Antonov Year-70

The Year-70 is a Transport aircraft average four-engined plane and Long-courrier conceived in the years 1990. One of the characteristics of this plane is its propulsion with Hélice S contrarotating, the first group including/understanding 8 Pale S, second 6. With the Year-22, it is the second plane of this company equipped with contrarotating propellers. This system makes it possible the plane to take off at very short distances (see s.t.o.l). The compartment of the Year-70 measures 19,10 m × 4 m × 4,10 m (L×l×h).

History

The First flight of the prototype took place the December 16th 1994. This apparatus was crushed in February 1995 following a collision in flight with another plane. The 2nd prototype (1st flight in April 1997) had to make an emergency landing in January 2001 following problems of paddles of compressor. It was however repaired and continued the tests in vol. Several specimens were carried out (until 2003) for the air forces of the Ukraine. This plane is comparable with the Airbus A400M and even higher in certain connections.

The Russia had ordered 164 specimens, but announced of them in April 2006 its withdrawal of the program. The official reason is that the plane became too expensive, but actually it is undoubtedly necessary to see there a reaction to the “Orange revolution”. If this decision is maintained, the future of the apparatus depends completely on export. The European market, where Antonov hoped to find customers (Germany was very interested) is now locked by the program Airbus A400M. The India, the China and the Iran are market potentials. Antonov is 40 % less expensive than a400M, and sold about with the same price as the Hercules, much smaller and slower. Nevertheless, it will be more difficult to export if the Ukraine is alone to support it, not profiting more from the Russian political weight.

Other Versions

The Year-70 PS is a version SAR and the Year-70T an airfreighter civil.

Data sheet

External bonds

Year-70' S uncertain future (2003)

to also see the List of the aircraft

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