An-148 is a Ukrainian jet passenger aircraft developed at ASTC. Antonov at the beginning of the 2000s. This is a narrow-body short-haul airliner designed to carry 80 passengers over a range of 4,400 km. The first flight of the An-148 took place on December 17, 2004.
The An-148 aircraft became the founder of a whole family of passenger and cargo vehicles. Its serial production was established at the facilities of the ASTC named after. Antonov and at the Voronezh Aviation Plant (VASO). Operation of this beautiful aircraft began in 2009, and as of November 2022, 44 aircraft have been produced. In 2012, the cost of one An-148 was $30 million.
A further development of the An-148 passenger aircraft is the An-158, with an extended fuselage and a capacity of 99 people. It made its first flight in April 2010. An-168 with a VIP cabin is at the development stage. The An-178, a transport aircraft based on the 148, is currently undergoing testing.
In 2015, the An-148 was chosen as Air Force One for Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko. He made his first visit on this plane earlier that year to Saudi Arabia.
In general, at ASTC named after. Antonov believe that the total world demand for narrow-body short-haul passenger airliners such as An-148 and An-158 by the end of 2026 will be 500 aircraft. The main markets for these machines should be the CIS countries, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Africa and Latin America.
An important feature of the An-148 - as, indeed, of many other Antonov aircraft - is its ability to land and take off from unequipped runways (runways), which can be called an undoubted advantage of this aircraft. Before moving on to the technical description of this wonderful machine and its flight characteristics, I would like to say a few words about the history of its creation.
History of creation
The development of a new passenger aircraft, which would replace the An-72 and An-74, began in the early 90s of the 20th century. We entrusted the development of the design of the new airliner to Pyotr Balabaev from the Design Bureau named after. Antonov. At the initial stages of design, the An-74 was not suitable for carrying passengers and was conceived as a transport vehicle in general. Even after moving the engines under the wing to the pylon, the airliner could not compete with modern regional aircraft of similar passenger capacity.
Therefore, it was decided to create a new An-74-68 passenger aircraft with an extended fuselage, a new wing and new engines with a replaced reverse design. The project, called An-148, began in 2001. It is based on the concept of the An-74TK-300 aircraft. It is worth noting that the An-148 is not a modification of the An-74, but a completely new passenger aircraft. A new creation of the design bureau named after. Antonov received, unlike the An-74, a larger fuselage length and diameter, engines with a digital electronic control system (D-436). During the development of the airliner, components and parts were ordered, manufactured at 214 companies in 15 countries: Russia, USA, Ukraine, France, etc.
The first test flights of the An-148 began on December 17, 2004
Engine[ | ]
Cut-up D-36 engine, on the basis of which the D-436 was created, Samara University
The aircraft is equipped with two D-436-148 bypass turbojet engines developed by ZMKB Progress, produced by Motor Sich OJSC jointly with the Federal State Unitary Enterprise NPC Gas Turbine Engineering Salyut. Each engine is equipped with a 30 kVA GP21 alternating current drive-generator and an aircraft hydraulic system pump.
ANTK named after O.K. Antonov is additionally studying options for installing General Electric CF34, Rolls-Royce BR700 and SaM146 engines on the aircraft[24].
An AI-450-MS with a French-made 30030-140 alternating current generator with a power of 40 kVA is used as an auxiliary power unit (similar ones are installed on the TV3-117VMA-SBM1 main engines of the An-140 aircraft).
Features of the An-148 airliner
Nowadays, the development of twin-engine jet passenger aircraft An-148 is underway in a joint project of enterprises of Ukraine and Russia with a passenger capacity of 80 people.
The basic model for its production was the regional passenger aircraft An-148-100 with a capacity of 70 to 80 people and a seat pitch of 864 - 762 mm. To increase the profitability of passenger transportation, as well as to reduce operating costs, airlines use the An-148 at distances of 2200–5100 km. It can reach speeds of up to 800-870 km per hour. According to marketers, such indicators are now in great demand among airlines.
The An-148 airliner is equipped with two engines, which are placed under the wing on pylons and are marked D-436-148. Thanks to this placement, the likelihood of penetration of foreign objects into them is reduced and the stability of the wing is enhanced. Even at airfields poorly equipped with navigation, it is possible to land the aircraft comfortably, thanks to the fact that the An-148 has a modern on-board system for recording the aircraft’s condition.
Radar and flight navigation equipment, the use of a fly-by-wire control system, and multifunctional display of all aircraft flight parameters allow the An-148 to be operated even in conditions of limited visibility, while maintaining confidence and comfort for the crew.
Comfort for passengers is ensured by the rational layout and composition of service spaces, deep ergonomic optimization of the individual and general space of the cabin, the presence of modern seats, pleasant little details in the interior details, as well as an optimal noise reduction system for the passenger cabin.
The rational placement of passenger seats according to the 2 + 3 scheme and the length of the cabin allow the passenger capacity to vary from 55 to 80 people, without compromising the personal space of passengers. Inside the aircraft, components in the Hi-Tech style of equipment, not only domestic, but also foreign, are used, thanks to which high economic efficiency, technical and operational excellence are ensured.
