UNCOMMON
AN12
Antonov An-12
The Cub
“Soviet-era muscle, still hauling.”
Antonov · cargo
Length
108 ft 7 in
Wingspan
124 ft 8 in
Max speed
361 kts
Range
3,000 nmi
Ceiling
33,500 ft
Engines
4x Ivchenko AI-20 turboprop
Crew
5
Payload
44,090 lbs
Built
1,248
The Antonov An-12 is a Cold War-era turboprop freighter that refuses to retire. It serves obscure cargo airlines in Africa and Asia, flying into airstrips that modern aircraft can't reach.
Fun fact
The An-12 was designed as a military transport but found a second career in civilian cargo, especially in regions with poor infrastructure.
How to spot one
Four-engine turboprop transport. Rear loading ramp. Soviet answer to C-130. Glass nose. Getting very rare.
Crews call it
The Cub
Sounds like
Four AI-20 turboprops — a distinctive high-pitched prop drone
One might be overhead right now.
Bogey turns the The Cub from a dot in the sky into a card in your logbook. Coming to iOS and Android.
Get Bogey