Aviation

The first An-178-100R military aircraft has been completed by Antonov.

The first An-178-100R military aircraft has been finished and will now face certification testing, according to Antonov State Enterprise.

According to the manufacturer, a total of 30 Ukrainian enterprises contributed to the creation of the new military plane, manufacturing 177 components.The Ukrainian government has ordered three new An178s early 2020. The company quoted the deputy commander-in-chief of Ukraine’s Armed Forces, Yevhen Moisyuk, as saying, “The Armed Forces of Ukraine need contemporary military equipment that will boost our capabilities and strengthen national stability. I am confident that in the capable hands of our pilots, this plane, the AN-178, will deliver victory to Ukraine.”

The Antonov An-178 jet, which debuted in April 2015 and is patterned on the 99-seat An-158 regional airliner, is slated to replace obsolete military planes like the An-12, An-26, and An-32. The modern An-178 could compete with the Embraer KC-390.The Antonov An-178-100R transport plane is designed for troop transportation as well as the delivery of specific military cargo such as weaponry and other light equipment. When employed for medical evacuation operations, it can carry up to 86 fully prepared paratroopers and up to 100 people on board, including 40 people on conventional hygienic stretchers and 38 individuals flying on side seats followed by four paramedics

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Aviation

Airbus Enhances A350 Cabin with 10-Abreast Seating

Airbus has announced a new partnership with Jiatai Aircraft Equipment, a Chinese aircraft seating manufacturer, to supply upgraded economy-class seats for the A350 widebody series.

This collaboration, unveiled at the 2024 Airshow China, focuses on developing a newly designed economy seat tailored for the A350‘s New Production Standard (NPS) cabin.

One of the key features of the NPS cabin is the ability to accommodate 17-inch wide economy seats, compared to the previous 16.5-inch wide seats that airlines were limited to in the A350’s earlier configurations.

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This change is made possible by the expanded space in the NPS cabin, which is 35 inches longer and 4 inches wider than the previous version. This extra space is achieved by slightly moving the cockpit wall forward and shifting the rear pressure bulkhead back by one frame.

The wider cabin allows airlines to add up to 30 extra economy seats without compromising comfort. For airlines opting for a 3-4-3 seating layout, the 17-inch wide seats are an excellent choice for a more comfortable passenger experience. However, some airlines, such as Iberia, may choose to retain a 9-abreast layout with wider seats for added comfort.

The NPS cabin also offers enhanced flexibility for airline operators. One major advantage is the ability to easily switch between a 9-abreast and 10-abreast seating configuration without requiring significant downtime for aircraft reconfiguration. Airlines can use the same seat rails, tracks, and IFE interfaces, making the transition smoother and quicker.

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In addition, the design of the floor attachments and air-conditioning systems has been optimized for 10-abreast seating, meaning airlines can upgrade their cabins without needing to make substantial modifications to the aircraft’s structure.

Though it’s still unclear when Jiatai’s economy-class seats will be officially added to the A350’s Buyer Furnished Equipment (BFE) catalogue, the collaboration marks a significant step toward enhancing the A350’s cabin offerings.

With this partnership, Airbus is providing more seating options for airlines, ensuring that they can meet diverse customer needs while improving overall operational efficiency.