Aviation Design Bureau named after OK. Antonova has her own unique style. Starting with the An-8, An-12 aircraft, and, of course, the An-24, it manifests itself in a rational layout, a highly located wing with a high degree of mechanization and landing gear, allowing landing at any type of aerodromes, including unpaved ones.
These external signs, which make it possible at a glance to distinguish an Antonov plane from all the others, entailed such consequences as the rare for the aviation world longevity of cars that became legends. High efficiency, technical and flight characteristics, far ahead of their time, excellent “volatility”, expressed in the ability to continue flying with not all engines running, efficiency and ease of maintenance - these are typical qualities of Anov.
Apparently, the An-148 will also continue the traditions of this design bureau, becoming a "workhorse" on medium-haul airways.
This aircraft differs from its predecessors in that the D436-148 turbofan engines 2 used in its power plant have jet thrust and are located above the wing, which significantly reduces the risk of foreign objects getting into the turbines. The speed of the new airliner exceeds 800 kilometers per hour, the practical ceiling is 12 km.
The aircraft is gradually occupying that niche in passenger transportation, in which the legendary An-24, that is, relatively short flights between cities of the country and regional flights, has been the owner for almost four decades. The number of passengers he carries is up to 80, and the flight range is up to 6 thousand kilometers.
The dashboard has an ergonomic display type interface.
An electro-remote control system was used, which, again, in the best traditions of the design bureau, is duplicated by ARPs and cable rods, which creates conditions for high survivability of the aircraft in the event of a power supply system failure.
Due to the rational layout of the cabin, high passenger comfort was achieved during flights on the An-148. The reviews of those who have already had the chance to fly as passengers on it show that both the noise level and the convenience of these machines comply with all modern requirements, which is confirmed by the successful international certification.
The unpretentiousness and high flight characteristics, traditional for Antonov’s aircraft, have already attracted the attention of the leadership of foreign and domestic airlines, prompting them to purchase the An-148. The register of aircraft shows that they are successfully operated by Ukraine International Airlines, North Korean Air Koryo, Cuban Cubana de Aviacion, AK Russia, Angara and several other foreign carriers.
On March 5, 2011, one of the aircraft was lost as a result of improper crew actions during a test and training flight. Other serious flight accidents with the An-148 did not occur.
The liner is a product of cooperation between Ukrainian and Russian manufacturers of aircraft.
For its peculiar silhouette and characteristic shape of the tail, the An-148 has already received the unofficial nickname "swallow".