Anyone have any experience with an An-2?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antonov_An-2


I think I need one. "need" is used pretty loosely here

This one is parked at Caldwell, ID. Just need to carry a couple of 55 gallon drums of oil with you

Here's a little clip of a start up of an AN-2.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxhSmeAqD0g&feature=related

A little interesting blip from the wiki article.

An interesting note from the pilot's handbook reads: "If the engine quits in instrument conditions (blind flying when you can't see the ground) or at night, the pilot should pull the control column full aft (it won't stall) and keep the wings level. The leading-edge slats will snap out at about 64 km/h (40 mph), and when the airplane slows to a forward speed of about 40 km/h (25 mph), the airplane will sink at about a parachute descent rate until the aircraft hits the ground." [1]

The fact it has air brakes is pretty cool too!

look at the flap angle on the top wing, is it suposed to do that or is it falling off?

Really cool 'till it comes time to needing a fabric job . . . $$$ And I've never seen one hangared, though that'd be the only sensible way to keep one.

bumper wrote:And I've never seen one hangared, though that'd be the only sensible way to keep one.

Have you ever been up next to one? Hard to find a hangar large enough for it.

avgas wrote:Here's a little clip of a start up of an AN-2.

I got the chance to fly one that exact one about a year ago...impressive performance and a huge plane to boot. It takes a 3 hands and a miracle to get her to start and then it is a loud and shaky beast when she is running. Nothing happens fast...we were running 80 mph burning 80 gph...yep 1 gallon per mile. She will cruise up around 120 mph but you burn even more fuel. It handles like a DC-3...give it aileron and wait for her to decide to start the roll. With the giant flaps and full span leading edge slats she settles in to very slow flight (30 - 35 mph) and remains rock steady...it's like landing a giant Cub. An interesting thing about it...there is a low fuel bell...it sounds like an old phone ringing.

Here are some short videos of my flight...I have a photo around here somewhere as well...found it...

Takeoff - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOcZGt54zaY

Landing - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kG5YKHUByGg

ccurrie wrote:look at the flap angle on the top wing, is it suposed to do that or is it falling off?

The flap is disconnected and hanging from the hinges

There's a guy by the name of Matt Nelson on BCP who flew one for the last Indiana Jones movie. His post about it is somewhere around here...

I'm counting 18 seperate pieces comprising the windscreen. I guess the ruskies didn't belive in molded or curved glass!
The side of the one shown in the top photo, looks like my shorts after a run-in with some bad mexican food.

You can find them VERY cheap. I think there is a real nice one up in ND that has been for sale for quite awhile. If I remember correctly the problem with them is that they are operated in the Experimental/Exhibition catagory which is very limited.
When I lived in Germany there were a few of them being used for skydiving. Awesome performing aircraft for its size.
WW

It is a pure travesty that they can't be certified. Thank you Cessna. They are built like a tank. In fact, I heard they still build new ones. Where I live, it would be the perfect freighter, even with the incredible amount of fuel it burns.

gb

gbflyer wrote:It is a pure travesty that they can't be certified. Thank you Cessna. They are built like a tank. In fact, I heard they still build new ones. Where I live, it would be the perfect freighter, even with the incredible amount of fuel it burns.

gb

Sure would but wouldn't all that fuel eat into your profits? How much fuel does a DC3 use per hour? Not the same I know.

There were a group of farmers in Willows CA that went over to Russia bought 5 for something like 10,000.00 ea. They came with a Russian mechanic to put them back together over here.
That was the same time the FAA put the brakes on certificates. I think they only ever ended up getting two to flying status when the whole deal went south.

To bad we don't live in a democracy we could make those working for us change the rules. I would love to have one in my toy box.

there is an AN-2 that has turned into a bird condo at Harvey Field S43. I think it has been parked about five years maybe less. Damn horrible waste of a great airplane.

I saw this plane fly a number of years ago and was totally amazed at how fast it got into the air and how slow it was on landing.

All the instruments are in Russian.

TomD wrote: I think it has been parked about five years maybe less. Damn horrible waste of a great airplane.

That's what I don't understand about a lot of planes being parked outside for very long periods of time to just rot away. Why not just scrap them if they are not airworthy? Keeping a plane of historical value I understand, but not a C150, Cherokee, etc, etc.

58Skylane wrote:

TomD wrote: I think it has been parked about five years maybe less. Damn horrible waste of a great airplane.

That's what I don't understand about a lot of planes being parked outside for very long periods of time to just rot away. Why not just scrap them if they are not airworthy? Keeping a plane of historical value I understand, but not a C150, Cherokee, etc, etc.

There is a whole lot of mantel pieces out there, some don't want to pay capitol gains tax, others don't want to admit there done flying and some just cant seem to let go of what once was a life long dream.

I looked at a 150/150 about 4 years ago that had been sitting for 10yrs that I new of. The owner said yep I just flew it a couple months ago and it ran great. Its still there now the kids think they have a treasure and it will eventually be sold as scrap for tie down fees.
I hope to hand over the keys to the new owner of my last airplane 2 weeks before I quit flying.

bumper wrote:Really cool 'till it comes time to needing a fabric job . . . $$$ And I've never seen one hangared, though that'd be the only sensible way to keep one.

Here's a hangared one. I slept in this hangar one night in North Dakota. This AN-2 was a beaut. Several other fine planes there, too. Very friendly, dedicated owner.

avgas wrote:I'm counting 18 seperate pieces comprising the windscreen. I guess the ruskies didn't belive in molded or curved glass!

One thing the owner pointed out to me- All the glass in the windscreen is flat. That way, any place you are in the world, you have good odds of replacing a broken pane. Even with a hunk of lexan, or shower door, or window pane, or whatever else is on-hand. Designed to be field-repairable in the wilds of Afghanistan, etc...

-DP

WWhunter wrote:You can find them VERY cheap. I think there is a real nice one up in ND that has been for sale for quite awhile.

Are you referring to the one I posted above, at Pembina?

My buddy and I got weathered into Ennis, MT coming back to Bozeman from Moose Creek last summer.

There was a massive biplane museum piece looking thing parked between hangars with a flat tire. We got to talking with the guy that was ferrying it from Georgia, (I think?) up to Alaska! We invited ourselves on a tour of the old bird. First plane I ever saw that had its own chest style deepfreeze. The cabin must be 8' tall and 6' wide. About like a reefer van with wings.

I'm not sure how you fly it without speaking Russian, but I guess it can be done. With that massive tall fuselage and tail, I'm sure it's not pretty on crosswind. But who needs to land on a runway the long way when you touch down at horse and buggy speed?

I'll bet they had more in fuel and oil than in the plane!

It was a pretty nice touch on a great weekend. Best part was, the weather cleared enough after dinner to make the last hop to Bozeman.