as standard.

INTELLIGENCE-SURVEILLANCE-RECONNAISSANCE
Surveil ground targets / target areas to assess environmental threat levels, enemy strength, or enemy movement.

TRAINING
Developed ability to be used as a dedicated trainer for student pilots (typically under the supervision of an instructor).

40.7 ft
(12.40 meters)
Length

59.7 ft
(18.20 meters)
Width/Span

13.5 ft
(4.10 meters)
Height

7,275 lb
(3,300 kilograms)
Empty Weight

12,125 lb
(5,500 kilograms)
Maximum Take-Off Weight

+4,850 lb
(+2,200 kg)
Weight Difference

1 x Shvetsov ASh-62IR 9-cylinder supercharged radial piston engine developing 1,000 horsepower.
Propulsion

160 mph
(258 kph | 139 knots)
Max Speed

14,764 ft
(4,500 m | 3 miles)
Ceiling

525 miles
(845 km | 456 nm)
Range

700 ft/min
(213 m/min)
Rate-of-Climb

MACH Regime (Sonic)

Sub

Trans

Super

Hyper

HiHyper

ReEntry

♦

Typically none. Some may be fitted with defensive machine guns. Crews may carry individual weapons while other An-2s modified for dropping bombs as needed.

SKh-1 - Initial Series Designation

An-2F - Experimental Artillery Observation Platform; revised empennage with twin vertical fins; dorsal machine gun.

An-2L - Fire-Fighter Variant

An-2LV - Fire-Fighter Variant

An-2M - Agricultural Variant

An-2P (modifizirovannij) - Passenger Transport

An-2P (passazhirskij) - Fire-Fighter Variant

An-2S - Air Ambulance Variant

An-2V (An-4) - Floatplane Variant

An-2VA - Fire-Fighter Variant

An-2ZA - Atmospheric Research Platform

An-2E - Ekranoplan Conversion Model

An-3 - Sub-Variant of the An-2; fitted with turboprop; revised throughout.

An-6 "Meteo" - High-Altitude Weather Research Platform; based on the An-2 production model.

An-2 Geofiz (An-2Geo) - Polish Geophysical Variant.

An-2D5 - Polish VIP Transport; seating for 5.

An-2D6 - Polish VIP Transport; seating for 6.

An-2T - Polish An-2 Production Model (initial version).

An-2M (An-2W) - Polish An-2V floatplane.

An-2P - Polish passenger transport; seating for 12 passengers.

An-2P Photo - Polish Photo Reconnaissance Platform.

An-2PK - Polish VIP Transport; seating for 5; cold weather modifications.

An-2PF - Polish Photo Reconnaissance Platform.

An-2PR (An-2PRTV) - Polish Television Relay Variant.

An-2R - Polish Agricultural Variant

An-2S - Polish Air Ambulance; seating for 6 passengers.

An-2TD - Polish Paratrooper Variant; seating for 12 passengers.

An-2TP - Polish Passenger / Cargo Transport; based on the An-2TD.

An-2TPS - Polish Air Ambulance based on the An-2TP.

An-2TVS-2MS - Metal-based construction; debuting in 2011; 25 examples completed.

An-2TVS-2DTS - All-composite reworking of the An-2TVS-2MS variant; debuted at MAKS 2017.

An-3M - Polish Prototype; turboprop powered; fitted with TWD-20 engine.

Lala-1 - Polish Experimental Variant; fitted with turbofan in empennage.

Y-5 - Chinese designation of An-2 production model.

Y-5A - Chinese designation of large-scale production An-2 for passenger duty.

Y-5B - Chinese Designation for improved An-2; new powerplant; revised avionics suite.

Y-5C - Floatplane Amphibious Variant; based on the Y-5A production model.

Y-5D - Bomber Crew Trainer Variant

Cockpit image of the Antonov An-2 (Colt)

Cockpit image represents the Antonov AN-2 Colt (public domain image) production model.

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Military lapel ribbon for the Yom Kippur War

Military lapel ribbon for experimental x-plane aircraft

Images

1 / 7

Image from the United States Department of Defense DVIDS imagery database.

2 / 7

Front left side view of the Antonov An-2 Colt at rest; note armed Russian soldier; color

3 / 7

Close-up detail view of the forward fuselage of an Antonov An-2 Colt biplane; color

4 / 7

Front view of an Antonov An-2 Colt biplane at rest; color

5 / 7

Front left side view of an Antonov An-2 Colt biplane at rest; color

6 / 7

Close-up view of an Antonov An-2 Colt biplane at rest; note open cabin door at right

7 / 7

Front view of the Antonov An-2 Colt biplane; note size as compared to vehicle

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