Antonov An-28

Twin Turboprop

The Antonov An-28 is a Soviet-designed twin-turboprop light transport renowned for its exceptional short takeoff and landing (STOL) capability, developed in the late 1960s as a turboprop successor to the piston-powered An-14. Built primarily by PZL Mielec in Poland under license from the mid-1980s onward, the An-28 was engineered for operations from unprepared airstrips in remote regions across the Soviet Union and Eastern Bloc, serving roles from passenger transport to cargo hauling, medevac, and parachute training. Its rugged fixed tricycle landing gear, high wing, and twin Glushenkov TVD-10B turboprops (later upgraded to PZL-10S in Polish production) give it a maximum takeoff weight of 14,330 pounds and a stall speed as low as 56 knots with full flaps, enabling access to rough fields and short strips that larger aircraft cannot reach. The type saw widespread use in military and civilian roles across Russia, Poland, and developing nations, though production ceased in the early 1990s and the global fleet has dwindled significantly. SkyMeter has tracked 1 flights across 1 airframes and 1 operators, with routes observed.