Antonov An-26
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NATO code name ‘Curl’, the Antonov An-26 is a twin-engine transport aircraft first flown in May 1969 and exhibited at the 1969 Paris Air Show. A militarised development of the An-24 airliner, the pressurised An-26 flew first in 1968 and differs from the An-24 in featuring a rear loading ramp, more powerful lvchenko turbine-engines and an auxiliary turbojet in the right engine nacelle.
The Antonov An-26 arrived in Cuba in late 1978 and early 1979. The fleet consisted of two squadrons numbered from FAR 12-20 to FAR 12-39. In the first half of the 80s, more aircraft of this type were incorporated, reaching more than 30, of which 4 became Aerocaribbean.
![]() The remaining AN-26s begin to change their military paint scheme, known as "chipojos" to the Cubana de Aviación paint scheme but without belonging to the airline. In 1994 with the emergence of Aerogaviota, most of these aircraft were painted with the new scheme. At present (2014) only around 5 Antonov An-26 aircraft remain active.
![]() Antonov An-26 of Cubana de Aviación
Variants:
An-26: standard version of tactical transport.
An-26B: Equipped with two Ivchenko Al-24VT turboprops, of greater power.
An-26BRL: Research version for frozen areas.
An-26L: Track calibration version.
An-26M: Air ambulance.
An-26P: Fire control plane.
An-26RTR: Electronic warfare and signals intelligence version.
An-26ST: Special missions version manufactured for the Air Force of the German Democratic Republic.
An-26Z-1: Signal intelligence aircraft (SIGINT).
Y-7H: Chinese version of military transport (No license).
Y-7-500: Chinese civil cargo version (Unlicensed).
Engines: 2 × Progress AI-24VT turboprop, 2,103 kW / 2,820 hp
Wingspan: 29.20 m
Wingarea: 74.98 m²
Length: 23.80 m
Height: 8.58 m
Empty weight: 15,020 kg
Maximum takeoff weight: 24,000 kg
Load: 5,500 kg
Cruise speed: 440 km / h (237 knots, 273 mph)
Range: 2,550 km; 1,100 km at full load
Service ceiling: 7,500 m (24,600 ft)
Rate of climb: 8 m / s (1,575 ft / min)
Crew: 5 (2 pilots, 1 radio operator, 1 flight engineer, 1 navigator)
Capacity: 40 passengers
Engine: 2 x turbo prop AI-24T, 2075kW and 1 x turbo-jet RU-19-300, 8.8kW
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