Antonov has removed the first An-148 fuselage from its assembly jig at the company’s experimental factory in Kiev after completing the project on schedule. Assembly started last October and proceeded without the delays typical of recent CIS aircraft projects. Antonov plans first flight by the end of this year and certification to Russia’s AP-25 airworthiness requirements–harmonized with FAR Part 25– next year. This requires construction of two flight-test aircraft and one airframe for ground tests. Service entry is set for 2005 with Russian cargo carrier Volga-Dnepr. A provisional agreement with Aeroflot calls for the lease, via Russia’s Ilyushin-Finance and Ukraine’s UkrTransLizing, of 30 An-74TK300s with subsequent replacement by An-148s.
Assembly of a second fuselage, for which parts have already been made, has started on the same jig. Antonov said that using 100 percent on-screen design technologies results in faster and higher-quality engineering work, and keeps the costs down. Antonov uses PTS CADDS5 software, while the KhGAAP factory in Kharkov, which supplied cockpit canopy framework on the first aircraft, uses Uuclid3. KhGAAP, where the An-148 assembly line will be located, participates in design work and supplies the Antonov experimental factory with central fuselage sections, wing consoles, engine nacelles and pylons. The Aviant production plant in Kiev is responsible for the empennage, hatches and doors. Rocket manufacturer YuzhMash makes the landing gear and likely will supply noise-absorbing panels for engine nacelles based on materials developed for launch vehicles.
