Antonov
Antonov An-24/26/30/32 family
The Antonov An‑24 family, encompassing the An‑24, An‑26, An‑30 and An‑32, is a series of Soviet‑designed twin‑engine turboprop aircraft that entered service in the early 1960s. Designed by the Ukrainian bureau Antonov, the An‑24 was intended as a rugged regional airliner capable of operating from poorly prepared airfields, a requirement that shaped its high‑mounted wings, robust undercarriage and simple, air‑cooled turboprop engines. The follow‑on An‑26 added a rear cargo door and strengthened floor, making it a versatile freighter and military transport. The An‑30 introduced a glazed nose for aerial surveying and cartography, while the An‑32 was equipped with higher‑performance engines and enlarged filters to tolerate hot‑and‑high conditions, proving essential in Africa and the Middle East. Over more than five decades the family accumulated over 1,400 airframes, serving civil airlines, humanitarian missions, and armed forces across Europe, Asia and Africa. Its durability, low operating cost and ability to handle unpaved runways cemented the An‑24 series as a workhorse of regional aviation, influencing later STOL designs and remaining in limited service today. Today, several museums preserve examples, and modern operators value the type for its exceptional short‑field performance and straightforward maintenance regime.
Classification
Dimensions
- Length
- 23.53 metre
Design & Classification
- Primary Use
- Country of Origin
- Manufacturer
- Antonov
- Operator
-
Angola Belarus
- Wikidata ID
- Q17416448