An-2 - the first-born was created in 1946 OKB. Antonov, the only aircraft in the world, the production of which lasted more than 50 years. The first flight of the prototype An-2 was held August 31, 1947 (the pilot NP Volodin). The aircraft entered service in August 1948. Mass production in the USSR was completed in 1965 after the construction of more than 5,000 aircraft. Then it was continued in Poland and China. In Poland, the company's factory "PZL Mielec" from 1960 to license pro oduced about 12,000 aircraft. From 1957 to the early 1970s, China has also been built under license from 15,000 aircraft under the designation "Harbin» Y-5. In 2003, the operation was about 2,000 aircraft in GA and about 1,000 aircraft in the Air Force worldwide