In 1962 the Antonov Design bureau was given the assignment to design and construct an aircraft that was capable of flying heavy loads over long ranges and be able to operate to and from unprepared airfields. The Soviet Union has always faced the problem of transporting freight across its territory as it mostly involved long distances and operation into airfields that were unsuitable for aircraft operational at that time. The answer to this demand came on February 27 1965 as the first Antonov An-22 Antei prototype conducted its maiden flight. Four months after its first flight, the aircraft was presented to the public at the Paris Air Salon.
At the time the An-22 was presented, it was the largest aircraft in the world and still is the largest turboprop aircraft ever build. Rapidly after its presentation in Paris it was suggested that in addition to being solely available as bulk cargo carrier it could be made available as passenger aircraft with an upper and lower deck cabin so a 700+ seating capability could be achieved. Two years later at the Air Salon of 1967 it was announced that such proposals had been abandoned.
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