Here is Polet’s An-124 at Lingshui, looking at the little Aries it is going to eat. It gives a nice size comparison.
The An-72 (or better, the -74) was designed as an An-26 replacement, with better STOL characteristics and such. I’m not sure if it can match the -32s power-to-weight ratio though. However, the overblown engines do give it a pretty impressive STOL performance which will be nice high up in the Himalayas as well. It could however well be that the -32 is the better hot & high aircraft though. At this moment, Afghanistan is actually informing in the Ukraine how much eight new-builds would cost.
But i think the looks of the -72 are reason enough to buy them 🙂
Some interesting points Arthur!!
I also think it safe to state that the An-32’s (original or proposed new-builds) would be somewhat cheaper to operate and maintain. I wonder if Antonov would incorporate new prop technology into a proposed new-build An-32?
Regards
Pioneer
The T-50 will cost less than $100 million which is 2.5 times less than the Lockheed Martin/Boeing F-22
Wow………the question in my mind is the USAF (Pentagon) truly able to manage responsibly its next generation F-22 replacement program????
What with the T-50 (and the PRC’s J-20) closing any gap that the F-22 had over the likes of the Flanker series, compounded even further by the likelihood that both the Russian’s and PRC will be willing to sell these 5th Gen fighter to anyone and everyone! U.S military projects requirements and project management has failed dismal over the past 20 years 😡
I would be inclined to say that the U.S military as a whole better seriously lift its game and start fielding what it truly need (as opposed to what it dreams). Also the Pentagon better start looking after its own interests, rather than the corporate world profits and games.
Pioneer
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