The SAAF Forum

https://www.dropbox.com/s/51loscky8fmtjaz/An-2.jpg?dl=0

The Antonov-2 first flew in 1947, almost 70 years ago and since then, almost 20,000 were manufactured of which literally hundreds are still flying. This model was produced for 45 years and for a period of time, had the longest production run of any aircraft, but this record has since been broken by by the Lockheed C-130 Hercules.

The following paragraph, from the pilot’s handbook, demonstrates the incredible design characteristics of this Russian evergreen;
"If the engine quits in instrument conditions or at night, the pilot should pull the control column full aft and keep the wings level. The leading-edge slats will snap out at about 64 km/h (40 mph) and when the airplane slows to a forward speed of about 40 km/h (25 mph), the airplane will sink at about a parachute descent rate until the aircraft hits the ground”

The An-2 indeed has no stall speed quoted in the operating handbook. Pilots of the An-2 say one can fly the aircraft in full control at 48 km/h (30 mph) (as a contrast, a modern Cessna four-seater light aircraft has a stall speed of around 80 km/h (50 mph)). This slow stall speed makes it possible for the aircraft to fly backwards (if the aircraft is pointed into a headwind of, say, 56 km/h (35 mph), it will travel backwards at 8.0 km/h (5 mph) whilst under full control).

Quite recently, 2013, Antonov announced that it had successfully flown a modern version of this design.

The longest production run record belongs to the Beechcraft Bonanza - 1947 and still going.
The Hercules is 7 years younger.

Thanks for your input Roger, however, I don't want to debate the historical correctness of different information sources.

The information given was obtained from Wikipedia and I quote: "The Guinness Book of World Records states that the 45-year production run for the An-2 was for a time the longest ever for any aircraft — and challenging the well over two decades-long run of the much lighter, late-1920s origin Polikarpov Po-2 biplane it was intended to replace — but the An-2's production duration run record was itself recently exceeded by the four-turboprop-engined, 1954-origin Lockheed C-130 Hercules military transport"

Having said this, I am sure you will agree that he flying characteristics of the An-2 still makes this a special aircraft!