Published: 9/25/1998

The state aircraft production plant in Kharkov (KhGAPP), the Ukraine, delivered several An74s to RAO Gazprom natural gas company in 1996-97. One more airframe will be delivered later this year, Anatoly Myalitsa, general director of the enterprise, told ConCISe on 10 September. He, however, refused to speak about the current state of the Iranian contract for 12 An-72/An-74 aircraft, which, reportedly, was signed last year. The aircraft was chosen for its unmatched field performance, much needed for operations from short airfields in hot-and-high conditions in Iran's mountainous areas. It is known that Iran received the first batch of these aircraft in the middle of last year, and that they met these requirements. The An-74 is a civilian derivative of the An-72 military airlifter, developed under an order from the Soviet defence ministry as a short take-off and landing (STOL) transport with all-terrain operation capability. By the time of the collapse of the USSR in 1991, the Kharkov state aircraft production plant had delivered 150 An-72s to the Soviet Air Force. The current production versions, the An-74TK-100 and -200, are combi aircraft, which can be converted from a pure freighter to a 52-seat passenger airplane within 90 minutes. They hold a type certificate, issued by the Interstate Aviation Committee in August 1995. The An-74TK is powered by two high-mounted ZMKP Progress D-36 Series 3A engines each of 6,500kgf thrust, and meets FAR36 noise requirements. According to Antonov, the An74TK-200 can transport a 10 tonnes cargo a distance of 950km or, alternatively, 52 passengers over 2,750km. According to Myalitsa, the Kharkov plant is introducing a new version of the An-74 for corporate use within a range of 4,000 km. It will feature an improved interior. It will differ from the current production model in having a ramp in the aft fuselage in place of two cargo hatches. (IN998.8) (VK)  

Article ID: 277