Antonov An-178

It looks familiar, because the An-158 100-seat airliner was shown at Dubai last time, but this is a very different airplane. The military gray color scheme is a clue, for this is a freighter equipped with a rear loading ramp. Typical payloads include three “Humvee” vehicles, 72 troops, 68 paratroops or 40 stretchers plus 30 walking wounded. Not that military use is exclusive: Volga-Dnepr freight airline provided design and marketing advice, and Antonov expects civil operators to order a significant number. Silkway of Azerbaijan has signed for 10 and there is talk of a possible Chinese production line. The prototype, here on show, first flew on May 7 this year and was initially shown at Paris the next month.