An-132 Plans Shape Up

摘要

Antonov and the TAQNIA Aeronautics Company of Saudi Arabia have signed a contract for the design, and reached a preliminary agreement to build the An-132 transport aircraft in the Middle Eastern country. The An-132 will be a thorough upgrade of the An-32 turboprop, of which 385 were built from 1983 until 1998. The new type will have the same 5,071shp (3,782kW) Pratt & Whitney PW150A turboprops as the Bombardier Q400, offering a similar power rating to but much more modern than the An-32's 5,180shp (3,800kW) AI-20D engines. The An-132 will have a new wing centre section (with a torque box fuel tank) and a nose section, including the cockpit. The take-off weight will be 28,500kg (62,832lb), the same as the An-32; it will carry 9,200kg (20,283lb) of payload, up from 7,500kg (16,535lb). Its maximum speed will be 300kts (550km/h), increased from 285kts (530km/h), and range with six tonnes (13,228lb) of payload will extend to 3,175km (1,973 miles) from 1,650km (1,025 miles). The intellectual property and new components of the aircraft will be shared between Antonov and TAQNIA, though rights for the An-32 will remain with Antonov. It is hoped 100 An-132s will be built in Saudi Arabia.