The Antonov An-74 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 Sovietanimated character of the same name.
Design and development
The An-74 was initially an upgrade of the An-72 test aircraft, intended to be used in the Arctic and Antarctica; and had the designation An-72A "Arctic". The aircraft's main purpose is to deliver cargo, equipment and personnel over short- and medium-range routes in any climatic conditions ranging from and at any latitude, 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-ski landing gear, de-icing equipment and a number of other upgrades allowing the aircraft to support operations in Arctic or Antarctic environments. deployed An unusual design feature of the An-74 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 powerplant used is the Lotarev D-36turbofan 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. The An-74 has a payload of 7.5 tons including up to ten passengers in the cargo version, or up to 52 seats in the passenger version; the operating ceiling is and cruising speed is. 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 January 1, 2006, twenty-three out of thirty 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 paratroops, 16 stretchers with medical staff, or ten 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-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 its length by 26 ft, also would be equipped with uprated engines.
On 16 September 1991, an An-74 carrying a cargo shipment of fish from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy to Kiev via Lensk and Omskcrashed after takeoff 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 Ukrainiancrew members were confirmed dead.
On 29 July 2017, An-74TK100 UR-CKC of CAVOK Air crashed on take-off from São Tomé International Airport and was damaged beyond repair. A birdstrike was reported and the aircraft overran the end of the runway whilst attempting to abort the take-off.
