ANTONOV An-71 MADCAP - SOVIET AWACS AIRCRAFT

Description

The Antonov An-71 (NATO reporting name: Madcap) was a Soviet AWACS aircraft intended for use with VVS FA (Fighter Bomber) forces of the Soviet Air Force. Its design was based on An-72, with a completely redesigned rear fuselage supporting the rotodome of the radar atop the broad chord forward swept fin. The cargo hold held the electronic equipment and six operators stations. Development never progressed past the prototype stage, the first of which flew on 12 July 1985. The program was canceled, with the fall of the Soviet Union when issues with the RADAR [Vega-M Kvant] could not be resolved. In 2010, one example was transferred to Ukraine State Aviation Museum for restoration and display. (Scale : 1/144e)