2Holer4Longhaul wrote:It was originally a Soviet military transport plane to carry heavy materiel. After the Cold War, it entered civilian use as a charter plane for loads too big to go in a 747F
Hi:
And that was the begining, do not forget. It was ordered as a replacement to An-22, to deploy Red Army, including Armored vehicles where they wanted to do.
Just it was finished to late and had to search work in this world.
At the begining it also flew from Germany to Mex, (via Hav) with necessary toling for Mex VW to change his old car production to another newer.
Impresive:
- long cockpit for 5 crew, yes 5! Pilot and Co-pilot
- left side, behind Pilot, a-la-IL-62, Navigant.
- right side, behind Co Pilot: 2 ea F/E!!!, don’t asking me why.
Also, impresive were that they were powered at T.O by only 4 D16T engines= more of less= 4 x 16000 kgf,= 64kgf total. At that time a Dc-10-30 used 3 x CF6-50 at more less 22 800 kgf each x3 = 68 400 kgf. So soviet make from a necessity, a virtue, a plane with outstanding flight characteristics. For a much more heavy AN-225, they used 6 engines.. A 16 T engine was a first for them, with very low Time Between Overhauls, but they were sure that western will not sell parts to improve equipment intended to be used against NATO..
Behind cockpit, a crew rest very similar to a soviet pax train’s vagon.
And in the tail, vertical stabilizer, behind rudder. after climb an spiral stairs, : ground crew rest, mechanics + Load Master
I’m sure I had teld before, but for them.. back from Mex it come empty and (supose more cheap) they do long stop there. You may find crew, in short at main cargo deck, playing football!.
It is an oustanding plane! And I like to remenber that at that time, Soviet’s PC were just “borning”, working with old software (ibm like cards one), no to much of them, and those who know how to use, had to spare ninght time and beg that they were not out of service this night. So I consider it, last plane made with “Slide -Rules”
Rgds
