The 52-60-passenger MA60 twin-turboprop transport aircraft is a stretched version of the Xian Y7-200A, which in turn is a variation on the Antonov An-24. The aircraft is powered by two 2,750-shp Pratt & Whitney Canada PW127J engines. Initial flight and delivery of the MA60 took place in 2000. A freighter version, the MA60-500, is also marketed. In May 2010, a new variant, the MA600, was awarded certification by the Civil Aviation Administration of China.
Xian’s parent firm Avic formally launched full-scale development of the new MA700 turboprop airliner in December 2013. Program plans call for preliminary design review by the end of this year, first flight in 2016, Chinese certification in 2018 and service entry in 2019. Certification from the European Aviation Safety Agency or the FAA also will be pursued, achievement of which would enable the MA700 to penetrate markets beyond those currently served by the MA60 or MA600.
Beech launched the King Air series of 8-12-seat, twin-turboprop aircraft in 1963. Since then, numerous variants have appeared. Total production amounted to 6,449 aircraft through 2013. Beechcraft, which Textron acquired last March and operates along with Cessna in a new segment called Textron Aviation, markets the King Air C90GTx, King Air 250 and King Air 350i. The C90GTx is powered by two Pratt & Whitney PT6A-135s producing 550 shp each.
The 737 series is a family of twin-engine, narrowbody commercial transports. Seating capacity varies depending on the model, though the most typical two-class configurations are 126 passengers for the 737-700, 162 for the 737-800 and 180 for the 737-900ER. All three models, which are the current production versions, are powered by two CFM56-7 turbofans. The first 737 flew in April 1967 and received FAA certification in December 1967.
The 747 is an intercontinental widebody commercial transport aircraft powered by four turbofan engines. First flight and certification occurred in 1969. In February 2010, Boeing conducted the maiden flight of the 747-8 series, which includes the 747-8 Intercontinental passenger model and the 747-8 Freighter. Both are equipped with General Electric GEnx engines rated at 66,500 lb. thrust each. The 747-8I is stretched 18 ft. compared to the 747-400 to accommodate 467 seats in a three-class configuration. The first 747-8F delivery, to launch customer Cargolux, occurred in September 2011.
A prototype of this twin-engine, widebody commercial transport aircraft was rolled out in August 1981, with first flight occurring the following month; through 2013, Boeing produced 1,110 767s. Only two civil 767 versions are in production: the extended-range 767-300ER passenger model and 767-300F freighter. The 767-300ER seats 218 passengers in a three-class layout or up to 350 in one class, and has a maximum range of 5,990 nm. The -300ER is available with a choice of GE CF6-80C2 or Pratt & Whitney PW4000 engines. The -300F is powered by the CF6-80C2.
The 787 Dreamliner is a family of twin-engine widebody airliners. Three versions are marketed. The 787-8 carries 210-250 passengers and has a range of 7,650-8,200 nm. The 20-ft.-longer 787-9 carries 250-290 passengers and has a range of 8,000-8,500 nm. The 787-10 is stretched 18 ft. beyond the 787-9. All three models are available with either two Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 or General Electric GEnx turbofans. The Dreamliner received certification in August 2011, followed by delivery to Japan’s All Nippon Airways of the first 787-8 the following month.
The 777 is a twin-engine, widebody jetliner. First flight occurred in June 1994, followed by certification in April 1995 for the Pratt & Whitney-powered version. Deliveries began in June 1995. The 777-200ER seats 301-440 passengers, and is powered by PW4000, Trent 800 or GE90 turbofans rated at 84,000-95,000 lb. thrust each. Two newer versions are the 777-200LR and 777-300ER. The -200LR, which seats 301 passengers in three classes, is powered by 110,100-lb.-thrust GE90-110B1 or 115,300-lb.-thrust GE90-115BL turbofans.
The CRJ series is a family of twin-engine, 44-100-seat regional jets. The initial model was the 50-seat CRJ100, which first flew in May 1991; deliveries began in October 1992. The CRJ100 was replaced by the 50-seat CRJ200, which is powered by 9,220-lb.-thrust GE CF34-3B1 turbofans. Other variants are: the 44-seat CRJ440, also powered by CF34-3B1s; the 64-78-seat CRJ700, powered by 13,790-lb.-thrust CF34-8C5s; and the 86-90-seat CRJ900, powered by 14,255-lb.-thrust CF34-8C5s. Bombardier’s Challenger 850 business jet/corporate shuttle is based on the 50-seat CRJ200LR.
