IATA A28ICAO AN28

Antonov AN-28

Antonov

TravelerPulse profile

Soviet-era short-haul turboprop for remote regional routes.

First flight

1973

Category

Regional turboprop

Seating

17–19 passengers

Range

1,365 km

Engines

Two Glushenkov TVD-10B turboprops

Status

In service

The Antonov An-28 is a twin-turboprop light transport aircraft developed in the Soviet Union as a successor to the Antonov An-14. Designed for operations from unprepared airstrips in remote and harsh environments, it features a high-wing configuration, fixed tricycle undercarriage, and STOL capabilities that make it well suited to regions with limited infrastructure. Originally designed by the Antonov Design Bureau in Ukraine, series production was carried out in Poland by PZL Mielec, which also developed a derivative known as the PZL M28 Skytruck. The An-28 entered service with Aeroflot in the 1980s and saw widespread use across the Soviet Union and Eastern Bloc countries. Though production has long ceased, a number of An-28s remain in service with smaller regional and charter operators, particularly in Russia, Central Asia, and Africa. Its rugged design and ability to operate from short, unimproved strips continue to make it valuable in areas underserved by larger aircraft.

Notable operators

Aeroflot was the primary Soviet operator; smaller regional carriers in Russia, Kazakhstan, and African nations have also operated the type.

Notable facts

›Production was carried out by PZL Mielec in Poland rather than in the Soviet Union.
›The aircraft is capable of STOL operations from unpaved or grass airstrips as short as 390 metres.
›The Polish-built PZL M28 Skytruck is a modernised derivative of the An-28.
›It features automatic feathering propellers and single-engine flight capability for improved safety.
›The An-28 received Soviet type certification in 1986 after an extended development period.