In late 2023, unofficial sources reported that two retired An-32B Cline transport aircraft from the Croatian Air Force (CroAF) had been formally transferred to Ukraine, based on a decision made by Zagreb to donate the airlifters to the war-torn country, writes Vladimir Trendafilovski
Ukraine subsequently took on the responsibility of restoring the aircraft to operational status in situ. While the reports could not be verified at that point, the two ex-CroAF An-32Bs were briefly seen on the main military apron at Zagreb Franjo Tuđman International Airport (known locally as Pleso) in mid-December, presumably for their official inspection and handover, before being returned to the wooded area in the military part of the airport, where they were being stored.
The CroAF acquired the two second-hand An-32Bs from civilian operators in 1995. Having initially operated the aircraft with civil registrations, the two Clines later received CroAF serials (707 and 727), with the two transports being built in 1993 and 1991, respectively. The An-32s were first overhauled by Plant 410 Civil Aviation at Kyiv-Zhuliany International Airport in Ukraine, where both received a new…
