The Antonov An-8 was a military transport and commercial aircraft employed by the Soviet Union during the Cold War. It was designed in 1954 by the State-run company Antonov's engineer Belolipetskiy, performing its first test flight in early 1956. It entered service with the Soviet Air Force the following year. Almost 200 An-8 aircraft were built between 1957 and 1962. However, it would be relegated to a secondary role by the four-engine An-12 transport.
Technical Characteristics
The Antonov An-8 was a two-engine aircraft, which was fitted with straight wings mounted on the shoulder of fuselage. The fuselage was all-metal and it featured a tail gate in the rear portion for loading and unloading logistics or troops. The aircraft was fitted with retractable landing gear and it was powered by two Ivchenko IV-20D turboprop engines, delivering 3860 kW each. It could transport 14,000 kg or 50 paratroopers. The plane was equipped with a 30mm cannon, which was mounted on the tail turret.
Specifications
Type: military transport
Length: 26 m
Wingspan: 30 m
Wing Area: 117.2 m²
Height: 9.7 m
Maximum Speed: 612 km/h
Range: 2,800 km
Below, the Antonov An-8 parked beside the runway of a Soviet military base in the 1970s.