Launched in July 2008, Bombardier’s CSeries family is the CS100 version, which carries 110 passengers, and the larger CS300 model, seating 135 in a standard configuration. The aircraft is powered by two Pratt & Whitney PW1500G geared turbofans producing up to 23,300 lb. thrust each. With an extra-capacity seating option, the CS300 can carry up to 160 passengers. CSeries service entry is slated for the second half of 2015. The CS100 will compete with the Embraer 190 and 195, while the CS300 will vie against the Boeing 737 and the Airbus A319.
This twin-engine turboprop aircraft family initially was known as the Dash 8 series. The original Q100 made its first flight in June 1983; first deliveries followed in October 1984. The Q100 carried 37-39 passengers, and was equipped with 2,150-shp Pratt & Whitney Canada PW120/121 engines. Other models out of production are: the 37-39-passenger Q200 (with 2,150-shp PW123C/D engines) and 50-56-seat Q300 (with 2,500-shp PW123Bs). The 68-78 seat Q400 (with 5,071-shp PW150As) remains in production.
This single-turboprop-powered utility/passenger aircraft first flew in December 1982. Through 2013, Cessna produced 2,319 Caravans of all types. Designed with the small-package delivery segment in mind, Caravan models in production include the Caravan 675 and 208B Grand Caravan. Both are powered by a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-114A turboprop engine rated at 675 shp. Also in production is the upgraded Grand Caravan EX model, featuring a more powerful PT6A-140 turboprop engine. The EX achieved certification in January 2013. Cessna is forecast to deliver 988 Caravans in 2014-23.
The TBM 850 is a single-engine, 4-6-passenger, turboprop-powered aircraft that replaced the earlier TBM 700 in 2006. Power is provided by an 850-shp Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-66D engine. The aircraft has a range of 1,585 nm. Through 2013, production totaled 339 aircraft. Production of 13 units is forecast for 2014-23. The TBM 900 is an upgraded TBM 850 model introduced in March 2014. It features a new five-blade propeller, winglets and tailcone. Daher-Socata also added a banana-shaped air intake, new exhaust stacks and carbon-fiber cowlings to increase engine airflow circulation.
A twin-turbofan, commercial passenger transport aircraft, the C919 targets the international duopoly in narrowbody airliner sales currently enjoyed by Airbus and Boeing. Variants include the baseline C919-200, which seats up to 168 passengers; the C919-100, a 130-seat model that will compete against the Airbus A319; and the C919-300, a larger 190-seat model designed to compete with Airbus’s A321 and Boeing’s 737-800/900. Comac has selected the CFM International Leap-1C engine, with 30,000 lb. thrust, to power the C919. Service entry is planned for 2016.
Initially, the new ARJ21 regional jet from Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China (Comac) is to be available as the ARJ21-700 78-90-seater, while later introduction of the 98-105-seat ARJ21-900 is a possibility. Power is provided by two GE CF34-10A turbofans producing 18,500 lb. thrust each. Rollout of the first ARJ21-700 occurred in December 2007, followed by first flight in November 2008. Six ARJ21s were built through 2013, and 86 additional examples are forecast for production through 2023. The ARJ21 faces competition from Bombardier and Embraer.
This is Embraer’s E-Jet family of twin-engine, 70-132-seat regional jetliners. The 70-80 passenger 170 made its first flight in February 2002, followed by the larger 78-88-seat 175 in June 2003. The 170 and the 175 share a common engine in the 14,200-lb.-thrust GE CF34-8E. The 94-114-seat 190 made its initial flight in March 2004, while the 106-122-passenger 195 first flew in December 2004. GE CF34-10E engines, rated 20,000 lb. thrust each, power these models. Additionally, Embraer developed the Lineage 1000, a business jet version of the 190; deliveries began in 2009.
