The aircraft manufacturing concern of Ukraine - Antonov Antonov - together with enterprises of Russia and other countries of the world, created a family of twin-engine regional regional aircraft, marked An-148-100 (photo presented in the article). These airliners are high-tech competitive aircraft that meet all modern world requirements, environmental standards and safety, as well as the wishes of companies involved in air transportation of passengers. The An-148-100 aircraft is intended for passenger and cargo transportation on trunk and regional lines.
Family and Modifications
The An-148-100 family of airliners consists of three options for 68-85 passengers: A is a version of a short-range passenger airliner (up to 3,000 kilometers); B - basic modification, differs from the previous one only in flight range (up to 3600 kilometers); E - characterized by an increased range (up to 5000 kilometers). In addition, there are six modifications of this aircraft: increased passenger capacity; with the maximum level of comfort for passengers; freight and passenger; cargo with a side door; cargo with a rear ramp; special purpose.
History of creation. Stage one
At the beginning of the 90s of the last century, work began on the design of a new passenger aircraft, the An-148-100, at the Antonov O.K. Design Bureau (the photos in the article show this airliner). The new machine was supposed to replace the obsolete An-24, An-72, An-74, Yak-40, Yak-42 and Tu-134. The team of engineers led by P. Baluev was engaged in the development. The predecessor of the new model, An-74, was designed as a cargo transport liner and was not adapted for the comfortable transportation of passengers. Even after the removal of power units under the wing to the pylon, which increased fuel efficiency, he could not compete with a number of modern regional aircraft of the same passenger capacity.
In this situation, the company management decided to create a completely new passenger airbus that meets all the requirements of our time.
Stage Two
Initially, this project was called An-74-68. The new aircraft was distinguished by the shape of the wing, elongated fuselage, the fifth series engine with a fundamentally new reverse design. However, the economic crisis delayed the birth of this aircraft. And only in 2001 the stage of detailed design of the liner began. Now the project bore a new name - An-148. The basis was taken on the concept of the An-74 TK-300 airliner, but the An-148-100 aircraft (photo) is a device completely created from scratch, and is not another modification of the An-74. It has increased the length and diameter of the fuselage, a new structural and power scheme of the wing, modern economical power units equipped with an electronic control system. The first flight tests of the An-148-100 began at the end of 2004. And on June 2, 2009, the first scheduled flight of the new airliner along the route Kharkov - Kiev took place. Two months later, the first An-148-100 of the Russian assembly flew into the sky.
Test
Three months after the first flight of the An-148-100 test model, the aircraft confirmed all the calculated flight characteristics under conditions of large angles of attack. The aircraft was displayed in stall modes at various altitudes. This was done to check the additional load of the mechanization elements of the landing gear and wing, characteristic of the various stages of the flight of a passenger airliner. For almost all configurations, the An-148-100 (expert reviews confirm this) showed quite clear, distinguishable by the pilot natural signs leading to stall. The behavior of the airliner in critical flight modes was very favorable, it met all the requirements of aviation rules.
Certification
On February 26, 2007, the new aircraft, its engine and auxiliary power unit received certificates from the State Aviation Administration of Ukraine and the Aviation Register of the Interstate Aviation Committee. The certification of the airliner was carried out in accordance with the provisions of the certification basis SB-148, developed on the basis of aviation requirements and rules of the CIS countries (AP-25), as well as European CS-25. In terms of noise on the ground, this aircraft meets the requirements of Section 4 of Appendix 16 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Volume 1 “Aviation Noise” as amended by 7th inclusive) and the requirements of Part 36 of the Aviation Rules AP-36. In terms of emissions - the requirements of the corresponding section of Appendix 16 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Volume 2, “Emissions of Aircraft Engines”, as amended for the fourth inclusive) and the requirements of Aviation Rules AP-34.
Design solutions
Let us consider what innovative solutions that provide new airliners with a number of advantages are implemented in aircraft of this family by engineers of Antonov Design Bureau. An-148-100 has a high level of protection of the wing and power units from damage by foreign objects. This is due to the scheme of the apparatus - a high wing with engines under the wing on the pylons. In addition, aircraft of this series can safely operate on various types of runways, including poorly prepared, unpaved, pebble, ice, and snowy ones. In addition, the presence of an on-board system that records the status of systems, and an auxiliary power plant, as well as a rather high level of reliability and operability, make it possible to use airliners of this family at any aerodromes. The convenient height arrangement of underground cargo compartments makes it possible to dispense with special cargo ground facilities when loading and unloading baggage.
