Antonov (Jump to photos)
Antonov, aka Antonov Aeronautical Scientific/Technical Complex (Antonov ASTC) (Ukrainian: Авіаційний науково-технічний комплекс імені Антонова, АНТК ім. Антонова) is a Ukraine-based (since 1952) aircraft manufacturing and services company (design office prefix An) with particular expertise in the field of very large aircraft construction.
Antonov’s airplanes range from the rugged An-2 ‘Colt’ biplane (which itself is comparatively large for a biplane) through the Antonov An-28 reconnaissance aircraft to the massive An-124 ‘Condor’ and An-225 ‘Cossack’ strategic airlifters (the latter being the world’s biggest aircraft in service). Whilst less famous, the An-24 ‘Coke’, An-26 ‘Curl and An-30 ‘Clank’ series of twin turboprop, high winged, passenger transport aircraft are important for domestic air services particularly in parts of the world once led by communist governments. The An-72/An-74 ‘Coaler’ series of small jetliners is slowly replacing that fleet and a larger An-70 freighter is under certification. The An-70 is outwardly similar to the Airbus A400M design that has yet to fly in Western Europe.
The company is named after Oleg Antonov, its founder and head designer of An-2, An-24, An-22 and other legendary planes.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antonov
