Flying The World's Biggest Turboprop - Antonov An-22

The world's biggest turboprop. And it doesn't weigh more than any Antonov Airline. Wow! I had never thought of sitting on the captain's seat. Especially in Antonov 22. That hole is right there, that's what I'm saying. Brandon, the runway is very small. Our aircraft number is 4070. Yes, we can load ships and helicopters. This airplane goes to Africa and it goes to the airport without a runway. Finally, the bus is coming. Let's see if this bus can go straight to the fuselage. Antonov 22, also known as Antaeus. Antaeus is the biggest and the most powerful. 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. Hello, my name is Captain Vladimir Mohsin. Today we are going to fly from Leipzig to Bremen on Antonov 22. Our flight time is 45 minutes and the flight level is 200. Have a nice flight. Union, this is Papa requesting departure. We are about to land in Bremen in 5 minutes. The weather is also very nice. Come on. And you can see that the plane has just landed. The door opened in 2 minutes and people started working. Every minute is important in the charter business. This is really quite impressive. My name is Eugene and today we are loading a luxury bus. Our strong team of 11 people, including 11 technicians, have made an external ramp in 10 minutes. So, for today, this is a very easy task. When the bus comes here, it can easily go in our aircraft. Then we close the door and go back to Leipzig. We have reached Bremen to pick up 20 tonnes of cargo. Many planes can land and take off from this runway. This is only 2000 metres. But only this plane can take 20 tonnes of cargo from this runway. And I have seen many unbelievable scenes. This airplane goes to Africa. There, the airplane is without a runway. Without a runway. Without a control system, in Mali, the runway. Yes, in Mali. In the village. The Soviet system is such that you have a radio controller, you have an engineer, everyone does their job. So, as a pilot, I think you have very few things. So, is this easy for you or is this very difficult for you? This is not difficult, but this is a very old aircraft. It is a 47-year-old aircraft and you have to control it manually. Almost throughout the flight. That is why people say that the sky likes brave and strong people. And strong people eat a lot. The sky likes strong people and strong people like to eat a lot. You have the muscles to fight. I am 22 years old. You really need all your muscles. Oh, yes. Usually, when the plane arrives, it is ready to load the cargo. And today is a bit strange. Our special shipment has not arrived, while the plane has arrived early. This is the opposite. While we are waiting for the cargo, let's go inside and take a quick look inside the aircraft. So, as you can see, the cargo compartment is 4 meters high and 4 meters wide. This gives us the facility to load unique cargoes. We have an internal crane system that can carry up to 10 tons of cargo and cargo containers. Some cargoes can easily go inside. We can load vehicles. We can load battle vehicles, armored vehicles. We can load ships, helicopters. So, we can load any type of cargo, especially. Apart from this, we have some extra equipment. This is the second part of our ramp system. And as you can see, there are some extra tires, so that we can easily change tires and other equipment during the flight, if needed. What is this unbelievable equipment here? It looks amazing. Yes, these are lashing locks. Once it enters the cargo, we lock it and secure it. Yes, absolutely right. Which has become very dangerous by changing the center of gravity. Yes, yes. This is why I like Antonov. You don't need a lot of ground support. Everything can be self-sufficient. Then the aircraft arrives, you install the ramp, use the crane to load the cargo and fly. I never thought I would get a chance to sit on the captain's seat of Antonov-22. This is truly an unbelievable cockpit. I have to say that this is truly huge. And you know, the yoke of Antonov is very heavy. You need a lot of strength. I am using the brakes and rudder to the fullest. I am using all the engine power. As if I am flying. Have you seen the navigator's seat on the Antonov-22 rover? Let's go. Oh, this is it. A secret passage. A navigator is sitting here. Very nice. This is Vasili, our navigator for today. With this cabin. So, Captain and crew, I would like to present this magnificent painting to you. This was painted by a boy from Dubai. His name is Noah. When I went to his house to meet him, he gave me this painting. An M-22. I was shocked. He knew about this aeroplane and he made an M-22. You can even see the nose and registration number. Which is 09307. Will you sign this painting? I will tell this to Noah and also tell him that I met you guys on the team. This is for me and him. And I hope this will be a great memory for you as well. Noah, we are here. We are here. Noah, we are inside here. As if a dream has come true. Our aircraft is 47 years old. And we have only 100 hours left. 100 hours are left. And I don't know what will happen to this aircraft next year. Maybe a museum or we can continue it. You can never know what will happen in aviation. It's better to fly now. So, you guys work in a team. How long have you known each other? We have been working together for 25 years. Do you know each other for 25 years? Yes, 25 years. When you were flying on Antonov? Not just Antonov-22. Antonov-1-4, Antonov-2-5. And the best aircraft is Antonov-701. Finally, after a long wait, the bus is coming. And this is our shift for today. I think the height of the airplane clearance is 4 meters by 4 meters. So, let's see if the bus can go straight into the fuselage or not. Stop. The technical crew is changing some parts from the back to bring the bus inside. Because when they tried to bring it inside, it couldn't come easily due to the angle. As you can see. I think this is an exhaust system. And this is the reason why I like operational jobs. You have to find a solution in the day. You can't delay it. Delay will prove expensive. So, let's see if they remove something from the exhaust part of the bus. They remove the plate. Let's see if the bus can go straight into the fuselage of the N-22. This is very cool. The bus came inside the Antonov as if it was swallowed by the plane. And now people are undoing the ram and packing the luggage. The only way to hang the bus is to put a chain under the axle of the bus. That's right. So, there's a bug. Yes. So, the bus can't move while flying. Yes. Our departure is expected in 10 minutes. Now, they are starting. Because the runway of Bremen is very small. After refueling, we are going to Baku. Antonov 3518, line up at runway 06. Line up 093518. The engine is back? The engine is back. Hold on, hold on. Everything is ok. When should we disconnect? Disconnect. An emergency signal? They are waiting for us. PT-120, this is Pyro. No, I'm not. The map is completed, takeoff is permitted, take off. The modes are on. Mode, takeoff, parameters are normal. The lights are big. The time is perfect. Speed 150, control. 170. 190. 210. 220, turn. Continue take-off. Lift off. 240, take-off. Gear down. Speed 210. Gear down. Speed 70, safety. Gear down. 500 meters, 270. Antonov 3518, Huranister, descend to 110. He has changed himself to 1103518. Antonov 3518, have you confirmed the localizer? Now we are strengthening the approach for runway 26R. 130 miles. QNH 3518, reduce flight level to 50. 10 degrees, 8 knots, 083. Permission to land. To land, 8R3518. Decision. Landing. 38. 40. 50 meters. 40, 35 meters, 30, 25, 20 meters, 15, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, Half a meter, touch speed, 230, 210. 190. We will meet at the center. 100 meters, safety.