Any Ag Pilots Here?
02-23-2019, 04:54 PM
#21
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2006
Position: 767A (Ret)
Posts: 6,248
John, did you ever fly the Antonov An-2? One pilot reports: “It’s very physical. You need the muscles of an ironmonger.” 
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=A3tpV9vUTPo
“The An-2 has no stall speed, a fact which is quoted in the operating handbook. A note from the pilot's handbook reads: "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."[4] As such, pilots of the An-2 have stated that they are capable of flying 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 relative to the ground (if the aircraft is pointed into a headwind of roughly 56 km/h (35 mph), it will travel backwards at 8.0 km/h (5 mph) whilst under full control).”
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=A3tpV9vUTPo
“The An-2 has no stall speed, a fact which is quoted in the operating handbook. A note from the pilot's handbook reads: "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."[4] As such, pilots of the An-2 have stated that they are capable of flying 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 relative to the ground (if the aircraft is pointed into a headwind of roughly 56 km/h (35 mph), it will travel backwards at 8.0 km/h (5 mph) whilst under full control).”
02-23-2019, 05:14 PM
#22
Disinterested Third Party
Joined APC: Jun 2012
Posts: 6,261
No, I was going to. An individual offered me a spray job and was trying to import AN2's and dress them up with a snazzy executive interior to sell to private pilots, and he wanted someone to drive it around and show it off.
I've spent time behind that engine in similar-enough flying aircraft, it didn't float my boat enough to drop other things and go do.
The AN2 has the added advantage of having a lot of wing for not so much aircraft, and two wings, so there's the capability of two different angles of incidence, and additional control authority.
Still, a parachute descent rate is 22-25 feet per second, which is 1320-1500 fpm, as a descent rate. A hard landing is typically anything greater than the equivalent of a 600 fpm descent (some aircraft 350 fpm on up), usually requiring an inspection.
Stick aft until impact is about as mindless as the cirrus mentality of deploying the parachute in the event of engine failure, a bird sighting, an R in the month, sudden encounters with childhood memories, or the presence of oxygen. Iron curtain aircraft were always built for the lowest common denominator in pilots and mechanics. Let's face it; that hole in the inlet of the Mig 19 was there to allow a ring to be hooked to an ox team to pull the aircraft when lacking a tug. Nothing about their designs or operation was meant to be done with finesse, and having spent enough years and hours behind turbines and radials in PZL Dromaders, I can attest to the absolute lack of finesse in every aspect.
The Antonov's lack of beauty is not just skin deep.
I've spent time behind that engine in similar-enough flying aircraft, it didn't float my boat enough to drop other things and go do.
The AN2 has the added advantage of having a lot of wing for not so much aircraft, and two wings, so there's the capability of two different angles of incidence, and additional control authority.
Still, a parachute descent rate is 22-25 feet per second, which is 1320-1500 fpm, as a descent rate. A hard landing is typically anything greater than the equivalent of a 600 fpm descent (some aircraft 350 fpm on up), usually requiring an inspection.
Stick aft until impact is about as mindless as the cirrus mentality of deploying the parachute in the event of engine failure, a bird sighting, an R in the month, sudden encounters with childhood memories, or the presence of oxygen. Iron curtain aircraft were always built for the lowest common denominator in pilots and mechanics. Let's face it; that hole in the inlet of the Mig 19 was there to allow a ring to be hooked to an ox team to pull the aircraft when lacking a tug. Nothing about their designs or operation was meant to be done with finesse, and having spent enough years and hours behind turbines and radials in PZL Dromaders, I can attest to the absolute lack of finesse in every aspect.
The Antonov's lack of beauty is not just skin deep.
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