UNCOMMON
AN72

Antonov An-72

The STOL Transport

Engines over wings. Soviet engineering gone wild.

Antonov · cargo

Antonov An-72
Length
92 ft 1 in
Wingspan
104 ft 8 in
Max speed
378 kts
Range
2,160 nmi
Ceiling
36,000 ft
Engines
2x Lotarev D-36
Crew
3
Max passengers
52
Typical config
38 (1-class)
Built
195

The An-72 mounts its engines ABOVE the wings, blowing exhaust over them for incredible short-field performance. Looks wrong. Works incredibly well.

Fun fact

The An-72's over-the-wing engine mounting uses the Coanda effect to increase lift by up to 30%.

How to spot one

Engines mounted ABOVE and forward of the wing — very unusual. T-tail. Uses the Coanda effect for STOL performance.

Crews call it
The Cheburashka
Sounds like
Unique engine-over-wing placement creates a different sound signature

One might be overhead right now.

Bogey turns the The STOL Transport from a dot in the sky into a card in your logbook. Coming to iOS and Android.

Get Bogey