Principle of Modernization of the Aircraft An-148, An-158, and An-178 for Improving Their Fuel Efficiency and Increasing Competitiveness

Abstract

In order to create new competitive advantages for the medium-haul aircraft An-148 and An-158, the application of the D-436-148FM engine for these aircraft has been considered. This would expand the operational range of aircraft flights, reduce noise on the ground, and harmful emissions from the engine. A distinctive feature is the achieved thrust of the engine D-436-148FM undera maximum emergency mode, 19.4 % higher than the thrust of the engine D-436-148D. That was made possible by optimizing the fan, improving the combustion chamber, and turbine cascade. The required amount of bench and flight tests has been performed. The engine certification is currently being completed. Specialists at the Antonov State Enterprise and Ivchenko-Progress State Enterprise studied the issue of installing the D-436-148FM engine on the An-148 and An-158 aircraft family. No changes to the design of the engine and aircraft are required. The engine is mounted on the same pylons without changes to the nacelle and engine bonnets. Energy-dependent systems associated with the engine have been investigated. There is no need for the fundamental changes in related systems for the engine’s operational modes according to the Aircraft Flight Manual. An engineering analysis of the comparison of flight-technical and flight-landing characteristics of the An-158 aircraft equipped with the engines D-436-148D and D-436-148FM has been performed. The data were obtained from the flight tests of the An-158 certified aircraft, taking into consideration the wind tunnel studies, flight tests of the An-178 aircraft, data from the An-158 Flight Manual, and the altitude and speed performance of the D-436-148D and D-436-148FM engines. The altitude and speed characteristics of the D-436-148FM engine, which have been calculated, were confirmed by the flight tests of the An-178 aircraft. A feasibility study of engine replacement has been carried out, based on the comparison of the technical and economic characteristics of the An-158 aircraft equipped with the D-436-148D engine and D-436-148FM operated in various atmospheric conditions. The principle of creating a family of aircraft of transport category of different configurations and purposes, based on a single engine, has been proposed