New regional jet takes off from St. Petersburg, Russia

Saturday, December 26, 2009

The new Antonov An-148 jet made its first commercial flight from Saint Petersburg, Russia to Moscow on Thursday.

File photo of an Antonov An-148 regional jet at Paris Air Show.
Image: Dmitry A. Mottl.

Starting with one of the busiest regional routes in Russia new Antonovs are to connect the other major destinations throughout Europe.

The new aircraft was designed in the Ukraine by the famous Antonov design bureau and is manufactured in Voronezh, Russia. The twinjet features a high-wing design, glass cockpit and 68 passengers cabin with a 3.5 thousand km range at the average 800 km/h cruising speed.

The first serial airplane has recently joined the fleet of Rossiya (the "Russia") airline under lease contract with Ilyushin Finance Company.


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