Editing Antonov An-3 (section)

== Upgrading ==

The upgrading consisted of replacement of the [[piston engine]] with a {{cvt|1375|shp|kW|order=flip}} TVD-20 turboprop engine, featuring a three-blade reversible pitch (type AV-17) propeller and a R-17 [[speed governor]]. The flight compartment was rearranged; a heating and ventilation system was installed as well as advanced electric and flight and navigation equipment; centralized warning system; a new fire extinguishing system; and an improvement of the external wide-spreading dispensing equipment for agricultural needs. The upgrades allowed the aircraft to be more reliable and to increase the cargo lifting capacity of the aircraft by 20%, as well as ensuring more comfortable conditions for the crew, including the lowering of the noise and vibration inside the cockpit. The [[rate of climb]] was increased by 1.9 times, and the take-off and landing performance of the aircraft was increased. The upgrading allowed the use of kerosene and lubricants commonly used for other aircraft instead of gasoline.<ref name="An-3_2002"/> The take-off weight and payload was also increased and the upgrade allowed the landing performance to use ground strips {{convert|500|m|ft}} long.<ref name="An-3"/> The upgrading was arranged at both the [[Production Corporation Polyot|"Polyot" Production Association]] in Omsk, Russian Federation, and at [[Antonov ASTC]], Kyiv, Ukraine.<ref name="An-3news"/>

The first example flew as early as May 13, 1980, but because of a lack of official interest in the project, work proceeded very slowly. Flight testing was not complete until [[1991 in aviation|1991]]. It is one of the few [[gas turbine|turbine]]-powered [[biplane]] designs to date. The An-3T received its Type Certificate on 31 August 2000. Supplements to the Type Certificate included version with ski landing gear and an agricultural version.<ref name="An-3_2002"/>