Antonov An-2

Antonov An-12B

HA-ANI PZL-Mielec An-2P c/n 1G132-55 - Schaffen-Diest aerodrome in Belgium - 15 August 2004

Designed originally for agricultural duties under the designation SKh-1, the An-2 utility transport flew for the first time on August 31, 1947. Of robust construction and suitable for operations from short, semi-prepared strips, the Antonov An-2 has been manufactured for both military and civil roles. The An-2 remained in production until 1991. Over 18.000 of the different types were built in the Ukraine (5000), Poland (12000) and China (1000).

The An-2P HA-ANI was making sightseeing-flights at the 20th Oldtimer Fly-in at Schaffen-Diest in 2004. This Antonov was built in 1972 as an An2P by PZL-Mielec in Poland. The Soviet Air Force operated the aircraft until it in 1982 was transferred to the Hungarian Air Force. The An2P was registered in Hungary as HA-ANI and operated by Thermal Aero before it was sold to the Stichting Antonov Nederland in the Netherlands. However the owner is Dutch and the operational base of the An2P is Lelystad airport in the Netherlands the aircraft will remain registered in Hungary as HA-ANI.