IATA AN7ICAO AN72

Antonov AN-72

Antonov

TravelerPulse profile

Soviet STOL freighter designed for remote Arctic operations.

First flight

1977

Category

Regional jet freighter

Seating

Up to 68 passengers (in passenger variant); primarily a freighter

Range

4,800 km

Engines

Two ZMKB Progress D-36 high-bypass turbofans, upper-surface blown configuration

Status

In service

The Antonov An-72 is a Soviet-designed short take-off and landing (STOL) transport aircraft developed by the Antonov Design Bureau in Ukraine. It was designed to operate from unprepared, gravel, ice, or snow-covered runways in remote and Arctic regions, replacing the Antonov An-26 in demanding utility roles. A distinguishing design feature is its two high-bypass turbofan engines mounted above and forward of the swept wings, directing exhaust over the upper wing surface to generate additional lift through the Coandă effect. This configuration greatly enhances low-speed and short-field performance. The An-72 serves primarily in military, government, and cargo roles across Russia, Central Asia, Africa, and other regions. A developed variant, the An-74, was optimized specifically for extreme cold-weather Arctic operations and features enhanced de-icing systems.

Notable operators

Operated by various Russian regional carriers, African airlines, and military/government operators in Ukraine, Kazakhstan, and Cuba.

Notable facts

›Engines are mounted above the wings to exploit the Coandă effect for enhanced lift.
›Capable of operating from unprepared gravel, ice, and snow-covered runways as short as 800 metres.
›The An-74 is a cold-weather Arctic variant with reinforced de-icing systems.
›NATO reporting name for the An-72 is 'Coaler'.
›Over 195 aircraft of the An-72/74 family were built.