Mystery Aircraft Door

Thanks NII_VVS and Mark

I reckon you’ve nailed it. It’s the old two door trick.

Having established that it is a cockpit door from an An-12, the second part of the question is: which An-12? 😉

Thanks to everyone who responded. Case closed.

looks like an AN-12 door to me?

found these two pics on the link to the derelict example above

It is the “вид на дверь пилотской кабины со стороны грузовой” door –

smiles for those not fluent in Russian its the “Kind on a door пилотской cabins from cargo”

As it seems forward of the round bottomed door I would think it is the cockpit door while the round bottom door is to the cargo bay from the crew area?

regards

Mark Pilkington

I am no expert on modern VVS aviation, but having been in a few An-12s I seem to recall that the interior doors had a rounded bottom shape. As well, the door to the cockpit I recall had a bit of an odd shape about it on the right side.

Here are some interior shots of a derelict An-12 at Yakutsk (scroll down a bit). Have a look for yourself:

http://www.fotovalkirumodelism.com/page.php?page=161

In my opinion, the door in question still is most consistent with the An-2. And, I may say, the An-2 cockpit door is a serious piece of kit, not some flimsy unit to be brushed aside easily!

I think it’s a toilet door. Or a large galley cupboard door.

Update

On further enquiries, I am advised that the door is from “an Antonov” of unspecified type. Given that the door came from Brisbane Airport, one would have to imagine that it could have come only from an An-12 as several of these have been based here over the years whilst no other Russian types have been resident. The door has insufficient curvature to be an external door so it is most likely a cockpit door. The paint scheme suggests that it’s an external door but apparently it’s not unusual for An-12 interiors to be painted in two colours with a black cheatline. However, An-12 cockpit doors are rounded at the bottom whereas this one is straight. As posted earlier by NII_VVS, it does conform to the shape of an An-2 (Two) cockpit door but we don’t see many of them in BNE and it’s probably too heavy anyway. The unusual pattern of portholes is unlike anything else I’ve seen. In addition to the 4 portholes which are clearly visible, there could be another 6 which appear to have been “bogged over”.

While we continue to look for any identifying marks, I think the best line to follow is to try to find such a door on an An-12. Thanks everyone for your input.

Or ask the Irish air corps, I seem to remember they lost a door last year….but I think it was a helicopter.

You are thinking of an RAF Merlin which lost a door at an airshow in Galway.;)

It came to the Queensland Air Museum with some other items of Russian origin so maybe that’s a clue.

Fascinating… May one ask what other material that might have been, possibly?

Looking to this door, the riveting and hinges are certainly in agreement with work competed in Russia or Eastern Europe. The colouration is very much not of Russian character, however. The door agrees with the basic shape of the cockpit doorway on the An-2. That would be my best guess.

If that is true, the unit could have been manufactured in any one of five countries, and could have served in who knows how many. The door’s painting, to me, suggests civilian operation, or perhaps service in Czech or Yugoslavia/Serbia. Of course, that is very weak evidence indeed, and I could easily be quite wrong!

Looking further, have you found any inscriptions or writing on this door at all?

I have just added an image of the other side of the door at the beginning of the thread.

Or ask the Irish air corps, I seem to remember they lost a door last year….but I think it was a helicopter.

You could always ask RAF Mildenhall if it’s one of theirs……:diablo:

Its been awhile since I was inside a C-47, but I don’t think the door is identical. Primarily I seem to remember the cockpit door being rectangular.

Secondarily the cockpit door in a C-47 opens forward and the the right, which would leave the lock on the door above on the cabin side of the door.

Peter

The photographer only shot one side. He’s going to photograph the other side and I’ll post when available.

I suspect that it may be a cockpit door. It came to the Queensland Air Museum with some other items of Russian origin so maybe that’s a clue.

Looking at the air vents in it My personal guess is that it is an internal door. How about the door between cockpit and cabin? Though what aircraft it came from I also have no idea. Looking at the colour of the paint I would say it was some airliner type in military service. I may be wrong (I usually am) but how about a C-47? Sorry if I’ve raised more questions and provided nothing in the way of useful information. On the other hand that red handle appears to be some sort of primitive locking device so maybe it’s a WC door.

Can you post a photo of the inside of it?