The airplane An-26B-100 is a unique modification of transport An-26 into passenger version. Modification was done by Irkutsk Aircraft Repair Plant in the year 2003 and it is the third aircraft that joint our fleet.
Two light vehicles (Mitsubishi Pajero size) can travel on board of the aircraft for a distance of 2000 km without landing. At the same time the aircraft has comfortable cabin interior with extra noise and vibration insulation. It can take on board 43 passengers. Difference to a transport version An-26B-100 has extra windows, that let more sun light come inside, 44 easily removable comfortable seats, extra emergency exits as per ICAO requirements, buffet and flash lavatory.
The An-26B passenger turboprop aircraft, was developed in 1969 and is intended for short- and medium-haul transportation of cargo and machinery.
Unlike the An-24 the powerplant of this aircraft has greater power; the AI-24VT propulsion engines of 2820 hp each are used here. The payload has been increased from 5 to 5.5 t. Due to higher capacity of fuel system the flight range also increased. The tail portion has been changed to classic configuration of transport aircraft that helped to arrange in the lower part of fuselage a big door for cargo up to 1.5 m high and 2.1 m wide. The original design of cargo door-ramp 2.4 m wide and 3.15 m long has been patented. The hatch is closed with the ramp, which can be rolled forward under fuselage when the aircraft is loaded directly from the truck and during normal cargo paradropping. When descended to the ground the door can be used as ramp for entering cars.
The An-26 aircraft features high stability, ease of control, simplicity of flying and good field of vision from crew compartment. The high takeoff and landing performance and LG rough-field capacity makes the aircraft undemanding to the takeoff/landing fields and permit to operate it all the year round from ground (grass, pebble, sand, snowy and wet ground) airfields of relatively small dimensions.
The aircraft is equipped with conditioning system with temperature and pressure of air in the pressurized cabin controlled automatically. The multiple-ejector anti-icing system is provided with hot air from the engines. The engine propellers, two windshields of crew compartment, Pitot tubes and wristwatches of pilots are electrically heated. The power supply of aircraft consumers in flight is effected from two starter-generators and three storage batteries and when operated on the ground the power is supplied from auxiliary power unit.
