Picture of the day

[diopter]

Antonov AN-2?

Ive been fortunate enough to fly in both Turbo Beavers and Turbo Otters in the past ad they are sweet aircraft. Shame they aren't produced anymore.

Correct, AN-3 is turboprop version.

 

[Dark Alley Dan]

AN-2 is truck of sky - anytime, anywhere, at speeds below what you thought was possible.

Antonov and various licensees made a ton of them, and by all reports, they're reliable as a stone axe and half as complex.

The turbine AN-3 changes the look considerably, but not to the worse, to my eye anyhow:

 

[Old Ranger]

There is usually an AN-2 sitting at Oshawa Mun. A/P. Looks like a bi-wing otter with a touch of steroids!

 

[gewehr76]

Its called or nickname in Russian is "KUKURUZNIK".

AN-2 is truck of sky - anytime, anywhere, at speeds below what you thought was possible.

 

[Bubba Yugga]

IFR procedure for AN2 engine failure is very simple. Just pull the stick full aft and wait. It has no stall speed. It just mushes at around 43 knots to touchdown. If you don't hit hydro lines or the side of a building along the way, you'll probably walk away.

 

[shredder]

In Sovit Russia, An-2 fly YOU!!

 

[yorgi]

In Sovit Russia, An-2 fly YOU!!

A couple of years back, in Varadero Cuba, had one configured for crop dusting strafing our hotel with mosquito repellent!

 

[XRCD011]

A couple of years back, in Varadero Cuba, had one configured for crop dusting strafing our hotel with mosquito repellent!

The war on Zika virus ??

 

[Dark Alley Dan]

Military aircraft operating as crop dusters? How about a crop duster operating as a military aircraft?

Here's the Air Tractor AT-802 at home, doing what it likes to do - killin' bugs, spraying mystery goo on crops, etc:

But on Saturday nights, it likes to drink, and it's a mean drunk. This is the AT-802U surveillance and ground attack aircraft:

More details here, in case you want to buy one:

 

[shredder]

^^^ Yeah, but can it outfly a Super Tuccano???

 

[donor]

No,but it's likely 1/2 price of a Tucano,not to mention maintenance of it is laughable when compared.

Edit-someone did compared them: https://rhk111smilitaryandarmspage.wordpress.com/2014/02/14/the-at-802u-air-tractor-versus-the-a-29b-super-tucano/

 

[grelmar]

No,but it's likely 1/2 price of a Tucano,not to mention maintenance of it is laughable when compared.

Edit-someone did compared them: https://rhk111smilitaryandarmspage....2u-air-tractor-versus-the-a-29b-super-tucano/

Some questionable logic in that article...

Yes the Tucano is a smaller/faster target, but would that actually equate to higher survivability against modern weapons? Below a certain speed, pretty much any aircraft is effectively a static target for guided anti-air missiles, even of the shoulder fired flavour. And neither of these aircraft is likely to survive a hit from a missile.

Or am I totally mistaken here?

I would almost be willing to sacrifice the speed of the Tucano, for the small arms survivability of the Tractor - not to mention that with double the loiter time, the ground pounders would probably prefer the Tractor above them.

 

[NavyShooter]

I would argue that in any counter insurgency operation in today's world that the likely availability of MANPADS would necessitate some means of self-defence/Chaff/IR Flare/Distraction system.

 

[Dark Alley Dan]

"Slow and old" is an ancient and time-honoured recipe from the ground attack kitchen:

http://4.bp.########.com/-WNiXBHjrbs4/VVIg2GvLVgI/AAAAAAAASFA/xh6PnbGikso/s1600/hs%2B123.jpg

The Germans retired the HS 123 when they ran out of spares.

 

[Scarecrow]

I flew the HS123 in warthunder. Needed some better guns they 2 7.92 MG's.

 

[donor]

Another take on "slow and old" theme.Curtiss A-12 Shrike.Simliar vintage to HS-123 but completely forgotten.

 

[Santoneski]

Looks similar to a helldiver or even the hughes H-1 racer same fuselage shape. The fiat CR 32 imo one of the nicest biplanes, a little dated for ww2. Saw action during the Spanish civil war.

 

[Sqr]

My Son visited two of the most dispirited places on the planet this week along with pictures he sent he was astounded by the sheer scale of the camps.

He is very interested in history and during down time has taken every advantage to learn while living in Europe.

 

[Rod B]

Scenes like those & the history behind the Holocaust must never be forgotten.

 

[Donny Fenn1]

The payload of the AT802 is insane. IMHO that's what "we" need to support the missions the military get sent on these days.