The modification of the An-148-100 in technical maintenance fully meets international standards (MSG-3, ICAO). According to statistics, this aircraft has an availability rate of over 99.4% with 300 flight hours per month with minimal maintenance costs.
The requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organization regarding local noise and aircraft engine emissions are fully implemented in the new An-148-100.
In the development of the new airliner, 3D modeling methods were used using CALS technologies and the ISO 9000/9001-2000 quality control system. All this made it possible to improve the quality of aircraft documentation and design solutions, reduce costs and time in the production process, and improve aircraft maintenance during its operation.
Interior layout and best seats
There are two layouts of the An-148 cabin: one- and two-class. Both versions of the airliner are effectively used by Airlines.
With a single-class layout, the cabin can accommodate the following number of seats for passengers:
- 75;
- 80;
- 85 seats.
In the cabin for transporting 75 passengers, the distance between the rows of seats is 81 cm. The aircraft also has 2 toilets and 2 kitchen areas. With this arrangement, the best seats are considered to be those located in the first row. The distance between the seats allows you to unfold the seat back without disturbing your neighbor.
In the cabin, for the carriage of 80 passengers, the seats are spaced at intervals of 76 cm. As in the previous layout, the aircraft has 2 sanitary rooms and 2 kitchen compartments.
Salon in An-148
In the cabin, which has 85 passenger seats, the distance between their rows is 76 cm. The increase in the number of seats was due to the modernization of the cabin. The designers left 1 sanitary room and 2 kitchens on the plane.
Two-class layout of the An-148: business and economy class. The salon contains 68 seats, 2 toilets and 2 kitchen areas. The luxury compartment is located closer to the nose of the aircraft. The best seats in it are considered to be the seats in the second row. Seating arrangement: 2+2 with a central aisle. The distance between rows reaches 1 m.
In economy class, the seats are arranged in a 3+2 configuration. Between them there is a passage for serving passengers. The distance between the rows is about 75 cm. It is not possible to fully recline the seat back. The best seats in this class are in the front rows of the compartment.
Each cabin layout has special shelves for carrying hand luggage. They are located above the rows of seats. There are 2 luggage compartments under the passenger compartment.
Feature of the An-148. The aircraft can be converted into a “mobile medical hospital.” Its salon has the necessary medical equipment. The aircraft can transport up to 6 patients.
Modifications of the An-148 aircraft
- Passenger airliner with a flight range of up to 7 thousand km with a passenger capacity of 40-55 people
- An administrative airliner with a range of up to 8.7 thousand km and a capacity of 10-30 people.
- Cargo modification with a side compartment for transporting luggage in containers and pallets
- A cargo-passenger aircraft designed for the combined transportation of passengers and cargo
- Special modifications (sanitary, monitoring, etc.)
When creating the design of the new An-148, maximum unification and continuity of the components and assemblies of the base aircraft were used: wing number, fuselage, tail, aircraft and passenger equipment, power plant.
The possibility of installing foreign engines with a thrust of 6-8 thousand kgf on some modifications of the An-148 is being considered.
Disaster in 2011
The crash on February 11, 2022 was the second for aircraft of this type. On March 5, 2011, an An-148-100E (tail number 61708), manufactured for Myanmar, crashed during a training flight. 138 km after taking off from the Pridacha airfield (base for VASO), the plane crashed near the village of Garbuzovo, Alekseevsky district, Belgorod region. All six people on board were killed, including two student pilots from Myanmar. The investigation showed that while practicing the emergency descent mode, due to inconsistency in the actions of the crew, the plane exceeded the maximum permissible speed and lost control.
Future prospects
For the sake of introducing the An-148 into serial production, the Kharkov, Voronezh aircraft plants and ASTC named after. Antonov decided to establish close cooperation. The partners believe that this short-haul airliner will be able to compete with eminent Western aircraft manufacturers in the future, and will receive a large number of orders in the domestic air transportation market. There are no promises of triumph from the project leaders themselves yet, but aircraft industry experts predict success for it.
Based on the words of General Director Alexander Rubtsov, 19.09. In 2004, an agreement was signed between the three factories to create a joint venture (JV) where the An-148 will be mass-produced. The joint venture will also be responsible for after-sales service, manufacturing and delivery of components and spare parts to the location of the aircraft. The leasing company will promote the market. The latter's responsibilities will include the sale and lease of aircraft to consumer airlines. Mr. Rubtsov did not name the amount of investment required to launch serial production of the An-148, but what is known so far is that the capital of the joint venture is divided into shares of the three founding plants. It is already known what the new project was called - MAP-148 (international aircraft project - 148).
As Mr. Rubtsov said, the first three test copies of the An-148 will be assembled early next year. The first takeoff took place in May 2004. It is ANTK named after. Antonova produces the first samples. Their responsibility will also include certification of the first test aircraft. Gradually they plan to launch serial assembly of the An-148 also in Kharkov and Voronezh. According to VASO General Director Vyacheslav Salikov, the cost of the new An-148 is 95% of the cost of Russian production, and the new aircraft will be sold mainly to the Russian market. For 2007-2008 About 30 airliners were sold on it. Representatives from the Kharkov and Antonov plants refrained from commenting on such controversial statements.
