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With an airframe similar to the An-26, the An-32 is intended for high performance operations
Development of a military freighter based on the Antonov An 24 airliner was logical especially in view of the increased performance available with the addition of the auxiliary engine introduced on the An 24RV
As things turned out three variations were developed on the theme of the An-24 The first of these was the Antonov An-26 ‘Curl’ which began to enter service in 1970 and is distinguish able by its more powerful 2103 ekW (2 820 ehp) Ivchenko Al 24T turboprops and redesigned rear fuselage This latter includes a large downward-hinged rear ramp/door which can be slid forward below the cabin floor to facilitate airdropping of freight or the direct loading of cargo (up to 5500kg/12 1 2 5 l b ) at truckbed height Small vehicles can be driven straight into the hold while other loads can be handled by inbuilt powered conveyors and winches A large bulged observation window is fitted to the left side of the fuselage just to the rear of the flight deck for increased accuracy in para dropping operations The An 26 is in service as a light tactical transport (40 passengers or freight) with Warsaw Pact air arms and considerable efforts have been made to export the type It would appear to be a logical replacement for the Lisunov Li 2 and Ilyushin Il 14. The An-26 is also manufactured without a licence in China by Xian Aircraft Factory as the Y-14, though the designation later changed back to the Y-7 series.
The second variation is the Antonov An-30 ‘Clank’ which first flew in 1974. This is a specialised aerial survey version of the An 26 with a raised flight deck and an extensively glazed nose together with ventral ports for cameras and other survey equipment. It seems likely that the An-30s principal role is as part of the major geophysical effort to locate mineral resources within the USSR.
The third variation appeared in 1979 in the form of the Antonov An-32 ‘Cline’ This was designed specifically to offer better performance in hot and high conditions and is powered by two 3863-ekW (5 180 ehp) Ivchenko Al 20M turboprops offering some 83 per cent more power than the Al 24s of the An 26 The Al 20M is an uprated version of the turboprop which powered the much larger Antonov An-12 and requires a propeller of greater diameter than the Al 24 of the An 26 In order to avoid total redesign of the wing therefore in the An 32 the engines have been relocated to a position well above the wing The propeller axes are thus above the widest point of the fuselage with the advantage that asymmetric control problems are less than if the engines had been moved outwards rather than upwards However the destabilising effect of the larger cowlings and propellers has had to be balanced by additional tail area (in the ventral fins) and the higher thrust line has necessitated an increase in outer wing chord resulting in a dog tooth leading edge and inverted slots on the tail plane leading edge No auxiliary turbojet is fitted and production for civil and military operators began in 1980 The An 32 is readily capable of operations from air fields as high as 4600m ( 15 000ft) and has a maximum payload of 6000kg (13228lb)
Specifications
Antonov An-26
Type: short haul transport
Powerplant: two 2103 ekW (2 820ehp) Ivchenko Al 24T turboprops
Performance (at normal takeoff weight):
Cruising speed at 6000m (19 675ft) 435km/h (270mph)
Initial climb rate 480m (1 575ft) per minute
Service ceiling 8100m (26 575ft)
Range with 4500 kg (9 920 lb) payload 900km (559 miles)
Weights:
Empty 15020kg (33 133 lb)
Normal take off 23000kg (50 706 lb)
Maximum take off 24000kg (52 911 lb)
Dimensions, span 29 20m (95ft 9 ½ in)
Length 23 80m (78ft 1 in)
Height 8 575m (28ft 1 ½ in)
Wing area 74 98m2 (807 1sqft)
Antonov An-32
Type: short/medium range transport
Powerplant: two 3862 ekW (5 180 ehp) Ivchenko Al 20M turboprops
Performance: normal cruising speed 510km/h (317mph)
Service ceiling 9500m (31 150ft)
Range with 6000 kg (13 228 lb) payload 800km (497 miles)
Weight: maximum take off 26000kg (57320lb)
Dimensions- span 29 20m (95ft 9 ½ in)
Length 23 80m (78ft 1 in)
Height 8 575m (28ft 1 ½ in)
Wing area 74 98m2 (807 1 sq ft)
eHP = Electrical horsepower
ekW = Electrical Kilowatts
