Developed in OKB im. O. K. Antonova together with OKB im. Beriev. An-30 is a deep modification of the An-24 passenger aircraft and is designed for aerial photography and airborne geophysical work. It is also used in military aviation for aerial reconnaissance.
The An-30 was equipped with a complex of the latest navigation equipment, including a Doppler drift angle and ground speed meter DISS-FK, an ARP-2 automatic turnaround complete with an AP-28L1F autopilot, designed to ensure safe flight both day and night. A specialized set of automatic and semi-automatic equipment for aerial photography was installed by order of the MGA or the Air Force. The An-30A was equipped with the AFA41/7.5 wide-angle aerial camera, the AFA-54/40 telephoto camera for planned shooting, and the AFA 54/50 for perspective shooting from both sides of the aircraft. The An-30B was equipped with an AFA-54/50 camera, a TAU-M gyro-stabilizing unit above the front photo hatch, which ensures, with an accuracy of 15 arc minutes, the vertical position of the axis of the photo lens, regardless of aircraft maneuvers, as well as the Lotos radio rangefinder system, radio altimeter and electrometeorograph.
Application
An-30B of the Ukrainian Air Force
Aircraft were actively used for aerial photography of the area in the preparation and updating of geographical maps, and also worked on requests, in the interests of various departments. Currently, An-30B aircraft are used by Russia, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Kazakhstan and other countries for observation flights under the international Open Skies Treaty. Also, An-30s with dismantled aerial photography equipment are used as transport or, after installing additional windows, heat and sound insulation and vibration-absorbing coating on the fuselage, as well as passenger seats, air conditioning and lighting systems in the cabin, as An-30A-100 passenger aircraft for 20 places.
