63k photo, courtesy of Andre Matter
T he An-140 is a small, with high mounted wing, turboprop aircraft built to carry 52 passengers or freight. Advanced technologies
and 3-months thorough ground/hops trials failed to secure designers from a confusion. Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma with host of guests and journalists
arrived to celebrate 50th anniversary of Antonov ANTK on September 12,
1997. An-140 rolled out for maiden flight and started warming up... when starboard engine cooling system failed
and aircraft was covered with dense smoke. Takeoff was suspended, and Ukrainian President left the celebration in bad mood. Friday was spoiled...
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On same day spare engine was delivered from Zaporozhie (Motor-Sich) and installed. Few days of system checking - and on September 17 Leonid Kuchma was
deeply satisfied by takeoff, maiden flight (more than one hour!) and landing of new Ukrainian aircraft. First Pilot A.Khrustitsky, co-pilot E.Galunenko and
flight trial leading engineer A.Makian managed even to fulfill part of certification program in this flight!
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16k photo, courtesy of Andre Matter
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Finally, trials proved good handling of new aircraft and its reliable operation on poorly prepared airfields. Undemanding An-140 may be flown even by
pilots with entry skill level. Digital EFIS avionics also makes the aircraft easy to fly.
On April 2, 1999 one of three built An-140 started trial program in Polar regions, to evaluate aircraft
behaviour under natural icing conditions. Final certification is expected at the end of 1999, delivery and
service operation of first series production - in early 2000.
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Production will take place at Kharkov Aircraft Factory (Ukraina) and JSC 'Aviakor' (Samara, Russia).
After some doubts 'Aviakor' selected Ukraina-built engines against Pratt&Whitney, and price difference (750,000 USD vs 800,000 USD) does not look a major
choice factor. But doors for Canada-built engine remain open, providing extra flexibility for export variants. In
1999-2000 engines for batch of 8 aircraft are to be delivered.
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12k at Airshow section of Serge Lazukov
Web Site
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Yakutia Republic ordered 10 An-140, to be delivered in
2000-2004 within program of cooperation between
Samara and Yakutia. 'TumenAviaTrans company, serving needs of gas/oil industry, also
ordered 25 An-140 to the 'Aviakor'. Aircraft carrying few rotating shifts or
6tons of spares and demanding no paved airstrips is very suitable for this 'migrating' industry.
An-140 will be manufactured in Iran (Isfahan, 12 per year), initially -
from parts [already delivered] from Ukraine. Payment made by Iranian side
(25,000,000 USD) allow to finish certification of the aircraft in 1999. Technology will be transferred gradually.
Agreement permits Iran to built only passenger and cargo-passenger variants, excluding any military configurations (there are some
conflicting signals about military versions). Reported designation
is Iran-140,
TV-7 engines by Motor-Sich are to be installed.
The manufacturer hopes its aircraft will replace a third of the 3,000 50-seat aircraft currently in service worldwide. Russian market alone can 'absorb'
500-600 An-140s. This number includes more than 1300 An-24s that the An-140 is replacing.
The aircraft list price is USD 8.5-10 millions, about 0.7 of its western equivalents, such as the ATR-42 or the Fokker 50.
Cargo carrier, flying hospital and executive configurations are planned.
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