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Antonov An-148

2009 MODERN AIRCRAFT

History of Antonov An-148

The Antonov Group of Ukraine has a long history, especially in the large aircraft sector, and it has built some of the largest freighters in aviation history. The An-148 is a smaller addition to the company's product line and is primarily used as a regional jet airliner (although there are several variants that expand the type's usefulness). An-148s are built in Ukraine and Russia under the Antonov and Voronezh aircraft brands, of which about 32 have been completed to date (2014) - about 56 have been ordered. Current operators include Aeroflot and Ukraine International Airlines, as well as a growing number of other airlines around the world. The prototype flew for the first time on December 17, 2004, and the product was officially launched on June 2, 2009.

Aircraft comparable to the An-148 include the Canadian Bombardier CRJ700, the COMAC ARJ21 under development and the upcoming Russian Sukhoi Superjet 100.

The An-148 has a unique appearance compared to jet aircraft, especially the choice of a high swept wing layout. This allows sizable turbofan engines (one per wing) to be placed under each wing and kept ahead of the leading edge when using low-profile landing gear.

The cockpit sits behind a pointed short nose cone, giving a clear view of the surrounding airspace from the cockpit. As you might expect, the fuselage is roughly tubular, tapering off at the tail where it connects to the T-tail. Rectangular doors on the sides of the fuselage make it easy for passengers to get on and off, and the sides of the fuselage (with an integrated staircase) are dotted with picture windows.

The landing gear is fully retractable and consists of two twin-wheel main landing gear legs and a twin-wheel front leg, the latter located below the cockpit floor. The An-148 promotes low ground clearance at rest, with the engine nacelles well-served by the high-mounted wings.

The cockpit features a five-color display and two controls, mostly using a digital approach. Propulsion is provided by two Progress D-436 turbofan engines producing 15,060 pounds of thrust. According to published figures, cruising speeds reach around 500 mph, depending on the variant.

A typical operator consists of two people, with first- or two-class passenger arrangements allowing 68 to 99 people (or cargo in place of them) to be carried.

The base model An-148, codenamed An-148-100A, can accommodate approximately 70 to 80 people in a first-class single-aisle seating arrangement. The two-class interior layout accommodates 68 passengers.

The An-148-100Bc is a long-range model that increases the operating range to 2,200 miles (up from the 1,300 miles shown by the base An-148-100A). The An-148-100E is another long-range variant with an increased maximum takeoff weight that can reach 2,700 miles.

The IrAn-148 is a passenger aircraft version for the Iranian market, assembled locally with kits provided by Antonov of the HESA Group.

In addition to the An-148-100 series is the An-158, which has a longer fuselage and a larger interior volume, so it can accommodate more passenger seats - up to 99 in a single-class layout. The An-168 is a commercial passenger transporter with variable seating depending on configuration, while the An-178 is a dedicated cargo transporter.

Antonov An-148 is currently serving several civilian markets in Ukraine, Russia and the European Union, other potential operators are under negotiation.

March 2011 - On March 5, 2011, an An-148 ruptured mid-flight during aircraft testing, killing six crew members.

February 2018 - An Antonov An-148 operating under the name Saratov Airlines (flight 703) disappeared shortly after takeoff on February 11, 2018. All 71 people on board were killed.