The An-2 was developed in the USSR after the Second World War and is used in large numbers for both civilian and military purposes. With its large wing area, the An-2 is designed for low-speed flight and extremely short take-off and landing taxi distances; the landing gear allows take-off and landing on unpaved surfaces.

Although the era of the biplane was long gone, Antonov recognised that the biplane concept offered a number of important advantages, especially for the intended purpose. The higher air resistance and the mutual aerodynamic influence of the individual wings were irrelevant at the planned operational speeds. A small wingspan, however, had advantages when manoeuvring on the ground; shelters and hangars could be smaller. The large wing area generated a lot of lift even at low speeds, which reduced take-off and landing speeds and consequently shortened the necessary take-off and landing distances. This meant that the aircraft could also operate from small airfields, making it the perfect aircraft for short-haul flights to remote settlements in the vast expanses of the Soviet Union.

Numerous examples of the An-2 are still in airworthy condition today, are considered generally safe, perform individual or sightseeing flights, or are used for crop spraying. The An-2 was nicknamed “Anna” or “Aunt Anna”, and its large engine and robustness earned it the nickname “Tractor of the Skies”.