Specialists from the Omsk aircraft repair enterprise "Motor" modernized the Soviet biplane An-2, also known as the "corncob." Now, the updated "Annushka" does not require a runway or hangar, said Alexander Lyzhin, head of the "Regional Aviation" project implementation group.
According to him, the advantage of such machines is the ability to land on any site where there are 200 meters of flat surface, even on the shore or an ice floe.
The head of the Omsk aircraft repair enterprise "Motor," Yuri Petrov, added that the fleet may be useful in remote areas of the Arctic.
We lengthened the upper wing. We improved the design. We installed wheels of increased diameter so that the aircraft could land not only on coastal sand, but also on pebbles. We flew 316 hours. We certified it as a single copy. And now we propose using the updated An-2 for state needs.
Petrov added that the updated An-2 also features a circular view locator, an ice meter, a thermal imager, a GLONASS system, and satellite communications.