The charasteristic Antonow biplane is probably the most successful soviet non-military aircraft, although the term "non-military" needs to be used carefully as every aircraft can be used for military purposes e.g. by para-troopers like with the An-2. The first plane of the series designed by the ukrainian Oleg Antonow first flew in 1947. It was a mid-size air freighter intended for small-distance passenger flights and parachutists. The body is a metal frame covered with metal and canvas, the engine is derived from a pre-WW2 american radial engine redesigned for the Lisunow Li-2, the soviet license version of the Douglas Dc-3.

Many different models were made, some of the most interesting had machine guns for defense like the "Flying Fortress" bombers, or were turbine-driven. There was even an experimental model with a jet engine! The An-2 was built in different parts of the world. The ones used in Hungary were manufactured in Poland. Their first use here was in the army in the 1960's as a para-jumper plane. After that the "civilian" aviation (not really civilian since most of the hungarian aviation was done by MHS (later MHSz), a paramilitary sport "alliance") also discovered the plane's superb qualities, namely the rigid, undemanding construction that enabled massive usage without much maintenance, and the short take-off and landing distance. Besides for sport activities and transportation it was also used as an agricultural aircraft (vaporizing fertilizer over the fields, etc) and for cartography.

As for flying, the "Ancsa" (Annie - this is whet she's called in Hungary) is a unique experience: it squeeks, grunges, makes noises like it could fall apart any minute, but it won't - its pilots say that it's the best aircraft in the world! Agricultural pilots sometimes do unimaginable things with this plane! Although the type is quite old there are many An-2's in Hungary and some of them are in fact younger than most Cessna's that were brought into the country used! I hope they will be around for a while!

HA-ABC, seen at Szolnok-Szandaszőlős (LHSS). This plane was made in 1989, so it's quite new actually!

HA-ABN at Szentkirályszabadja doing some pleasure rounds at an air show.

The same plane at Dáka.

HA-ABP at  Esztergom airport.

HA-ANK at Budaörs (LHBS)  with an interesting color scheme featuring the national tricolor.

HA-ANP with a military-like paintwork.

The same plane at a Bicske air show.

HA-ANR at Budaörs.

HA-ANT, a young (1988) An-2 at an airshow at Debrecen airport (LHDC).

HA-DAC in a beautiful livery at Farkashegy (LHFH). This plane once belonged to the Danubian Aircraft Company.
The cockpit of this plane

HA-MAH (made in 1978) in Debrecen.

HA-MAR at Szeged airport, with RF-FLA and HA-ANS in the background.

HA-MAX an agricultural aicraft, photographed at Debrecen.

HA-MBN at Budaörs (LHBS).

HA-MDB.

The radial engine of HA-MDB.

HA-MDM.

HA-MDP.

HA-MHN.

HA-MHT.

HA-MHV.

HA-MKB.

HA-MKC.

HA-MKI: the parajumper plane of the Esztergom Aero Club at their airport (LHEM).

HA-YHB at Budaörs.

HA-YHC also known as the "Air Church". This plane belongs to a catholic association, they do airborne weddings with it.

HA-YHD at Mátyásföld, the place where Budapest's first international airport stood (until 1937) - now it's just a big emty field in the middle of a residential area!

This is the same plane with a new paintwork.

HA-YHF belongs to the aero club of the hungarian airlines MALÉV.

An unidentified "Ancsa" - I forget to write down its registration :-)

Dito...