Antonov An-74

The Antonov An-74 (NATO reporting name Coaler) is a Soviet/Ukrainian transport aircraft, developed by Antonov. It is a variant of the An-72.

The An-72 and An-74 get their nickname, Cheburashka, from the large engine intake ducts, which resemble the oversized ears of the popular Soviet animated character of the same name.

Design and development
An-74 was initially the upgrade of the An-72 test aircraft to be used at the Arctic and Antarctica and had the designation An-72A "Arctic". The aircraft's main purpose was to deliver cargo, equipment and personnel over short- and medium-range routes in any climatic conditions ranging from −60°C to +45°C and at any longitudes, including the North Pole, and high altitudes. It can operate to and from low grade airstrips such as concrete, pebble, ice and snow aerodromes.

Produced in tandem with the An-72, the An-74 can be fitted with wheel-skis landing gear, de-icing equipment and a number of other upgrades allowing the aircraft to support operations in Arctic or Antarctic environments.

An unusual design feature of the An-74 (as well as An-72) is the use of the Coandă effect to improve STOL performance, utilizing engine exhaust gases blown over the wing's upper surface to boost lift. The power plant used is the Lotarev D-36 turbofan engine. The An-74 bears a resemblance to the Boeing YC-14, a prototype design from the early 1970s which had also used overwing engines and the Coandă effect.

The rear fuselage of the aircraft has a hinged loading ramp with a rear fairing that slides backwards and up to clear the opening. An-74 has the payload of 7.5 tons, including up to 10 passengers/couriers (up to 52 passengers depending on the variant), operating ceiling of 10,100 meters and cruising speed of 550—700 kph. The aircraft may also be used for highly specialized operations:
 * pilotage and vessel escort;
 * establishing and servicing of drifting stations;
 * research operations in Arctic or Antarctic regions;
 * visual ice patrol;
 * fishery reconnaissance.

Operational history
As of Jan 1, 2006, 23 out of 30 aircraft registered in Russia were in operation.

Variants



 * An-74: Arctic/Antarctic support model with room for five crew, increased fuel capacity, larger radar in bulged nose radome, improved navigation equipment, better de-icing equipment, and can be fitted with wheel-skis landing gear.
 * An-74A: Passenger or freighter model.
 * An-74MP: Marine Patrol version. Can transport 44 soldiers, 22 para-troops, 16 stretchers with medical staff, or 10 tonnes of cargo.
 * An-74T: Freighter version equipped with an internal winch, roller equipment, and cargo mooring points, can also be fitted with static lines for paratroops or dropping air cargo.
 * An-74T-100: Variant of the An-74T fitted with a navigator station.
 * An-74D
 * An-74-100: Variant of the An-74T fitted with a navigator station
 * An-74-200: Military transport based on the An-74T
 * An-74TK: Convertible passenger/cargo model that can be equipped for up to 52 passengers, all cargo, or a mix of the two.
 * An-74TK-100: Variant of the An-74TK fitted with a navigator station.
 * An-74TK-200: Variant of the An-74TK configured for only two flight crew
 * An-74TK-200C: Cargo variant of An-74TK-200
 * An-74T-200: Military Transport aircraft
 * An-74T-200A: Military Transport aircraft
 * An-74TK-300: An-74TK model primarily for civil customers with more fuel efficient engines on conventional underwing pylons that gives up the STOL capabilities of earlier models in favor of lower operating cost and higher speed, also incorporates improved avionics and passenger comfort features
 *  An-74TK-300D: An An-74 with engines fitted underneath the wings.
 * An-74-400: Proposed stretch model of the An-74TK-300 with a fuselage insert to extend length by 26 ft (8 m), also would be equipped with uprated engines.

Civilian



 * Aeroflot
 * Cavok Air
 * Cavok Air
 * Cavok Air

Military

 * Egyptian Air Force: Nine (An-74T-200A) (four more on order)
 * Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force: Four (An-74TK-200), seven (An-74T-200); later transferred to Iranian Revolutionary Guard
 * Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force: Four (An-74TK-200), seven (An-74T-200); later transferred to Iranian Revolutionary Guard
 * Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force: Four (An-74TK-200), seven (An-74T-200); later transferred to Iranian Revolutionary Guard

Notable accidents and incidents

 * On 16 September 1991, an An-74 carrying a cargo shipment of fish from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy to Kiev via Lensk and Omsk crashed after take-off from Lensk Airport, killing all 13 people on board. The cause of the accident was an overloading of the aircraft, combined with the premature retraction of the wing flaps.


 * On 23 April 2006, a Libyan Air Force An-74TK-200 carrying food aid to Chad crashed near the village of Kousséri in neighbouring Cameroon after abandoning its landing at N'Djamena. All six Ukrainian crew members were confirmed dead.


 * On 27 November 2006, an Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps Antonov An-74, serial number 15-2255, crashed on take-off at Tehran Mehrabad Airport. There were 37 fatalities, out of 38 occupants on board the aircraft.