An-12 CUB
The Antonov An-12 is the Soviet equivalent to the American C-130 Hercules. An-12 is a development of the An-10. The first prototype flew in March of 1957, the same month as the An-10 prototype, which indicates the close relationship between the aircraft. The civilian version, the An-12B, first flew in 1961 and went in production in 1962. Over 900 An-12 Cubs were built before production ended in 1973. In the mid-1990s large numbers of the Cub were still in service with the CIS air force. However, a decade later most had been withdrawn from service, given the political complexities of having Russian military aircraft supported by a Ukrainian enterprise. Curiously for an aircraft once so widely deployed, their absence does not seem to be notably regretted.
The wings are high-mounted with drooping outer wing panels, back-tapered leading edges, straight trailing edges, and blunt tips. Four turboprop engines are mounted under the wings’ leading edges. The round, slender body features a stepped cockpit and glassed-in nose, with landing gear pods which bulge at lower body midsection. The tail flats are unequally tapered with blunt tips and mounted high on the fuselage. The fin is tapered with a blunt tip and a step in the leading edge. Two 23-mm guns are mounted in a tail turret.
The An-12 cargo turboprop aircraft was developed in 1957 by Antonov Design Bureau for medium- and long-haul cargo operations. The An-12 is configured as the cantilever metal monoplane with high-mounted wing, elevated fuselage tail, single-fin tail and retractable three-strut landing gear with steering nose wheel. The landing gear wheels with low-pressure tires permit to operate the aircraft from the unpaved airfields.
Four AI-20 turboprops are mounted on the wings furnished with double-slotted flaps. The aircraft fuselage is of a circular semi-monocoque type with flat load-bearing skin. The aircraft half wings are mounted with negative angle of dihedral tip panels for better lateral dynamic stability, decreasing influence of emergency engine shutdowns and wind gusts on the aircraft lateral- directional dynamics.
The An-12 aircraft fuselage with elevated tail and big cargo door provides for convenient conditions of large-size cargo handling and paradropping. The 2.5t capacity airborne cargo handling device and quick-release transporter facilitate and accelerate the landing, mooring and unloading operations. The loading of large-size equipment is made through cargo door with ramp in the rear part of fuselage. The cargo cabin is not pressurized but equipped with individual oxygen supply system.
The pressurized compartments for crew and personnel accompanying equipment in flight are located in front of the cargo cabin. The fuselage tail accommodates the pressurized back-seat compartment for observation gunner. The non-pressurized cargo cabin is equipped with ventilation and heating system, tie-down points, cargo ramps, equipment handling winch and 2300 kg capacity monorail hoist.
The An-12 aircraft fuselage with elevated tail and big cargo door provides for convenient conditions of large-size cargo handling and paradropping. The 2.5t capacity airborne cargo handling device and quick-release transporter facilitate and accelerate the landing, mooring and unloading operations. The loading of large-size equipment is made through cargo door with ramp in the rear part of fuselage. The cargo cabin is not pressurized and equipped with individual oxygen supply system.
The flight-control and navigation equipment includes the compass system, autopilot, short-range radionavigation system equipment, electronic system of instrument landing, automatic radio direction finder (RDF), radio altimeter, inter-traffic navigation system. The radio communication is provided by HF and VHF radio sets, aircraft interphone system, emergency radio set.
The Antonov An-12 proved to be a very versatile transport aircraft. It was produced in large numbers and is still in extensive use both with Air Forces of the CIS and commercial operators. Its sturdy construction and its rear loading ramp gives the An-12 the capacity to operate in remote areas or from poorly equiped airfields. In its importance as a crago aircraft in the CIS, it comes only second to the Ilyushin Il-76 jet. Therefore, the An-12 can be observed on Western European an Middle Eastern airports quite frequently. Besides the standard tranport version, several specialised versions were developed. While the Russian Airforce still maintains a number of An-12 holding electronic sensing and counter measures equipment, other An-12 were used to track weather patterns.
The Antonov-70 is a new propfan powered medium-size wide-body short take-off and landing transport aircraft. The An-70 belongs to a new class of short takeoff and landing tactical military transports. Designed a replacement for the An-12 'Cub', the An-70 is designed and built in Ukraine, and thus there were questions as to whether it could serve as a replacement for Russian An-12 aircraft.
In late 2000 the Government of India, the Aviation Complex after Ilyushin and the JSC "Irkutsk Aviation Industrial Association" signed an agreement stipulating development and production run of a multi-role transport aircraft IL-214T of 15-20 ton or 82 paratroopers load capacity and in its passenger version IL-214-100, for the capability of transportation of 100 passengers. As a prototype of the new airplane, a military transport project of IL-214 aircraft was selected, the one that is being examined by the Air Force of Russia as a replacement for the obsolete Antonov An-12 as well as An-26. In India, the new aircraft is proposed to replace 110 An-32 transport aircraft.
