The main part of the Antonov exhibition at the UK air show Farnborough 2012 is dedicated to the An-148 program. Taking part in the exhibition, Ukraine's state-owned enterprise intends to hold a series of talks with representatives of the aviation industry around the world in order to consolidate its positions among aircraft manufacturers and search for new partners, the aviation company's press-service reported.
() - "An international debut of the 99-seat regional jet An-158 took place at the Farnborough air show in 2010. It is a further development of the An-148 family. The main part of the Antonov exhibition at the British air show this year is dedicated exactly to the An-148 program," the press service says. June marked three years from the commencement of commercial operation of the family's base plane, An-148-100. It attracts a great interest of aircraft operators in different countries. Currently a contract is being prepared for the supply of the planes to a Cuban airline.
Among the new versions of An-148 there is also 89-seater An-148-200, as well as An-148-300 aircraft of increased comfort, which will be able to deliver VIP passengers over distances of up to 7000 km. Based on this corporate plane, a promising aviation complex for maritime patrol and counteraction, An-148-300MP, is being developed. One of the fastest growing programs of the state enterprise Antonov presented at Farnborough 2012 is a project to create new transport aircraft An-178. This promising aircraft will replace the famous veteran An-12. It can carry up to 18 tons of cargo and work on the same grounds as An-12, including on unpaved runways. It has a larger, fully enclosed cargo compartment, where shipping containers and IATA crates can be placed. If necessary, An-178 can carry 99 troops, 80 paratroopers, or evacuate 70 sick and wounded.
Trends in the development of the world market show that this aircraft will be in demand in both military and civilian sectors. The demand for An-178 is estimated at 400 units. Completion of the construction of a sample model of An-178 and a start of its flight tests are planned for 2014. In addition to the above, Antonov presents programs for modernization of light transport aircraft An-32 and heavy transport aircraft An-124-100 Ruslan, the completion of trials of the modernized short takeoff and landing military transport aircraft An-70, as well as its vast opportunities in air transportation of heavy and outsize cargos. The air show in Farnborough, which opened July 9 in Hampshire near London, is this year's largest meeting place for representatives of the world aircraft engineering.