Antonov An-2.

Antonov, aka Antonov Aeronautical Scientific/Technical Complex (Antonov ASTC) (Ukrainian: Авіаційний науково-технічний комплекс імені Антонова, АНТК ім. Антонова) is a Ukraine-based (since 1952) aircraft manufacturing and services company (design office prefix An) with particular expertise in the field of very large aircraft construction. Antonov's airplanes range from the rugged Antonov An-2 biplane (which itself is comparatively large for a biplane) through the Antonov An-28 reconnaissance aircraft to the massive Antonov An-124 and An-225 cargo carriers (the latter being the world's biggest aircraft in service). Whilst less famous, the Antonov An-24, An-26 and An-30 series of twin turboprop, high winged, passenger transport aircraft are important for domestic air services particularly in parts of the world once led by communist governments. The Antonov An-72 and An-74 series of small jetliners is slowly replacing that fleet and a larger Antonov An-70 freighter is under certification. The An-70 is outwardly similar to the Airbus A400M design that has yet to fly in Western Europe.

The company is named after Oleg Antonov, its founder and head designer of An-2, An-24, An-22 and other legendary planes.

It is important to note that the Antonov company has no industrial possibilities for full-circle construction of some of the models it designed. This is a result of Soviet industrial strategy, which tried to split military production chains between different regions of the USSR. It minimized potential war risks, and prevented Soviet republics from developing self-sufficient economies. This is why Antonov airplanes were often constructed by aerospace companies in Kharkiv (Ukraine), Novosibirsk (Russia), and Tashkent (Uzbekistan).

Fields of commercial activity of Antonov ASTC include:

• Aircraft construction and manufacture
• Airfreight services (Antonov Airlines)
• Aircraft maintenance and upgrading
• Aerospace related engineering support
• Operation of the Gostomel airport (Antonov Airport)
• Trolley bus construction and manufacture (an apparent spin-off, using existing technical expertise).

Antonov ASTC is a state-owned commercial company.

Antonov aircraft

Major Antonov Aircraft:

• Antonov An-2
• Antonov An-8
• Antonov An-10
• Antonov An-12
• Antonov An-22
• Antonov An-24
• Antonov An-26
• Antonov An-28 / PZL M-28
• Antonov An-30
• Antonov An-32
• Antonov An-38
• Antonov An-70
• Antonov An-71
• Antonov An-72 / 74
• Antonov An-124
• Antonov An-140
• Antonov An-225

More Aircraft:

• Antonov A-2
• Antonov A-7
• Antonov A-40
• Antonov An-3
• Antonov An-4
• Antonov An-6
• Antonov An-14
• Antonov An-88
• Antonov An-148
• Antonov An-174
• Antonov An-180
• Antonov An-204
• Antonov An-218
• Antonov OKA-38
• Antonov SKV

See also:

• Antonov Airlines
• List of military aircraft of the Soviet Union and the CIS

External Links:

• Antonov ASTC
• Aircraft-Info.net - Antonov