ANTONOV DESIGN BUREAU AN-22A IN MACEDONIA
One of the most interesting aircraft ever seen at Alexander the Great International Airport in Skopje, in the Republic of Macedonia, is this mighty Ukrainian An-22A Antheus, UR-09307 (c/n 043481244), the only one owned and operated by Kiev-based Antonov Airlines cargo airline that being owned by the Antonov Design Bureau operates international charter services in the outsize cargo market since 1989. The aircraft visited Macedonia in order to pick up and transport to Ukraine two Macedonian Air Force Mi-24V Hind-E helicopters that were scheduled for general overhaul at Konotop-based Aircraft Repair Plant "Aviakon". Wearing NATO reporting name Cock, the world's largest turboprop-powered airplane arrived Macedonia on February 22nd and left the country in the early morning of the following day. Macedonian aircraft that were flown to Ukraine are serials 202 (c/n 3532421420112) and 207 (c/n 3532421420091) of the Combat Helicopter Squadron. Apart from the usual general overhaul and repainting, these aircraft will be the first Macedonian Air Force helicopters to get their engines modified to TV3-117VMA standard. However, no further modernization is planned for 202 and 207 and they will remain in service as a standard Soviet-era Hinds.
COPYRIGHT IGOR BOZINOVSKI
PHOTOS: Antonov Airlines (Antonov Design Bureau) An-22A Antheus, UR-09307 (c/n 043481244), seen at Alexander the Great International Airport in Skopje, in the Republic of Macedonia shortly before departing for Ukraine with two Macedonian Mi-24Vs on board. The giant dimensions of this four-engine aircraft are easily recognizable when compared to accompanying ground-support personnel (PHOTO IGOR BOZINOVSKI)
Antonov An-22A UR-09307 in Macedonia photo 1 (photo Igor Bozinovski)
Antonov An-22A UR-09307 in Macedonia photo 2 (photo Igor Bozinovski)
