Published: 9/25/1998

In August, two prototypes of the Antonov An-140 regional commuter aircraft began flight trials towards certification to the AP-25 airworthiness requirements, (similar to the FAR-25) by which time the aircraft had logged over 100 flight hours, Andrei Sovenko, public relations manager with Antonov, told ConCISe. In all, 940 flights should be made by September 1999 to achieve certification. At the same time, a third airframe continues to undergo structural tests: all the airframes have been assembled at the Antonov experimental aircraft factory in Kiev, Ukraine. Sovenko said that the certification trials began after the prototypes had had modified subcomponents in their powerplant systems fitted. The An-140 is powered by two TV3-117VMA-SBM1 turboprop engines (sometimes referred to as the AI-30), built jointly by Klimov of St.Petersburg, Russia, and ZMKB Progress and Motor-Sich of the Ukraine, based on the TV3-117VMA turboshaft engine in use on Kamov and Mil helicopters. The turboprop version weighs 490kg, delivering 1800shp at cruise mode. According to Sovenko, the Iranian An-140 version, which will be assembled locally at the factory in Isfahan under a contract with Antonov, will be fitted with up-rated engines, each producing 2,500shp at take-off and 2,800shp at emergency power modes respectively. In the future, the maximum power will be increased to 3,000shp. This will allow the customer's requirement that the aircraft should be able to maintain level flight on one engine in hot-and-high conditions to be met. The An-140 powerplant has a special "quiet taxiing" mode, with its propellers rotating at only 800 rpm for lower noise. Preliminary tests conducted on the one of the operable prototypes showed that the aircraft is "as quiet as the Dash-8-300", and 34dB quieter than its predecessor, the An-24. In comparison with the later model, the An-140 is 100km/h faster, consuming half the fuel per kilometre flown. In its basic version, the An-140 is priced at $8m, being claimed to be 20% more economical in operation that the Dash-8-300. With 52 passengers in a 780mm seat-pitch layout, the An-140 can cover 2,100km, showing a fuel efficiency of 20 gram/km-passenger. Antonov is considering the installation of Pratt & Whitney Canada PW-127 engines on a "westernised" version of the aircraft, and an extended version for 68 passengers. An-140 production lines are being set up at the plants in Kharkov in the Ukraine and Samara in Russia. Both manufacturers claim they will be ready to deliver the first batches of aircraft to airlines in the first half of next year. In an interview with ConCISe, Anatoly Myalitsa, general director of Kharkov plant, said, "We are working at full speed on this project. Two airframes are taking shape, while we are finishing construction of a third fuselage. In two months time we will have three airframes in the final assembly shop". According to Myaliysa, the plant holds a firm order for five An-140s.(IN998.5) (VK)  

Article ID: 274