The versatile, powerful, and rugged An-28 has proven to be one of the world’s great multi-role STOL utility aircraft.
Full-Spectrum Workhorse
The An-28 is a twin-turboprop light utility short take-off and landing (STOL) airplane developed by Ukrainian aerospace firm Antonov. Piloted by two, it can carry up to 17 passengers, 4,000 pounds of cargo, or some combination. The aircraft has earned a reputation as a highly capable utility workhorse for a full spectrum of applications, ranging from transport to military. It is rugged, reliable, and highly versatile, notably due to its ability to operate from all types of airfields and in a wide range of conditions. The company produced a total of 191 airframes between 1975 and 1993, and many remain airworthy.
Rooted in Versatility
Antonov began developing the An-28 to satisfy a mid-1960s request by Soviet flag airline Aeroflot for a small, short-range airliner. Engineers based the An-28 on their previous STOL design, the An-14. First flown in 1958, Antonov introduced the An-14 to provide passenger and cargo transport services to remote areas served by only small dirt or gravel airstrips. The An-14 features a semi-monocoque fuselage, a strut-braced main wing, a fixed tricycle undercarriage, and an empennage consisting of a single horizontal stabilizer with two vertical stabilizers. Powered by two wing-mounted piston engines, the An-14 was used extensively throughout the world.
To create the proof-of-concept An-28, engineers at Antonov replaced the piston engines of an existing An-14 with turboprops. This pre-prototype model, called the An-14A, took its maiden flight in 1969. It performed exceptionally well due to its power, and Antonov decided to proceed with the An-28 program. The first clean-sheet An-28 prototype took its initial flight on January 29, 1973. Larger and far more powerful than the An-14, the An-28 shares several general traits with its progenitor, notably its strut-braced wing, fixed tricycle undercarriage, and empennage. Antonov manufactured the An-28 from 1975 to 1993, and the aircraft has served several civil and military operators throughout the globe. Applications for which the An-28 has proven successful include passenger service, freight, medical evacuation and air ambulance, military transport and troop insertion, aerial photography and videography, and geotechnical surveying.
The Microsoft Flight Simulator Antonov An-28
The An-28 measures 43 feet in length, stands 16 feet, 1 inch tall, and has a wingspan of 72 feet, 5 inches. It is powered by two 960-horsepower Glushenkov TVD-10B turboprop engines, each of which turns a 3-blade propeller. It has a range of 851 miles, a service ceiling of 19,685 feet above sea level, a maximum climb rate of 1,640 feet per minute, and a cruising speed of 219 miles per hour. An excellent STOL performer, it has a take-off run of 1,350 feet and a landing roll of 1,033 feet. The Microsoft Flight Simulator An-28 has been reproduced in exquisite detail and is ready for pilots to explore all corners of the world. It is available today in the in-sim marketplace for $14.99 USD. The sky is calling!
Screenshot Gallery
Microsoft Flight Simulator is available for Xbox Series X|S, Game Pass, PC, PlayStation 5, PS VR2, Steam, and supported mobile phones, tablets, and lower-spec PCs via Xbox Cloud Gaming. For the latest information on Microsoft Flight Simulator, stay tuned to @MSFSOfficial on X (formerly Twitter) or visit flightsimulator.com.