A Revolution in Aviation... or not. The An-72

Today we will get acquainted with one of the most unusual-looking modern aircraft – the An-72.

The An-72 (NATO reporting name: Coaler) is a light jet military transport aircraft created by the Antonov Design Bureau in the 1970s. Equipped with a pair of jet engines located in the upper part of the wing, the An-72 flies using the Coanda effect, which gives the aircraft an advantage at low speeds, as well as a very exotic appearance. At the time of its creation, it was a revolution in aviation. A similar project, the Boeing YC-14, was being developed at the same time in the USA.

With excellent takeoff and landing performance, the An-72 became an important element of the Soviet military transport aviation, and soon acquired many modifications: arctic, patrol, passenger, as well as AWACS and reconnaissance aircraft. In civilian versions, the aircraft carries the index An-74.

Now the production is finished. As of 2024, there are still about a hundred An-72 and An-74 aircraft of various modifications in operation.

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00:00 – The An-72
00:31 – The Coanda effect
02:03 – US projects
03:17 – Soviet projects
04:14 – The An-72 project
06:26 – The An-72 description
10:53 – Winding road
14:12 – Cheburashka
15:31 – The An-74 and other versions
17:22 – Struggle for survival