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Browsing Tag: AN-12

Flying on a Antonov An-12 for a Second Time. Even An-12’er.

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This is the oldest An-12 still flying, and recently repainted. EW-338TI is an An-12BP of RubyStar. Here it is in Vitebsk. - Photo: Bernie Leighton |AirlineReporter

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.

Flying “Business Class” on an Antonov AN-12

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Sadly, EW-275TI never was employed by Viktor Bout. Lovely plane though. Photo - Bernie Leighton | AirlineReporter.com

Our Antonov AN-12 ride for the day – Photo: Bernie Leighton | AirlineReporter

Yes, you read the title correctly. Mostly.

The crew rest "Business Class" area of an AN-12 operated by RubyStar Airlines. The chairs face a table so you can face forwards or backwards. Photo - Bernie Leighton | AirlineReporter.com

The crew rest “Business Class” area of an AN-12 operated by RubyStar Airlines – Photo: Bernie Leighton | AirlineReporter

It’s not technically business class. It’s the crew rest area. As you can see, it looks like it belongs on either a Soviet fishing trawler or submarine.

Even with my widest lens, I could not get a photo of the bathyscaphe-like curved office to cargo hold join. But the adjective of submarine-like is really all one can say. But I recently got to experience flying in this special “Business Class,” and of course wanted to share my adventure.