AN-2 Colt

The appearance of a biplane in 1947 was widely misread; instead of being an obsolete anachronism it lead to a record post war production exceeding 18,500 built (upto 1995) The first task assigned to the re-formed Antonov OKB was to design an aircraft to replace the the aging Po-2, the requirement was issued by the Ministry of Agricultural and Forestry in May 1946. In the Soviet environment it never occurred to Antonov that others might think a biplane passé; it was the smallest and lightest solution to the task, which as a result grew to a machine that was much larger and alot more capable than the Po-2.

Two prototypes were built designated SKh-1's (Rural Economy 1's) first having the ASh-21 and then the ASh-621R engines fitted. In each case the propeller had 4 scimitar shaped blades of 3.6 m diameter. 6 fabric tanks in the upper wing housed 1200 litres of fuel (91 octane). The engine was fitted with a 27V generator and an air compressor for charging a tank used for pressurizing the landing gear, locking the tail wheel and brakes. Normal equipment includes: blind flying equipment,gyrocompass, radio compass,2 radios, radioaltimeter and intercom. The side by side cockpit can have dual controls and it's side windows oversail the fuselage to give a good view rearwards and downwards. The centre and left windscreens are deiced electrically whilst the right windscreen uses engine heated air - which also heats the cabin - there is no airframe ice protection.

Variants

An-2T	Standard Utility aircraft for the Military (10 equipped troops) and Aeroflot (1948)
An-2TP	For scheduled Aeroflot routes - fitted with comfortable seating for 12 passengers (1949)
An-2P	14 lightweight seats and a soundproof cabin.
An-2S	Flying Ambulance with 6 stretchers.
An-2TD	Parachute training and operational missions - 12 + equipment.
An-2SKh	Agricultural version with 1400 litre tank and spray bars or centre line duct.
An-2L	Fire fighter.
An-2V	Utility aircraft fitted with dural floats.
An-2PP	Fire fighter fitted with dural floats (1961).
An-2ZA	Atmospheric sampling - compartment for a scientist faired into the fin.
An-2F	Glazed rear fuselage, twin finned tail carrying UBT or NS-23 cannon - few built (1955)
An-2NRK	Night Artillery Correction
An-2K	As above.
An-2M	Updated An-2T with 290 engineering changes (1960)
Y-5	License built Chinese An-2. (1957)
Y-5B	Upgraded Y-5 with corrosion resistant airframe and specialist role equipment. (1992)

From 1959 production of the An-2 was moved to PZL-Mielec in Poland, where 12,000+ were produced (10,427 for USSR). Polish designations often differ from the Russian ones. In the late 1950's about 100 An-2's, often with rectangular cabin windows, were produced at the DDR factory in Dresden. In 1957, China began producing the An-2 under license at Nanchang as the Y-5, 727 delivered by 1968. Production was then moved to Shijiazhuang where over 288 were built by early 1992. Mid 1992 the Chinese produced the Y-5B with corrosion resistant airframe and specialist role equipment of which 150+ were delivered by mid 1993.

Role	Light-transport (10 equipped troops), general utility
Wing Span	59 ft, 8 in (18.19 m)
Length	41 ft, 9 in (12.75 m)
Height	4.1 m
Weight	3330 kg - empty 5500 kg - maximum takeoff 1500 kg - maximum payload
Engine	1xASh-62 IR, 985 hp
Maximum speed	250 km/h
Range	1025 km - with maximum fuel 300 km - with maximum load
Service Ceiling	5000 m
Runway	650 m - dirt takeoff-landing strip 400 m - surfaced takeoff-landing
Armament	Usually none
Crew	Two