Power units
For aircraft of this family in the GP "Ivchenko-Progress" a new fifth-generation engine D-436-148 was developed. This power unit is equipped with a number of systems that provide automatic control and monitoring. They provide optimal engine performance in all flight areas, in addition, they increase reliability and also reduce maintenance costs and fuel consumption. An-148-100 power units meet the modern requirements of Eurocontrol and ICAO. Their declared resource is 20 thousand cycles and 40 thousand hours of work. At the request of the customer, aircraft of this family can also be equipped with modern engines of foreign production with a thrust of not more than 8000 kgf.
Equipment
Modern navigation, flight and radio communication equipment, as well as the use of an electronic remote control system for airbus flight control and multi-function indicators, allow these planes to be used on any airways, including routes with a fairly high flight intensity, day and night, both in simple and and in difficult weather conditions. An-148-100 provides both manual and automatic aircraft navigation. The autopilot allows you to program the necessary routes, automatic approach in accordance with the standards of I, II and III A of ICAO categories, horizontal and vertical navigation, take-off and landing according to STAR and SID schemes. The equipment automatically monitors the status of all systems in flight and on the ground, followed by the issuance of information to technical personnel and the crew of the aircraft.
Security
The family of these aircraft provides a set of aviation security measures. For example, the crew’s cabin is equipped with bulletproof doors, communication devices for cabin crew and crew, a place for storing ammunition and weapons, a video surveillance system, a place for placing explosive devices if they are found on board in flight, anti-theft devices.
Salon
The comfort of the passenger compartment of the aircraft of this family corresponds to the level of comfort of modern trunk liners. In particular, this result was achieved due to the rational layout, as well as the composition of service rooms, the use of modern seats, materials and interior design, ergonomic optimization of individual and common spaces, and, of course, low noise level. For the entertainment of passengers, a modern infotainment system is installed in the cabin. Hand luggage is located in special lockable luggage racks, characterized by an impressive volume - a total of 4.2 cubic meters. The size of the shelves differs depending on the modification of the aircraft. The largest are in short-haul and regional airliners. The total volume of the luggage and cargo compartments of the An-148 located in the rear and under the floor of the passenger cabin is 14.6 cubic meters.
An-148-100 - salon scheme
The layout of the passenger cabin of this airliner is designed to carry from 68 to 85 people. The plane has eight to ten seats for business class, the rest for economy. The arrangement of seats (shown in the photo above) in business class, two in a row on each side of the side of the aircraft. In the economy class cabin there are three seats in a row on one side and two on the other. Above each are shelves for hand luggage. The distance between the rows in the economy class of the airliner is designed for the average person to grow (so that the passenger’s knees do not rest against the back of the next seat. But people who are taller than average will be somewhat uncomfortable. Above each seat there are lighting control buttons, an air conditioner regulator, a light signal board and a flight attendant call According to passenger reviews, on the An-148-100 airplane, the best seats in the economy class are located at the window on the left side of the side (a row of two seats).
Reviews
As always, in this case, the reviews of people vary, sometimes they are even diametrically opposed. Someone claims that the plane is very comfortable, the flight takes place in silence, takeoff and landing are soft. And others argue that the noise of the engines is quite high, during takeoff and landing the plane shakes a lot, and claim that it is much better to fly on old An-24s. How many people - so many opinions. Therefore, if you want to make your own, use the services of air carriers and compare the sensations.
Conclusion
Despite their relative youth, these aircraft have firmly taken their niche on regional air routes not only in the CIS countries, but also in the states of Europe and Asia. Aeroflot, Russia, Angara and other passenger air transportation companies purchase An-148-100 aircraft to replace the obsolete Tu-134 and others. An-148 meets all modern requirements of safety, profitability and comfort. All these qualities have become fundamental factors due to which companies give preference to this particular model.