The Antonov An-2 aircraft is undoubtedly a legend of domestic aircraft. This is the world's mass-produced single-engine biplane utilityand agricultural aircraft in the history of aviation. It is also a light multi-purpose aircraft - one of the two that have been mass-produced for the longest time in the world - over 70 years (the second - the American Beechcraft Bonanza). The Antonov An-2 aircraft will soon appear on the Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute campus as well - it will become one of the university museum's open-air exhibits.
Vice-rector for Administrative Affairs Vadym Kondratyuk tells a correspondent of the newspaper “Kyiv Politechnic” the way the plane goes through before it becomes a part ofthe State Polytechnic Museum in Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute.
- For more than a year our museum staff have been searching for possible museum exhibits that could be placed on the territory of the university. The selected exhibits are directly related to the scientific activities of the University since its inception. During such searches (at conferences, meetings with colleagues), the museum staff established contacts with the famous philanthropist Anatolii Shumskyi, who has collected military equipment, as well as vehicles - both military and civilian. Anatolii Shumskyi agreed to give one of his exhibits - the An-2 aircraft - for responsible storage to our university as a museum exhibit.
Firstly, an auction was held at which the aircraft was purchased. Then it was delivered to Kyiv by special equipment from the place of storage - Zaporizhzhia. Currently, the aircraft is being restored at the “Antonov Serial Production Plant”. It should be mentioned that the plane hasn’t been in use for more than 20 years. Time and weather conditions have obviously affected its appearance - the wings, fuselage, chassis need restoring and painting. To assess the scope of work, the aircraft was inspected, the relevant defective acts were drawn up, estimates and materials were purchased. The “Antonov Serial Production Plant” specialists are going to complete the restoration work in about a month. The plane will look with dignity again, and then the entire community of our university, all visitors will be able to see it. This museum exhibit will be deposited absolutely free of charge. We are preparing a special platform in the park, which we call "Aviation Pioneers". The An-2 aircraft will be placed near the first building of the University to complement the collection of the Yakovlev Yak-40 jet and the Mil Mi-2 helicopter. The installation foundation for the aircraft has already been prepared, and now the site is being improved. We will announce the arrival of the Antonov An-2 aircraft to our museum!
Memo item: the Antonov An-2 is a light multi-purpose aircraft; it was the largest single-engine biplane in the world until the Antonov An-3 aircraft appeared. The Antonov An-2 began to be produced in 1948. The first manufacturer was “Plant 43”in Kyiv (now the “Antonov Serial Production Plant”). The An-2 design features made it suitable for operation in remote areas, the popular name - "Annushka", "kukuruznik" (corn crop duster used in agriculture). In total, more than 18,000 such aircraft were produced. The An-2 was produced in the USSR, Poland, and is still produced in China.