This is the oldest An-12 still flying, which was recently repainted. EW-338TI is an An-12BP of RubyStar. Here it is in Vitebsk – Photo: Bernie Leighton | AirlineReporter
But Bernie, you already flew on an Antonov An-12 last year! Do you really think I’d settle for one An-12? Come on now, who am I?
Since I was already in Minsk, after having made my way there on a Tu-154M, there had to be another plane to fly on, or some other diversion to pass the time in Minsk. Well, other than the ominously-named “Texas Show Bar” in the hotel. That place was scary!
Anyhow. Thankfully, my friend had already taken care of this and set up an An-12 with quite the livery! Built in 1961 for the Soviet Air Force, its history becomes murky after the collapse of the USSR. We know it was floating around Bulgaria in 2001 and, heck, it is unclear if it was even built in Voronezh, Tashkent, or Irkutsk! It didn’t matter — I wanted it to fly — with me on it.
You fly in the light you get, not the light you deserve; photographer problems. Either way, boarding an An-12BP is a blast – Photo: Bernie Leighton | AirlineReporter
There were two differences immediately apparent from my previous An-12 flight. First, there was no hilariously-outdated physical examination prior to boarding. Second, we were given boarding passes prior to clearing security. Did the boarding passes say anything? No. But they were boarding passes none-the-less. Must’ve been for security to have something to count. I honestly have no idea. Also, instead of just walking straight on to the ramp, we went to a gate in D Concourse to wait for our bus.
Not as fishing-boat-like as my last An-12, but more comfortable – Photo: Bernie Leighton | AirlineReporter
Sadly, the sun was behind a cloud when we got to our hard stand on a far right-hand corner of the ramp. I took some pictures for the sake of taking pictures, not for show. I made my way up the rickety ladder into the cabin to be greeted by a lot more light than I was expecting. I knew that this An-12BP was just a militarized An-10, but it’s a lot less dank in there than you would think.
Okay, so it’s about as bright inside as Moe’s Tavern, but I could actually find my way around – Photo: Bernie Leighton | AirlineReporter
Once again, I opted for premium seating as I like a bit of padding. This cabin was much cleaner, freshly upholstered, and painted too. There was also only an image of one saint. Either this aircraft needed less luck, or it was under-represented.
I am not sure what saint is the patron of this aircraft, but they all have one! – Photo: Bernie Leighton | AirlineReporter
Due to the lack of house-style window curtains and the extra windows in the pressurized section of the aircraft, I chose to sit facing rearward to get an excellent view of the Ivchenko AI-20 engines mounted on the wings. I wasn’t sure what to expect with the flight, as I have flown facing every direction but backwards, but my bravery was spurred entirely because of the view.
Start-up was a slightly noisier affair than the last An-12 I flew – about the same volume and noise as my Il-18 ride. Taxi was a bit different, though. Like I said, I’ve never sat backwards in an aircraft and the first few turns towards the runway at Minsk National Airport were a bit disconcerting. Especially with no seat belt (I discovered there was one later in the flight).
Take off was not as abrupt, sadly. It was a steady and beautiful roll. Soon we were at roughly 5,000 feet and heading towards the outskirts of downtown Minsk.
A better view of the oddly-homey cabin on the An-12BP – Photo: Bernie Leighton | AirlineReporter
I got up to go into the flight deck; after all, the door was open and it was right there. Except by the time it was my turn to visit the navigator’s station, I could see we were setting up for final approach into Minsk-1 Airport.
Minsk-1 has a painfully short runway. Ordinarily, I would love to land in the glazed nose of an An-12 with no seat belt, but remembering that last year’s experience nearly threw me out of the seats, I scampered back to film it from a passenger window instead. Especially fun was that Minsk-1 Airport will be closed by the time this article runs — we were the last passenger flight in!
