New Antonov freighter gets 10 firm orders

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There’s a new freighter on the scene. The AN-178 took its first flight last week and has already racked up 10 orders, with expressions of intent for two more. The $40m aircraft, which has a payload of between 10 and 18 tons and a range of up to 4,000km, is designed to replace the AN-12. Silkway Airlines is to buy 10, while Chinese Beijing A-star Airspace and Technology Co intends to buy two – and also to consider production of the Ukrainian-made plane in China.

On another Silkway note, its Italian subsidiary, SW Italia, is to place a 747-8F into its Malpensa-based operation.