An-2 biplane that can fly tail first

• AN-2 biplane that can fly tail first

Soviet machine AN-2 still does not leave the runways of many countries. The reasons for this are many: in spite of the fact that the aircraft had already exchanged fifty years in operation it is convenient and useful technique. Many of the An-2 operated are now being used, without further modifications, for more than forty years. The raid on these aircraft can reach as much as 20 thousand hours, which once again proves how good this car is from the distant past.

But the attention of the public, handsome AN-2 attracted not only by its tangible practicality. It is this use biplane at an airshow pilots in many countries, in order to show unseen tricks: hanging in the air and even flying tail first. For information on how Soviet engineers "teach" all these tricks plane, we will now describe.

A bit of history

First baby An-2 tried a taste of heaven in 1947. Professional test pilot Peter Volodin was very pleased with the first flight. He described the plane as an easy to operate and suitable pilot even the most entry-level. In the USSR, the biplane was a real workhorse: using it to carry out flights between regional centers, he's out in the field for agricultural work. Important role played by the simplicity of operation of the aircraft - the AN-2 was able to take off from a short ground strips and had a very small size. In fact, because of this it can be used in the most difficult areas of Siberia and the Far North.

Appearance and purpose

The unique design of a biplane can be called one of the biggest successes of the Antonov Design Bureau. Despite the fact that even the first models were for their time machines obsolete, especially repeat AN-2 could not just any plane. Externally the car looks like it is a normal biplane and not distracting from the slim ranks of their fellow human beings. Even the purpose of the An-2 was initially quite standard: spraying pesticides over fields and light trucks in the event of military requirements.

Wing Power

Designers knowingly decided to make the AN-2 biplane. Two parallel wing aircraft can provide more lift than one. Due to the powerful motor, and this feature, biplane, and learned to take off with the maximum short, it is unsuitable to the sites. Inside, of course, not enough comfort - engine noise can turn any conversation into a senseless articulation and lack of rear chassis dictates awkward landing passengers, however, and the plane was built not for pleasure but for business.

controllability

The same lift aircraft provides incredible handling. The minimum speed at which the pilot retains the ability to control biplane of only 40 km / h. Famous all over the world become unmanageable Cessna already at 80 km / h. This quality makes the AN-2, among other things, the ideal trainer for novice pilots: to break this machine have to really try.

Stuck in one place

The advanced wing mechanization allows the AN-2 to make absolutely impossible for other aircraft stunts. Biplane is able to hover above the ground with sufficient force headwind. And we are not talking about any kind of off-scale performance. No, to be turned into an analogue helicopters, An-2 requires only a wind speed of 30 km / h.

Tail ago

Deflectable panel mounted on the front edge of the wing, called slats. The same stand and trailing edges - it's flaps. On conventional aircraft all this is so, but the AN-2 is equipped with flaps along the whole length of the trailing edge of the lower wing and the entire length of the front edge of the upper wing. If you release them all, it will significantly increase the lift of the biplane. This allows the An-2 under the same 30-40 km / h headwind and engine running at maximum power going tail first. This trick can not be repeated by any other aircraft.