Description

The Antonov AN-30 with factory number 0505 first flew from the Kyiv Aviation Plant “Aviant” in 1974.

Originally delivered to Aeroflot Soviet Airlines, West – Siberian division of Civil Aviation under the registration USSR-30026.

For 7 years this Antonov flew around Siberia delivering passengers and cargo to some of the most remote regions of the world. In 1981 the aircraft was transferred to the Ukrainian Civil Aviation Division based in Zhulyany Airport in Kyiv (modern day Sikorsky Airport), continuing to operate for Aeroflot.

In 1991 after the fall of the Soviet Union, the newly formed base of Air Ukraine (successor of the Ukrainian Division of Aeroflot) began operating the Antonov as UR-30026 from Zhulyany. Between 2001 and 2006, ‘0505’ flew for Ukraine National Airlines, beneficiary of Air Ukraine.

With the final suspension of the air worthiness certificate granted on 13th of August 2008, the aircraft remained at the Aircraft Repair Plant until 2021, having no luck of finding a new owner.

In April of 2021, after a brief visit to the Aviation Repair Plant 410, Fuselage Creations team inspected the aircraft for their next project, and with a bit of good luck, they were able to find a new home for this unique aircraft. The Odessa Aviation Museum had previously bought this Antonov, making a deal to give up certain parts of it to preserve them as part of aircraft memorabilia. All the missing parts were added to the aircraft during the restoration.