Astute readers may remember this Tu-134A-3 sitting at Minsk-1 from last year – Photo: Bernie Leighton | AirlineReporter
The airport will be demolished and turned into a housing development. What about Plant 407, overhaul center to the rich and famous owners of Tu-134s and Yak-40s? That will move to Minsk National Airport. The ones that cannot fly will be scrapped. I am very grateful we even got to go to Minsk-1 this year; the government originally did not want us to see that there were some strangely Arabic Tu-134s being stored there for safe keeping. We couldn’t take pictures of them as they had been pushed into a hangar, but if you knew where to look…
Oh Yulia, you should come pick up your jet – Photo: Bernie Leighton | AirlineReporter
On the ramp there was the same Tu-134A-3 from last year: UR-UES. This year, the door was open. It was in great shape until near the aft cabin, where it was clearly incomplete.
This is the only Tu-134 I have ever seen with a Panasonic microwave in the galley. It is, strongly, alleged that this belonged to Ukraine’s very own Princess Leia- Yulia Tymoshenko.
The navigator’s station of a Tu-134A-3. – Photo: Bernie Leighton | AirlineReporter
I still did my best to make my way around the cabin taking photos (and look for war prizes). But it was soon time to get out of there; it was getting hot, and there were many more hulks to see!
After about an hour on the ground, it was time to reboard my An-12 chariot for a new destination. A sad moment, as next time I am in Minsk, there will only be one civil airport.
Goodbye Plant 407 – next year no one will be able to get near you! – Photo: Bernie Leighton | AirlineReporter
We were the last passenger flight out of Minsk-1 as well, and our destination was Vitebsk. Departure offered great views of the city, but the photos turned out painfully backlit. Instead I just enjoyed the sedate climb towards our (much higher) cruising altitude.
If you look carefully, you can see the smoke from the AI-20s out the back door – Photo: Bernie Leighton | AirlineReporter
As seems to be tradition with flights in Belarus, the cargo door was opened in cruise. It’s not quite the same as on an Il-76, because you are flying lower, slower, and the An-12BP’s cargo hold leaks like a sieve. There’s a bit of a pleasant breeze, but it’s not as deafening.
43 minutes later, we were in Vitebsk. There’s not much to see in Vitebsk, or so the morning passengers had told me. How wrong they were. We were greeted by a lovely MAZ bus, with a friendly airport cat aboard.
Travel Cat’s Belorussian cousin: Airport Cat. – Photo: Bernie Leighton | AirlineReporter
Exciting, I know. Fly all the way to Vitebsk to see a cat! It gets better.
There are a good deal of Belorussian Ministry of Emergency Situations An-2s on the ground in Vitebsk. No idea why – Photo: Bernie Leighton | AirlineReporter
The ramp was a haven for An-2s operating on behalf of the Belorussian Ministry of Emergency Situations. There is no real American equivalent to this, so I have no idea how to explain what they do. Just think that this is an aircraft that would show up somewhere if there was a natural disaster. Either way, they seem to be very well cared for and in great shape.
After our ramp tour, it was time to get back aboard the An-12BP once more. For some reason, all of the exterior writing is in English. Including a “gronding” panel. I wonder if that could be grounding? After another very short roll, we were in the air back for Minsk.
This took more tries than I’d care to admit – Photo: Bernie Leighton | AirlineReporter
The rest of the flight was amazing, but identical in every way to the previous. Once landed, I was able to confirm my upgrade to Business Class on my flight back to London, but that is another story.
The An-12, BP or otherwise, is a truly spectacular airframe. I can’t wait to fly on more!
Okay – officially jealous! I’m going to request a flight next trip to Minsk.
I’ll look out for Yulia’s jet – Love her!!!
Also – I recommend the Renaissance its the best hotel in Minsk until the new Hilton and Marriott open this year/next.
Hi Bernie, Wonderful Read.
But I have a burning question though, so please answer it…
As i noticed even on the IL-76, the cargo hatch was open during the flight. Why?????
Was it a necessary flight procedure or was it purely there for entertaining the passengers?
And is it safe????
