Most airlines in Europe rely on modern aircraft and sometimes they boast about how young the fleet is. In Ukraine there is a carrier that uses machines built in the 1960s and 1970s on the line: Motor Sich Airlines.

The carrier was founded in Soviet times as a subsidiary of the Zaporizhia-based Motor Sich Group. He is also active in the production of aircraft engines. This fact plays a decisive role, because most of the engines that Motor Sich Airlines needs in flight operations are manufactured by the parent company itself. As a contract manufacturer from Antonov, you also produce a lot of spare parts yourself and completely legally, because you are the only authorized manufacturer in the world.

From this point of view, it is not surprising that the carrier maintains a fleet that is definitely getting on in years, but has enviable low acquisition costs for engines and spare parts due to intra-group synergies. Currently the fleet consists of two Yakovlev Yak-40s, three Antonov AN-24RVs, one Antonov AN-140-100, one Antonov AN-74TK-200 (Convertible), one Antonov AN-12 (Cargo), three Mil Mi-8MSB (Cargo) and two Mil Mi-2.

The latest aircraft was delivered in 2003

The An-140-100 is the youngest member, because the UR-14005, which also has a special paint finish, was delivered brand new in 2003. For comparison: The An-24 with the registration UR-MSI, which is also used in regular services, was built in 1962. The commercial aircraft - apart from the An-140 - have at least a three-man cockpit. In some machines, however, a navigator and even a radio operator are also on duty.

The corona pandemic has also left its mark on Motor Sich Airlines. In the passenger area, only the An-24RV turboprop aircraft, including the UR-MSI, are currently used. There are currently no international flights, but only within Ukraine. The home base is Zaporozhye Airport, but the most important airport is, in fact, Kyiv Shulyany Airport.

Domestic flights from Odessa, Lviv and Zaporizhia converge here. Even transfers are possible, sometimes with extremely short connection times. Motor Sich uses Terminal D, which is located to the left of international Terminal A, more or less exclusively. This is extremely small, so that it quickly becomes overcrowded when handling three An-24RVs. Should Motor Sich Airlines come up with the idea of ​​flying a Boeing 737 or A320 domestically, Kiev Airport would definitely have to make an extension.

Carrier found niche despite competition

The competition within Ukraine is very diverse, because SkyUp, Windrose and partly also Ukraine International offer almost identical routes from / to Kiev. The difference lies in the details, because with the exception of Motor Sich Airlines, the other airlines use Borispil Airport, which is much cheaper for airlines. This is located far away from the capital. Motor Sich Airlines uses Kiev-Schujany and flies almost to the center of the city. This also means a time advantage for business travelers and politicians, which is why the Motor-Sich flights with An-24 are usually well occupied.

However, the carrier does not allow itself to be paid princely for this “city advantage”, because the domestic prices are between around 25 and 100 euros, depending on the time of booking. The price system does not include luggage, but it can be purchased at the check-in counter. The hand luggage allowed is significantly smaller than the IATA standard size, but there are actually technical reasons for this. It simply does not fit in the overhead lockers of the An-24 and what does not fit is stowed in the hold by the flight attendants and returned when disembarking. Motor Sich has web check-in, by the way, but this is obviously only used sparingly, as most travelers prefer to collect their boarding pass at the counter in the classic way.

Time travel to another era of aviation

Motor Sich Airlines has a downright cult status in the Ukraine, because flying their machines, apart from the An-140, is a journey into a long-forgotten era of aviation. The fleet is very well maintained inside and out, but after 50 years and more in liner service, there are just a few things that seem like a journey through time for younger passengers who have not experienced this era. For example, the An-24 has overhead lockers that are compartments and have no flaps to close. Back then, people put in an umbrella, coat or jacket, or at best a women's handbag or briefcase, but handing in luggage at the counter or directly in front of the aircraft was a matter of course. Motor Sich does not have an An-24 with luggage nets in its fleet, but there were also such "luggage compartments", especially in the Soviet Union.

