Antonov 181 Explained

Antonov built product 181 (Ukrainian: Виріб 181, Russian: изделие 181) was a Soviet experimental aeroplane rolled-out at the end of the 1980s.

History

The Antonov An-181 (or product 181) project was terminated due to the lack of funds following the collapse of the Soviet Union. An interesting feature of the plane is its unusual arc-shaped wing, a so-called Channel wing. The aircraft has two seats next to each other, a tricycle fixed landing gear configuration, a V-tailplane, and high-wing equipped with a channel wing in the area of the propellers. Power from the engine is delivered by means of drive shafts and deflection gearboxes to the two-blade propellers. The aircraft received the registration СССР-190101 and is exhibited in the State Museum of Aviation of Ukraine. Willard Ray Custer had previously built aeroplanes with the same wing concept in the USA.^[1]

Specifications

General characteristics

• Crew: 2 people
• Length: 7,31 m
• Wingspan: 7,3 m
• Height: 2,5 m
• Wing area: 7 m²
• Normal take-off weight: 820 kg
• Maximum take-off weight: 900 kg
• Engine: AP LOM M-337A, 6 cylinders, 103 kW
• Propeller diameter: 1.5 m
• Maximum speed: 225 km / h
• Practical range: 530 km
• Service height: 4200 m
• Starting distance: 70 m
• Landing distance: 80 m

^[2]

Sources

• Antonov X plane

Notes and References

1. https://issuu.com/jeanlulu/docs/-aviation--soviet-x-planes--yefim-gordon---bill-gu/13 Soviet X-Planes Yefim Gordon,Bill Gunston
2. Web site: Экспериментальный самолет "Изделие 181". Государственный музей авиации (Жуляны). 2013-06-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20130821060431/http://aviamuseum.com.ua/ekspozitsiya/kb-antonova/eksperimentalnyj-samolet-qizdelie-181q.html. 2013-08-21. dead.