What if there was a little turbulence and THAT happens!!
Hey Bernie Leighton,
Man, Earlier in the days, u used to reply to all questions. Yeah I agree you are pretty lucky and smart guy, travelling in all these exotic planes.
But I have noticed, of late, you have developed a ego and u r showing an attitude. Why can’t you just answer this poor guy’s question?? He or She’s probably an AVGEEK in waiting…
I have seen you often reply only if it is of some help to you (like getting more info from knowledgeable people). You can reply to MIHARU’S question down, but you can’t reply to this question which was posted earlier?????
Dude, stop showing your ego and learn from LAUREN DARNIELLE, DAVID PARKER BROWN or MALCOLM MUIR, who are open and receptive and answer doubts from everybody, without discrimination.
Wow, way to ascribe malice where incompetence is usually the better answer. If you don’t like me- that’s cool. I don’t care, just be sure to click our ads. Random call outs though. Not cool. I was on the sea ice for the past couple of weeks, at 80 degrees North. Do you really think they have good internet there? They don’t. I reply to comments when I can, if I don’t see them- it’s not my fault I don’t see them. It’s not some grand conspiracy.
What’d I ever do to you?
Ofcourse, I like you man( though not in THAT way)!!
You do have fans too, you know?? I just thought that you were getting drifted apart from them. I know at the core, you are an Avgeek, but it seemed as if you were acting more and more like a celebrity.
Also, you can’t give the “I was away” excuse, since u had replied to Miharu when this girl’s/guy’s question was posted way earlier because”, That’s why I had to take this drastic measure.
Sorry, If I offended you dude. There’s no hate here, only respect and love, man.
Yours Sincerely,
Bernie Fan!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh, it sort of works.
The way I get email on the ice is not easy. You have to go through Iridium, the email then comes to the web browser on your phone. It also does a terrible job at marking things as read or unread. When I saw the comment on my story, I thought it was just doubled up and went back to sleep. I am not saying it’s a great excuse- I am saying it is incompetence.
I don’t lose my routes, but I am not exactly great at things either.
Now to answer this guy’s question.
You open the cargo door for one reason and one reason alone. Because you can! It’s so much more fun than leaving it closed. Flying with an open cargo door is the ultimate proof that the FAA and modern safety culture is more about looking good to insurers than being safe. What about turbulence? What you can’t see in the pictures (because I’d poke my lens through) is there are giant, elastic, nets. No one is going anywhere. Also, Il-76s can be quite squirrelly when they’re empty. Even then, the nets never were needed to restrain.
Thanks for another great report, Bernie. Honestly, I do have to wonder how, and in which direction some Russian brains work. Perhaps the infamous ‘missing link?’ As a tiny step in the right direction, they have apparently learned the AvGeeks do not bite – and I’ll let it go at that. Nice pix as well, -C.
Wow. I live in Minsk, but no-one offers these An-12 tours for local people…
There were several Russians on the trip, I think this is a situation not of citizenship mattering- but of knowing the right guy.
Russians, yes, but no Belarusians, right? 😉
It’s not about citizenship, but the company behind these tours only targets wealthy tourists, they don’t even advertise here. If one already knows about them, then it may be possible, but I bet they only sell it as a package, with flights to Geneva and back again.
I just wish Belavia & co paid more attention to aviation fans in Belarus, too. So far, the closest I could get to an Antonov plane here was to wash it at the Borovaya aviation museum. 😀
Isn’t there a flight from Minsk to Moscow being operated for Belarussians on the Tu-154M in the next month or two? Sorry for the late reply- I just found out about it.
Yes, there will be a special flight from Moscow to Minsk and back again, operated by Belavia. And for those from Minsk there are tickets on a regular flight when Tu-154 goes to Moscow and back, but no special treatment like taking photos of the aircraft on tarmac or talking to the crew… But it’s better than nothing, of course. I’ll be flying Tu-154 to Moscow and B737 back later in the day.