According to Salikov, the new An-148 will definitely find its consumer. I have already pre-agreed on the technical parameters and signed the necessary documents. Aeroflot alone is interested in purchasing 25 units, so the joint venture is working closely with the market leader in Russian air travel. There were no comments on this matter from Aeroflot, but representatives of Krasnoyarsk Airlines stated that there could be no talk of orders until the aircraft had passed certification.
The preliminary cost of one copy of the An-148 in serial production is estimated at 14 million dollars. Financial support for production is provided by the National Reserve Bank (NRB). Its president, A. Lebedev, speaks of the success of the project from a financial point of view, with the assembly of 10-20 aircraft per year at a cost of less than $15 million per unit.
Russian airlines, Volga-Dnepr, and Ukrainian are considered potential customers for the An-148.
In the future, the An-148 is planned to be used at distances from 1,500 to 5,000 km with the ability to transport from 45 to 75 people.
Development of the aircraft began in 2001 with the goal of replacing the already uneconomical aircraft, the Tupolev Tu-134 and Yak-42. The An-74 TK-300 cargo-passenger aircraft was taken as the basis. The new aircraft had a completely redesigned wing and fuselage. The aircraft has the shape of a high-wing aircraft with engines placed on pylons under the rotating wings of medium sweep. Despite the fact that the An-74 TK-300 was taken as the concept for the An-148, this is a completely new aircraft and is not a modification of its prototype. Compared to it, the An-148 has an enlarged fuselage. It uses new Zaporozhye D436-148 turbojet engines with an electronic digital control system, developed at the Progress ZMKB named after Academician Ivchenko.
An 148 photos
The new aircraft uses components produced by several countries including the United States of America, Russia and Western European countries. The An-148 has a two-channel fly-by-wire control system. The aircraft is equipped with the latest radio communication systems and navigation equipment, allowing landing at night and in difficult weather conditions. All flight information is displayed on five multifunctional liquid crystal displays. The basic model of the aircraft was designated An-148-100.
The first flight of the An-148 took place on December 17, 2004. After passing ground and flight tests, on February 26, 2007, the aircraft received its first certification from the aviation register of the Interstate Aviation Committee (AR IAC).
An 148 salon
The Antonov An-148, depending on the configuration, is capable of carrying from 45 to 99 passengers over a distance of 1,570 to 5,100 kilometers. The aircraft can be operated on unpaved and unprepared airfields.
The aircraft is mass-produced at the Kiev Aircraft Plant, formerly known as Aviant, and at the Voronezh Aircraft Manufacturing Plant (VASO). The An-148 entered service in June 2009. The first operator of the aircraft was Ukrainian Airlines. The first commercial flight on the An-148 aircraft was carried out on December 24, 2009.
An-148 interior diagram
Although the An-148 has competitors, such as the Sukhoi Superjet-100 and Tu-334, experts predict a good future for this aircraft. At the beginning of 2010, about two hundred orders for this aircraft were registered.
Operators[ | ]
Current operators[ | ]
An-148 aviation
As of 2022, 30 aircraft are in operation:
- DPRK: Air Koryo - 2
- State Enterprise "Ukraine" - 1
- SLO "Russia" - 6
Former operators[ | ]
- Ukraine: Antonov Airlines - 1 (in storage)
- AeroSvit - 2[57]
- Ukraine International Airlines - 3[58]
- Air Ocean Airlines - 2[59]
- AK "Polyot" - 2
Technical characteristics of the basic model of the An-148-100 aircraft
- First flight: December 17, 2004
- Length: 29.13 m.
- Height: 8.19 m.
- Empty weight: 22490 kg.
- Wing area: 87.32 sq. m.
- Wingspan: 28.91 m.
- Cruising speed: 840 km/h.
- Maximum speed: 875 km/h.
- Ceiling: 12400 m.
- Flight range: from 1570 to 5100 km.
- Engine type: 2 turbofan engines D436-148
- Crew: 2 people
- Number of passenger seats: from 45 to 99 seats
Difficult decision
The first troubles that the AN-148 encountered began in 2012. Then the airline canceled the order for additional aircraft in the amount of 6 pieces for the St. Petersburg airline. The reason for this decision was the sharply increased price for the products of the Kharkov plant. In response to Russia’s refusal to purchase the aircraft, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko announced his choice of the AN-148 as the presidential aircraft.
The fate of the aircraft plant in Voronezh, which was set up for mass production of the AN-148, is still unclear. But, most likely, difficult times will come for the plant. VASO is still assembling a small batch of IL-96 on orders from the Administrative Department of the President of the Russian Federation.
But it is possible to receive orders for the assembly of IL-112 turboprops. There is also a decision to produce IL-86, on the basis of which a tanker will be created. By assembling even a couple of cars a year, the enterprise will be fully loaded.
As for the fate of the AN-148 in St. Petersburg, they will be withdrawn from the fleet and transferred to the forces of the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations.