The ERJ 135/140/145 family is a series of twin-engine, 37-50-seat regional jets. The initial model was the 50-seat ERJ 145, which first flew in August 1995; deliveries began in late 1996. The next model was the 37-seat ERJ 135, which made its initial flight in July 1998, followed by deliveries in July 1999. The 44-passenger ERJ 140 first flew in June 2000, with initial deliveries in July 2001. All models use variants of the Rolls-Royce AE 3007A series turbofan. Through 2013, 730 production ERJ 145s were built.
The Y-12 series is a family of twin-turboprop aircraft. The Y-12-II is equipped with Western avionics and Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-27 engines flat-rated to 620 shp each. The Y-12-IV has winglets, a strengthened undercarriage and redesigned seating for 18-19 passengers. Another version is the Y-12E, which is powered by 750-shp PT6A-135 engines. A total of 58 Y-12-II/-IV and Y-12E aircraft are forecast to be produced for the civil market in the coming 10 years. Harbin is developing the Y-12F, which is substantially different from the earlier designs.
The Australian company GippsAero, which is a subsidiary of India’s Mahindra Aerospace, is developing a 10-seat, single-engine turboprop aircraft dubbed the GA10. The new aircraft is powered by a 450-shp Rolls-Royce 250-B17F engine. The GA10 has a maximum takeoff weight of 4,750 lb. First flight occurred in May 2012. Australian type certification and initial deliveries are planned for 2014. GippsAero is also developing an 18-seat twin-turboprop aircraft called the GA18. This aircraft is a reengineered version of the GAF N24 Nomad, production of which ended in the mid-1980s.
Two major sections of the first C919 fuselage have been connected, and the nose is in position to join them. “Final assembly is proceeding steadily,” says Comac, adding that it is trying to complete joining the structure by year-end, after which it will integrate the on-board systems. The roll-out is due in the third quarter of 2015.
This four-engine, medium/long-range, widebody commercial passenger and cargo transport aircraft first flew as the Il-96-300 in 1988 and was awarded certification in December 1992. It is powered by Aviadvigatel PS-90A1 engines rated 35,275 lb. thrust each. The Il-96-400, a stretched version of the -300, is powered by uprated PS-90A1 engines. The Il-96-400 passenger version can carry 436 passengers in a single-class configuration, 386 in two classes or 315 in a three-class layout. Two Il-96-300 are forecast for production in 2014-23.
The Irkut MS-21 is a twin-turbofan, narrowbody derivative of the defunct Yakovlev Yak-242 airliner. The MS-21 family is the 150-seat MS-21-200, 181-seat MS-21-300 and 212-seat MS-21-400. All three are to be available in both basic and extended-range versions; the -200 is also to be available in a long-range variant. Power will be provided by Pratt & Whitney PW1400G or Aviadvigatel PD-14 engines. First flight is planned for 2015, with a service entry target date of 2017. Primary competition for the MS-21 is likely to come from the Boeing 737, Airbus A320 and Comac C919.
This pressurized, single-turboprop-powered, corporate/utility transport aircraft first flew in May 1991, and received Swiss and U.S. certification in 1994. It has seating for nine passengers in its standard layout. Portugal’s OGMA assembles green aircraft and manufactures some components. The current PC-12 production version, the PC-12 NG (Next Generation), is powered by a 1,200-shp Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-67P turboprop engine. Some 1,231 PC-12s, including 443 PC-12 NGs, were built through 2013. Production of 846 units is expected in 2014-23.
Mitsubishi formally launched the twin-engine Mitsubishi Regional Jet (MRJ) family in March 2008; rollout was late last month. Initially, two basic models are planned: the 78-passenger MRJ70 and 92-passenger MRJ90. The MRJ70 is powered by 15,600-lb.-thrust Pratt & Whitney PW1215G engines, while the MRJ90 is powered by 17,600-lb.-thrust PW1217Gs. Extended- and long-range versions of each model are envisioned, while a 100-seater dubbed the MRJ100 is being considered. First flight is planned for the second quarter of 2015, with service entry slated for 2017.
India’s next national communication satellite, GSAT-16, is scheduled to be launched in December to augment its communications capability and boost existing services. The 3,150-kg (3.5-ton) satellite will be dual-manifested on a European Ariane 5 rocket along with another satellite, DirecTV-14, says a senior scientist at the Indian Space Research Organization. The liftoff of GSAT-16, initially slated for next year, has been advanced by six months to meet the rapidly growing demand for GSAT services.
