Antonov An-12BK

01 Dec 2025 · © Unknown

This aircraft is a classic workhorse, mainly serving on oversized or specialist cargo routes unsuitable for modern jets. Spotting an An-12 in the wild is increasingly rare, especially in Western Europe.

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Comments (2)

Maximtheplanespotter · 03 Dec 2025

Thx

Rodger Deemer · 01 Dec 2025

CAVOK colors so nice! 👍 Nice picture.

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Aircraft

An-12BK AN-12

CAVOK Airlines (orange/black cargo livery)

UR-CEZ

Registration

Airline

CAVOK Airlines

Manufacturer

Antonov

Insights

Aviation History

The Antonov An-12 is a Soviet-era, four-engined turboprop transport aircraft that served as the standard medium-range cargo and military transport for over 40 years. It is often referred to as the Soviet equivalent of the Lockheed C-130 Hercules.

Fleet Rarity

Fewer than 100 Antonov An-12s are still active globally, mainly with cargo operators and some military fleets.

Record Flights

Known for challenging flights to remote, unprepared airfields and for humanitarian/relief missions worldwide. Some An-12s have operated in polar conditions and hazardous environments.

Safety & Events

Numerous incidents over a long career, especially involving cargo charters in Africa and Asia. Praised for its ruggedness but criticized for older avionics and safety in some operators’ fleets.

Future Outlook

Many are being retired or scrapped due to noise regulations and airframe age, but some continue to fly where regulations allow. Some preserved in museums.

Specifications

4 × Ivchenko AI-20M turboprop

Engine

38.00 meters

Wingspan

33.10 meters

Length

5,600 kilometers

Range

670 kilometers per hour

Speed

20,000 kilograms (cargo)

Capacity

61,000 kilograms

MTOW

10.53 meters

Height

Each engine rated at 4,250 shp (3,170 kW)

Thrust

Typically Stage 2 or 3, >85 dB (varies by mod/operation)

Noise

The AN-12 may not meet modern Western noise regulations unless modified. Precise sub-variant is confirmed by reg (UR-CEZ is an An-12BK).