17 Killed in Cuba Plane Crash

AP | 3/15/02

[kattracks]

RELATED TOPICS apo cuba plane crash

HAVANA, Mar 14, 2002 (AP Online via COMTEX) -- A plane crashed in central Cuba Thursday afternoon, killing 17 people including 13 of them foreigners, authorities said.

The plane, described as an AN-2 Aerotaxi, went down around 4:30 p.m. near Santa Clara, the capital of Villa Clara province about 65 miles east of here.

The cause of the crash was not immediately known.

Killed were six Canadians, five Britons, four Cubans and two Germans, an official from the International Press Center said Thursday night.

No other details were immediately available.

Copyright 2002 Associated Press, All rights reserved

[Tennessee_Bob]

Cuban AN-2 Colt Aerotaxi

If your Otter's too old, your Beaver's too small or your Norseman can't get it up any more, maybe what you need is a Kolkhoznik.

No, I'm not talking about adult toys but the Antonov An-2, the world's biggest biplane. Far cheaper than a de Havilland Otter, way bigger than a DH Beaver and offering lots more utility than a Noorduyn Norseman, the An-2, long ago nicknamed the Kolkhoznik ("Collective Farmer"), is a 1,000-horsepower, radial-engine, 12-passenger monstrosity that is appearing in increasing numbers on U.S. ramps and runways; there are currently 34 in the U.S., seven of which are for sale at prices ranging from $37,500 to $69,000. Eastern-bloc entrepreneurs are hustling to satisfy our urge to consume anything with wings that offers even a hint of communist-bloc warbird status.

An-2s were used by the Soviet army to carry paratroops-indeed the airplane itself flies like a parachute-and though their code name "Colt" certainly is laughable for an airplane that is the opposite of frisky, they are a legitimate ex-military type.

[USNBandit]

The North Koreans are still flying these things as well.

[Tennessee_Bob]

I've always liked the AN-72 Coaler...they took an idea of ours and put it to work.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Bump!

[STD]

Well looks like the sex-tourists got the ultimate bang.

Killed were six Canadians, five Britons, four Cubans and two Germans, an official from the International Press Center

Imagine traveling across the world for some of that fine young Cuban cigars. Yup that's why I went Honey!