Antonov An-148

Antonov · Ukraine · first flew 2004 · airliner

The An-148 is a post-Soviet high-wing regional jet designed for rugged operations from austere airfields.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — WingsHigh-mounted, swept
E — Engines2 × turbofan, wing-mounted
F — Fuselage29.13 m fuselage
T — TailConventional

WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.

Spot it by:

The high shoulder-mounted wing is the key cue, far rarer than the low wings of most jets. Two turbofans hang beneath that high wing, and the tail is a conventional low-set arrangement rather than a T-tail.

Specifications

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

Developed by Antonov in Kyiv, it first flew in December 2004 and entered service in 2009 with Ukraine's Aerosvit. Production was limited and several fleets were grounded as Russo-Ukrainian industrial cooperation collapsed.

Variants

Versions span the base -100A, the extended-range -100B and maximum-range -100E, plus the stretched An-158 seating up to around 100.

Where you'll see it

It saw no UK use, instead serving operators such as Rossiya Airlines in Russia, Cubana in Cuba, Antonov Airlines and Air Koryo in North Korea.

Related aircraft

AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 4,893 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.