Cargo Airplanes
Antonov An-124 Ruslan
ICAO: A124
Overview
The Antonov An-70 is a large military transport aircraft developed in the final years of the Soviet Union. Designed to combine jet-like cruise speeds with short takeoff performance, it introduced a distinctive propfan propulsion system. The aircraft was intended to replace earlier Soviet tactical transports.
Live Fleet Activity (AN70)
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Specifications
Units
- Engine
- 4 × Progress D-27 propfans
- Engine type
- Turboprop
- Power
- 4 × 13,880 shp · 10,350 kW
- Avionics
- —
- Wing tips
- No winglets
- Seats
- 300
- Crew
- —
- Cabin width
- 13 ft 1 in · 4.00 m
- Cabin height
- 13 ft 5 in · 4.10 m
- Cabin length
- 73 ft 6 in · 22.40 m
- Exterior length
- 133 ft 8 in · 40.73 m
- Tail height
- 53 ft 9 in · 16.38 m
- Fuselage diameter
- 14 ft 5 in · 4.40 m
- Wing span
- 144 ft 7 in · 44.06 m
- Baggage volume
- 424 ft³ · 12.0 m³
- Gross weight
- —
- Empty weight
- —
- Max takeoff weight
- 319,500 lb · 145,000 kg
- Max landing weight
- —
- Max payload
- 103,500 lb · 47,000 kg
- Fuel capacity
- 10,050 gal · 38,000 L · 30,400 kg (Jet A)
- Max cruise speed
- 400 kt · 460 mph · 741 km/h
- Maximum speed
- —
- Cruise speed
- —
- Approach speed
- —
- Range
- 3,563 nm · 4,100 mi · 6,600 km
- Fuel burn
- 2.31 nm/gal · 1.13 km/L
- Ceiling
- 39,000 ft · 11,900 m
- Rate of climb
- 4,900 ft/min · 25 m/s
- Takeoff distance
- 5,900 ft · 1,800 m
- Landing distance
- 6,550 ft · 2,000 m
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Operational Context
Antonov An-70 — four-engine propfan military transport
The An-70 first flew in 1994 as part of a program to modernize Soviet and later Ukrainian military transport fleets. Antonov engineers designed the aircraft with a high wing and advanced propfan engines mounted above the wing. This configuration allowed efficient cruise speeds while maintaining strong lift at low speeds for short runway operations.
Four Progress D-27 propfan engines producing approximately 13,800 shaft horsepower each power the aircraft. Cruise speed approaches 420 knots (778 km/h), which is unusually high for a propeller-driven transport. Maximum takeoff weight exceeds 300,000 pounds (135,000 kg), with payload capacity of roughly 100,000 pounds (45,000 kg).
The An-70 was intended to replace aircraft such as the An-12 in tactical airlift roles. Development faced delays and political challenges following the breakup of the Soviet Union. Although several prototypes flew and demonstrated impressive performance, the program ultimately saw limited production and uncertain operational deployment.
Sources and references used for research and fact-checking.