Originally Posted by
golfbananajam
I hope Trevor Clark doesn't mind me posting this
A jet biplane? The PZL M-15 'Belphegor' (noisy demon!) was a large jet-powered biplane, built in (Warsaw Pact) Poland and intended for use in agricultural aviation, which first flew in 1973. Intended to replace the ageing Antonov An-2, many of which still soldier on today!
Not just soldiering on, but built new. The last An-2 came out in 2001, almost 30 years after that machine and from the same PZL factory. To an extent it was progressively updated. the fabric wing skin was replaced by plastic. The majority of An-2 were actually built in Poland, the old Soviet style of separated design bureau (Antonov) and actual manufacturing plant, which would vary over time, applying. It was (is) a great parachuting platform, able to get down to 45 knots for the jump.