Why does the An-32 have its engines mounted high?

Short answer

To avoid foreign object damage when operating from rough, unprepared runways: the An-32 differs from its predecessor by having its engines raised 1.5 m above the wing. That high nacelle placement also allowed larger-diameter propellers, driven by Ivchenko AI-20 turboprops. The An-32 is essentially a re-engined An-26.

Published: November 1, 2026 · Updated: November 1, 2026 · Edited by Above Ten Thousand · Editorial policy

Why does the An-32 have its engines mounted high?

Model, Static, Curtiss T-32 Condor, American Airlines

Engines Above the Wing

The An-32 differs from its predecessor in having its engines raised 1.5 m above the wing, in order to avoid foreign object damage on rough, unprepared runways. The high nacelle placement also allowed larger-diameter propellers. The propellers are four-bladed and constant-speed.

Almost Double the Power

Those propellers are driven by Ivchenko AI-20 turboprops, which deliver almost twice the power of the An-26's AI-24s. The aircraft's configuration includes two ZMKB Progress AI-20DM engines, each rated at 3,812 kW (5,112 hp).

A Re-engined An-26 for Harsh Conditions

The An-32 is essentially a re-engined An-26, designed to withstand adverse weather conditions better than the standard An-26. As a variant of the An-24, it received upgraded equipment and the more powerful Ivchenko AI-20 engines, and is intended to fly in adverse weather. It first flew in July 1976 and was shown at the 1977 Paris Air Show.