Antonov An-70
The Antonov An-70 uses four unusual propfan engines, a hybrid between a turboprop and a turbofan with large, swept, multi-blade propellers enclosed in a partial cowling, aimed at combining jet-like speed with turboprop-like fuel efficiency and short-field performance. That propfan technology promised significant fuel savings over a comparable pure-jet transport, though it added real mechanical complexity that slowed the program's development for years. Political tension between Russia and Ukraine after 2014 badly disrupted the Ukrainian-Russian joint development effort behind the aircraft. Only a small number were ever completed, leaving the An-70's ambitious propfan technology largely unrealised at production scale.
Did you know?
The An-70's four propfan engines, part turboprop and part turbofan, aimed for jet-like speed with turboprop-like fuel efficiency.
Specifications
| Length | 40.3 m (132 ft) |
|---|---|
| Wingspan | 44.1 m (145 ft) |
| Height | 16.4 m (54 ft) |
| Maximum passengers | 300 |
| Persons on board | 305 |
| Maximum take-off weight | 130 t |
| Range | 1,620 NM (3,000 km) |
| Maximum speed | 385 kt (713 km/h) |
| Stall speed | 61 kt (113 km/h) |
| Service ceiling | 39,370 ft (12,000 m) |
| Optimum ceiling | 35,000 ft (10,668 m) |
| Rate of climb | 4,900 ft/min (24.9 m/s) |
| Take-off distance | 1,800 m (5,906 ft) |
| Landing distance | 2,200 m (7,218 ft) |
| Fuel capacity | 38,000 l |
| Engines | 4x Progress D-27 (propfan) |
| Units built | 2 |
Curated by CatchFlights from manufacturer documents, ICAO Doc 8643 and reference works; values are left out where no source could confirm them. Sources are listed on our credits page.
In CatchFlights
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