ANTONOV’s new aircraft takes maiden flight

The new multi-purpose, turboprop aircraft, the AN-132D, took off on its maiden flight March 31.    ANTONOV’s new multi-purpose, turboprop aircraft, the AN-132D, took off on its maiden flight March 31 from the company’s airfield in Kyiv, Ukraine.
   The prototype of the new aircraft flew for 1 hour and 50 minutes, ANTONOV said.
   The development of the AN-132 program follows 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.
   The AN-132D is intended for operation on short and medium-haul routes. The aircraft will perform various tasks, including the transportation of raw materials, mail, bulk cargo, unit load devices, and light self-propelled and non-self-propelled vehicles weighing up to 9.2 metric tons. In addition, the aircraft will be deployed for emergencies, including civilian and casualty evacuation from disaster areas and airdropping paratroop rescue teams.
   “The next important step will be the presentation of the AN-132D in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which will be conducted after the completion of more aircraft tests,” ANTONOV President Oleksandr A. Kotsiuba said.