ANTONOV AN-32 

The Anotonov An-32 (NATO reporting name “Cline”) was developed as an improved version of the An-26 twin-engine. This aircraft introduced more powerful engines for better performance and allowed it to work in rougher conditions than its predecessors were designed to handle. The An-32 made its debut in 1969 and is still in service for many countries to this day. It made its first flight on July 9th, 1976 and production numbers have totaled at 361 units.

To keep the design simple, the An-32 was cosmetically kept the same as the An-26 with new re-designed engines. These new engines increased performance and proved to withstand harsh tropical and high-altitude environments. This led to its use by customers located in the Middle East, North Africa, and parts of Asia including India, Iraq, and Sri Lanka.

The high-mounted wings of the An-32 allow it a short takeoff time and landing qualities. Instead of being mounted underneath, the aircraft’s engines are mounted on top of the wings to allow for complete clearance by ground personnel when working on the aircraft. This high placement also allows for a larger diameter propeller blade to be used to generate more thrust. Two ZMKB Progress AI-20DM turbopop engines, which generate approximately 5,100 horsepower each, power the An-32. The maximum payload capacity is approximately 7.5 tons with a powered rear-loading ramp for cargo entry/exit. A standard crew is made up of two pilots, a loadmaster, and a flight engineer. The An-32 can reach a maximum speed of 330 miles per hour with a cruising speed of 292 miles per hour. Its service ceiling is listed at 31,165 feet at a range of 1,555 miles. From the base design of the An-32, several variants have emerged and feature the same increased Maximum Take-Off Weights (MTOWs), improved avionics, and other systems.

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