ty ihe Antonov An-26 (NATO reporting namo “Curt”) was originally designed for “Aeroflot” ~ the Russian national slrilne and biggest carrier in Russia ~ to meet ite require: Iment for a light pasengeriearyo transport aircraft capable of replacing its ageing fleet of Li-2s and I-14s. The develop ‘ent of such an aireraft commenced ns early asthe late fe tion atthe Antonov design bureau. This early work resulted {nthe creation ofthe An-24, a 44-coattwin-urboprop trate 1972, and soon became valued acquisition for local al. USER over medium haul distances, In the meantime, the sion of the alrraft, Its fuselage was slightly reshaped and fitted with a rearlonding ramp. Desigmated An-24 TW, it first Now on 21st May 1969. The aircraft proved to be very effective means of transporting up to 40 troopers and light combat vehicles (op to 8 tons in weight). Furthermore, it could equally woll serve ax an airborne ambiance, with tough room to accommodate 24 injured personnel on sre ts whilst operating from forward landing grounds strated at the 25th Paris Salon, provoking great interest version was ssoured. Branded the An-26, 8 waa put nto mass TePsiers An-26 production at Antonov's Ki plant towards the ond of 1969. "The airraft featured a highly original means of augmenting thrust ~an aurillary powerplant (a dry thrust Tumanskit RU: 494-800 turbojet of 8.8 KN thrust) was housed in the rear part of the starboard engine nacelle. Under normal operating Conditions this additional turbojet engine serves as w starter otor for the Ana WT's main engines, but whenever the falreraft ison « short runway and/or overloaded, the RU-194- fot ir the fact thatthe rearlonding ramp can be operated in ‘regular platform for unlouding the cargo bay: when the ma thine is involved in a parachute airdrop the ramp oan bea Tbeneath the fuselage to give more room. The An-26 wan reliable, simple to operate and performed well in the alr Thanks {o these qualita it quickly became tin export hit forthe Kiey plant. Bofore it was phased ovt of Droduction in 1978, some 1400 AN-268 had rolled off Assembly lines. Amongst the many operators ofthis versatile design were: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bulgaria, China, Congo, Cuba, Czech Republic, Bihiopla, Germany, Hungary, Iraq Laos, Libya, Mozambique, Peru, Poland, Romania, Somalis, Syria, Tanzania, Zambia, Yugoslavia ~ and, obviously. the Kraystiot BareTOPSHO ISBN 83.60445-19-2