You will look in vain for personal air nozzles or reading lamps in the An-24, as well as modern LED lighting. Classic “neon tubes” fulfill this purpose and there are no illuminated pictograms that indicate the smoking ban or the obligation to wear seat belts. Back then it was common to have simple neon letters in Russian on the front. This works exactly the same as older advertising. The text is behind colored glass or plastic and behind it is a light source. In this specific case, depending on the design, a simple light bulb or a fluorescent tube, which in this era was still colloquially called a neon tube.

The 48 seats of the An-24 operated by Motor Sich have a feeling that you won't find in modern aircraft. Wide, soft and cozy. In addition, the not exactly subtle smell of an old sofa in the whole cabin. If you look out of the huge windows, which do not have a plastic blackout option, but curtains with a pattern that is strongly reminiscent of the 50s or 60s, fulfill this purpose.

But who would have thought that: The seats actually have a massage function, which cannot be switched on, off or otherwise controlled. Then where does this come from? Well, a turboprop aircraft developed in the 1950s and built in the 1960s (UR-MSI) or 1970s simply still has a lot of vibrations. Anyone who thinks that it is loud in the cabin of a Dash 8-400 or that there are even strong vibrations should fly with an An-24 and then your opinion will change very quickly. Yes, if you book Motor Sich Airlines, you already know when booking that you are flying with An-24 and pretty much everything vibrates and it is loud too.

Motor-Sich-Flotte enjoys international interest

But who would have thought: Every year, thousands of people book tickets with Motor Sich Airlines in order to be able to fly this now mega-rare model just once. The other patterns are also very popular internationally. The income that Motor itself has annually as a result should not be underestimated. But: In direct comparison with sightseeing flights with historical aircraft in Western Europe a real gift. On average, you have to reckon with around 40 to 60 euros per one-way. A 0,5 liter bottle of water and oreo biscuits are free on board.

Motor Sich Airlines is definitely a flying museum, but you notice the flight attendants, pilots, navigators, flight engineers and technicians straight away: You are damn proud to have these "real airplanes" and it doesn't take long for the captain to let go of the remark: This is still real flying and not a computer game like in the Boeing 737 Max and the gaze goes to his young co-pilot, who switched from the B737-NG to the An-24 and the Jak-40. A proud smile follows.

The flight attendants at Motor Sich Airlines are used to taking a lot of photos before boarding and pestering them with many questions about the aircraft and what the job is like on such a machine. A flight attendant who came to civil aviation after completing his military service as a flight attendant and who will retire at the end of this year not only takes it easy, but also feels it is an honor to be able to understand his service on a venerable aircraft. By the way: The Airstair in the rear area cannot be retracted or extended electrically, it is done manually. Much of the work on the An-24 is still real manual work.

Fleet renewal could come, but there is no stress

There is still no date for a possible replacement of the almost historic aircraft. The An-140 could have been a step in the direction of modernization, but so far it has remained a one-off and has been since 2003. After all, this machine has a special paint finish in honor of the company's own handball club.

For example, the UR-MSI is now 59 years old. There are no concrete plans for extermination. Motor Sich Airlines could possibly get some Antonov An-140s as well, because it is hoped that it will become a regional partner of the new state airline. Incidentally, according to current plans, this should be located in Kiev-Schuljany. However, this assumes that the inner-city airport actually implements the necessary upgrade that Wizz Air is demanding for the Abu Dhabi flights.

It is clear that at some point the flying museum will end and Motor Sich Airlines will also switch to modern aircraft. But until then, aviation fans will certainly be able to enjoy the now historical machines from the Soviet era for a few more years. As a reminder: Motor Sich Airlines is in no hurry, because engines and most of the spare parts are purchased from the parent company at cost price and - as mentioned - completely legally, because Motor Sich is the only authorized manufacturer in the world. And the subsidiary Motor Sich Airlines will hopefully remain the last operator of the An-24RV on the line for a long time to come.

The following video shows a compilation of some impressions of the An-24RV. The An-140 in Special Livery can also be seen briefly: