Frag Out! Magazine
Issue link: https://fragout.uberflip.com/i/861022
The military airfield Nizhyn, north-east of Kyiv, which earlier was home to the 199th Guard Independent Long-Range Reconnaissance Aviation regiment (199th Guard ODRAP) used the Tu-22R and Tu-22RM (NATO "Blinder") long-range supersonic aircraft, was chosen as the new base for the Mi-8 fleet, two An-30 and three An-26 transport aircraft transferred from the Air Force. The selection appears logical, since on the one hand, Kiev is within a short range from an aerospace point of view and, on the other hand, the base had accumulated significant experience in reconnaissance flights. Furthermore, the operation of the expensive supersonic Tu-22R had become unprofitable with the abolition of the Cold War and its decommissioning had already been decided. With the reestablishment of the disaster relief aircraft, the staff from Nizhyn could also be given a new perspective. The aircraft were formally handed over on February 22, 1999. Although the 13th was actually a "difficult day" in Soviet aviation, the pilots organized their first training flights in the new role in Nizhyn on 13 August 1999. Fittingly, thirteen flights were completed. From then on, the main task was to monitor and operate in disaster regions. The built-in cameras at the two An-30s serve this purpose excellently. Search missions over the sea could be done very effectively thanks to the glass nose with this type of aircraft. The An-26's serve primarily for the transport of personnel and transporting the Mi-8 helicopters' physicians directly to the injured. The An-26 was later upgraded with two high- quality intensive transport MEDEVAC modules for 2 patients, to ensure the best possible care during flight. On the other hand, fighting forest fires with the Mi-8's is cumbersome, since while it can theoretically use a 5-ton tank for water, only three tons of water can be transported with the old engines. The Ukrainian Ministry of Emergency Situations soon looked for a better solution and found it in four An-32P "Firekiller" aircraft. This special variant is based on the An-32 Cline transport aircraft which was developed for the high mountain regions in India (372 were produced in 1976-2005). Used in fire fighting operations, the P version can take up to eight tons of water in four tanks by two tons water volume each on board and spray it from a height of 40 to 50 meters above the fire at a speed of 240-260 km/h. By this high the An-32 is producing an ideal water film of about 6 cm of water on a place of 1200-2200 square meters. The cockpit is equipped with a target optic that allows the second pilot to see the fire during the whole approach during the water release. Different test did show that the An-32P is more effective comparing to aircraft with one engine as it can carry more liquid. The larger aircraft like Il-76P that can carry more water are limited in the altitude. For them it is impossible to operate in the ideal altitude from around 50 meters over the fire. The Il-76P has to fly at least 100 meter over the ground and the water is arriving on the ground in very small particles. The amphibious Be-200 is able fly similar altitudes, but the pilot can't see the fire always from the cockpit. That's why at the Be-200 are cameras installed under the wings. However they do not allow the same accurate dropping as the An-32P. Another advantage of the An-32P is that the tanks are remove able and the An-32P is easy converted in a normal transport aircraft with a freight load of eight tons cargo or up to 50 people. Furthermore, the dropping of auxiliary goods by parachute is, of course, also possible via the freight ramp as in the case of the An-26. The first transfer of an An-32P to the Ukrainian Ministry of Emergency Situations took place after the new construction of the aircraft in Kyiv in early 2008. The new acquisitions had not yet come to an end. In October 2008, Ukraine and Eurocopter signed a contract for the purchase of two EC-145 helicopters with a complete intensive care package The specially developed An-32P is used for fire-fighting purposes and can drop up to eight tons water during at once. (Alexander Golz) www.fragoutmag.com