Antonov's new An-74 derivative, the TK-300, has received Russian airworthiness certification. Approval to AP-25 standards was given on9 September, and the certificate will be presented to Antonov and the Kharkov factory, which builds the aircraft, by the end of the month.
The new 52-seat twinjet is equipped with engines installed conventionally on pylons mounted under the wings, rather than the blown-wing configuration of earlier An-72s/74s.
Kharkov says it has an initial order for two An-74TK-300s from undisclosed CIS airlines, as well as a memorandum of understanding from Aeroflot for 25 aircraft.
The Aeroflot deal stipulates that the aircraft must be delivered within an agreed timeframe, and Kharkov says that this should not be a problem as it has already made substantial progress on the construction of at least 10 aircraft.
Antonov has begun construction of the fuselage of the first 70-seat An-148 regional jet, while assembly of the first wing set is under way at the Kharkov factory. First flight is targeted for late 2003, and certification a year later.Source: Flight International
