An air tanker in Libya, based on an An-32P, is restored to service.
This photo and the information below is from the AeroHisto web site, indicating that a Libyan twin-engine turboprop air tanker, an AN-32P, was put back in service after being stored for a number of years.
Photos appeared on Libyan social media confirmed that a new Antonov An-32P was overhauled by technician and engineer at Misrata airbase. This “Cline” (serial ‘3507’, code ‘5A-DRE’) was built in 2005 and delivered to the Libyan Air Force on 1st September of the same year. it was previously used as firekiller and was seen during LAVEX airshow in october 2007. Since this period, it was stored at Mitiga airbase near Tripoli. This aircraft is the second An-32P in service with the ex-LDAF (Libya Dawn Air Force). The first one was seen operated on 28th August 2016 during the evacuation of wounded fighters in the battle of Sirte.
This is an air tanker that we were not familiar with until today. The Antonov AN-32P Firekiller air tanker received its type certificate in 1995. It is a variant of the AN-32 which was first produced in 1976. According to Antonov, a state-owned company in Ukraine, it can carry 8 tons which translates to about 2,000 gallons.
Antonov An-32P Firekiller, emergency jettison training. Photo by Oleg Belyakov.
Below is an excerpt from the Antonov website:
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“This aircraft was developed on the basis of the AN-32 commercially produced transport and it is capable to perform the following missions for the forests conservation and protection: extinguishing the forest fires with the special fire liquid; airdropping the smoke jumpers, their equipment, special aids, equipment and cargoes to the area of forest fire.
The design performance of the aircraft have been confirmed during more than 10 years of operation. After discharging 8 tons of fire extinguishing liquid from two groups of tanks of the aircraft, from the altitude of 40-50 m at a speed of 240 to 260 km/h, a water spot of 120-160 m long and 10-35 m wide with concentration of the liquid exceeding 1 liter per sq. m is formed on the ground. Discharging the fire agent may be done simultaneously (in a single discharge) or serially from two tanks of one board, than of the other board, with an automatic delay or with manual control.
Two airplanes were used to extinguish the high-elevated forest fire in the vicinity of Yalta (Ukraine). The experience of their application (about 100 flights over mountain terrains) showed a high efficiency of these aircraft.
Three aircraft AN-32P were sent to Portugal for the experimental operation. A high intensive work (each airplane used to perform up to 10 or even 12 flights daily) resulted in a total of 545 fire fighting flights. The performance and fire fighting effectiveness of the aircraft were highly appreciated by the specialists who participated in the test operation.
In absence of fires, the aircraft can be converted (within the airfield conditions) into a standard cargo variant for airlift.”
