Antonov's An-178 transport aircraft successfully performed maiden flight 0805154

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World Aviation Defense & Security Industry News - Antonov
 
 
Antonov's An-178 transport aircraft successfully performed maiden flight
 
On May 7, 2015, the AN-178 new transport aircraft, created by Antonov in cooperation with partners from 15 countries, performed maiden flight, Antonov announced Thursday, May 7. First revealed in February 2010, the twin-jet An-178 is intended to replace the An-12 'Cub', the An-26 'Curl', and An-32 'Cline' airlifters.
     
On May 7, 2015, the AN-178 new transport aircraft, created by Antonov in cooperation with partners from 15 countries, performed maiden flight, Antonov announced Thursday, May 7. First revealed in February 2010, the twin-jet An-178 is intended to replace the An-12 'Cub', the An-26 'Curl', and An-32 'Cline' airlifters.
Antonov's new An-178 transport aircraft (right) performing its maiden flight
     
The first 1 hour duration flight performed a crew of ANTONOV test pilots, composed of: Andrii Spasibo, test pilot of the 1st class – the crew captain, Sergii Troshyn, test pilot of the 1st class, Hero of Ukraine – the 2nd pilot, Mykola Sydorenko, leading test engineer. After landing in Kyiv-Antonov airport (Gostomel) the crew reported on a successful flight task realization to Dmytro Kiva, President – General Designer.

An-178 is a high-wing transport aircraft with moderately swept wing, winglets and a T-tail. The airframe is made of aluminium alloys and composite materials. The fuselage is semi-monocoque with a circular cross-section. The retractable landing gear consists of two main wheel bogies and a single nose wheel. The flight control system is dual duplex fly-by-wire system, consisting of two parts: FCS-A and FCS-B, each of which is responsible for two control channels.

AN-178's flight control surfaces include ailerons near the wing tips, four control spoilers, six lift-dump/speed-brake spoilers, rudder and elevators, with an emergency mechanical cable back-up system. The powerplant consists of two D-436-148FM turbofan engines, mounted on pylons under the wings and an auxiliary power unit. It can shift 18 tonnes over 1,000 km, or 10 tonnes over 4,000 km.