After nearly six decades of loyal service, an Antonov An-12 has been retired. The aircraft was warmly welcomed in Slovakia.
Ukrainian Cavok Airlines retired the aircraft, registration UR-CNN, last month. The plane was delivered to Aeroflot on July 10, 1967, and began its career registered as CCCP-11032. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the aircraft flew for various airlines, including Baikal Airlines. In 2014, the Antonov was brought into service with Cavok Airlines, operating freight flights to the Caribbean, Africa, and within Europe until the end of March. However, on March 28, it made its final flight from Timișoara (Romania) to Piešťany (Slovakia). In recent years, the aircraft also made occasional visits to Eindhoven Airport for defense charter flights.
The UR-CNN was warmly welcomed at the airport in Slovakia. The aircraft manufacturer Antonov was also present and captured the final landing on video. After several flybys, the aircraft, along with its crew, was greeted with a traditional water salute. Cavok Airlines still has six Antonov An-12s in active service. The “youngest” aircraft in the fleet is now 53 years old. Interestingly, there is still one An-12 older than the recently retired UR-CNN: the UR-CEZ. At 59 years old, this aircraft is the oldest operational model in the fleet.