Antonov’s new multipurpose aircraft, the AN−132D, took to the skies for its maiden flight on Friday, March 31, 2017, from the company’s airfield in Kiev, Ukraine.
The prototype of the new aircraft flew for 1 hour and 50 minutes, captained by Victor Goncharov, co-piloted by Bohdan Zagoruyko, and accompanied by test pilot general Mohammed Ayash of the Taqnia Aeronautics Company, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The AN−132 program is being developed following a contract with a customer from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in close cooperation with King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology and the Taqnia Aeronautics Company. Leading suppliers of the global aircraft industry are involved in the project.
Piotr Poroshenko, the President of Ukraine, visited the AN−132D and the aircraft creators at Antonov’s flight test base and thanked the participants of the program.
“I am proud of my compatriots, thousands of employees of Antonov and other Ukrainian enterprises, who continue to work to launch the series production of this aircraft,” he said. “Today the important event has happened − the aircraft rose in the sky.”
The AN−132D multipurpose turboprop aircraft is intended for operation on short- and medium-haul routes.
The new aircraft will perform a variety of tasks, such as the transportation of raw materials, mail and other cargo, including bulk cargo, ULDs, and light self-propelled and non-self-propelled vehicles weighing up to 9.2 metric tons.
The aircraft will also be deployed for emergencies, including civilian and casualty evacuation from disaster areas and airdropping paratroop rescue teams.
April 6, 2017
Pic: courtesy of Antonov Company
