The ATR series are turboprop-powered regional transport aircraft. ATR is a joint venture of EADS and Alenia Aeronautica. The ATR 42 was first delivered in 1985 and the ATR 72 in 1989. The latest versions are the ATR 42-600 and 72-600. The latter received European Aviation Safety Agency certification in May 2011. Both -600 variants are powered by a pair of Pratt & Whitney PW127M engines, rated at 2,400-2,750 shp each. Through 2010, 940 aircraft in the entire ATR series were produced. Production of 668 is forecast for 2011-20.
The 737 series is a family of twin-engine, narrowbody commercial transports. Seating capacity varies depending on 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 CFM International CFM56-7 turbofans. The first 737 flew in April 1967 and received FAA certification in December 1967. Through 2010, Boeing produced 7,092 737s.
The 747 is an intercontinental, four-engine widebody commercial transport aircraft. A total of 1,467 747s were produced through 2010. First flight and certification occurred in 1969. In February 2010, Boeing achieved the maiden flight of the 747-8 series, which includes the 747-8 Intercontinental passenger model and 747-8 Freighter. Both versions feature four GE 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.
Through 2010, Boeing produced 994 of these twin-engine, widebody commercial transport aircraft. A 767 prototype was rolled out in August 1981, with first flight the following month. Current models include the 767-200ER, -300ER, -400ER and -300F freighter. Typical two-class seating layouts are 224 seats for the -200ER, 269 for the -300ER and 304 for the -400ER. All three models are sold with a choice of GE CF6-80C2 or Pratt & Whitney PW4000 engines. The future of the 767 had been heavily dependent on the outcome of the U.S.
The 777 is a twin-engine, widebody commercial transport aircraft. First flight occurred in June 1994, followed by FAA/JAA certification in April 1995 (Pratt & Whitney-powered version). Deliveries began in June 1995. The 777-200ER seats 301-440 and is powered by two PW4000, Trent 800 or GE90 turbofans rated at 84,000-95,000 lb. thrust each. Two newer versions are the -200LR and -300ER. The -200LR, which seats 301 in three classes, is powered by a pair of 110,100-lb.-thrust GE90-110B1 or 115,300-lb.-thrust GE90-115BL turbofans.
Launched in July 2008, Bombardier's CSeries family comprises the CS100, which carries 110 passengers, and the 130-seat CS300. The aircraft will be powered by two Pratt & Whitney PW1000 geared turbofans producing 21,000-22,900 lb. thrust each. Both the CS100 and CS300 are to be available in standard and extended-range versions and the CS300 is additionally to be available in an “extra-thrust” version. CS100 service entry is planned for late 2013, and the CS300 is to arrive about a year later.
This twin-engine turboprop aircraft family was known as the Dash 8 series. The Q100, the original model in the series, 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 have included the 37-39-passenger Q200 (with 2,150-shp PW123C/D engines) and the 50-56-seat Q300 (with 2,500-shp PW123Bs). Production of the Q100, Q200 and Q300 has ended. The 68-78-seat Q400 (with 6,000-shp PW150As) remains in production.
Initially, the new ARJ21 regional jet from Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China (Comac) is to be available in the ARJ21-700 78-90-seat variant, while later introduction of the 98-105-seat -900 is a possibility. Power will be 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. Four -700s were built through 2010, and 179 are forecast for production through 2020. The ARJ21 faces competition from Bombardier and Embraer.
A twin-turbofan-powered, commercial passenger transport aircraft, the C919 targets the international duopoly of Airbus and Boeing in narrowbody airliner sales. 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 190-seat model designed to compete with Airbus's A321 and Boeing's 737-800/900. Comac has selected the CFM International Leap-X1C engine to power the C919. Service entry is planned for 2016, with 85 aircraft forecast for production through 2020.
The TBM 850 is a single-engine, 4-6-passenger, turboprop-powered aircraft that replaced the earlier TBM 700 in 2006. It is designed to compete with very light jets. Power is provided by a single 850-shp Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-66D engine. The aircraft has a range of about 1,520 nm. Through 2010, production totaled 222 aircraft. Production of 414 more units is forecast for 2011-20.
This is a family of twin-engine, 70-122-seat regional jet aircraft. The 70-80-passenger 170 made its first flight in February 2002, while the 78-88-seat 175 flew for the first time 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. The 190 and 195 share a 18,500-lb.-thrust version of the CF34-10E. Through 2010, some 719 aircraft in this series were produced; an estimated 1,038 are forecast for 2011-20.
The ERJ 135/140/145 family is a series of twin-engine, 37-50-seat regional jets. The initial model in the series 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; deliveries began 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 3007 turbofan.
The French company GECI International and its Sky Aircraft subsidiary are developing a 19-passenger twin turboprop called the Skylander SK-105. The Skylander was formally launched in September 2008. The aircraft is powered by a pair of Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-65B engines. Certification and service entry are planned for 2012.
The Australian company GippsAero is developing an 8-10-seat turboprop aircraft that is to be powered by a Rolls-Royce 250-B17F2 engine. The aircraft will have a maximum all-up weight of 2,155 kg (4,750 lb.). First flight of a GA10 developmental prototype is scheduled for this month. Australian type certification is planned for February 2013.
A 19-seat utility 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. The Y-12E is powered by 750-shp PT6A-135 engines. Harbin is currently developing the Y-12F, which will have a substantially different design from the earlier Y-12s. The Y-12F will have a wider fuselage, retractable landing gear and increased speed, range and payload.
Beech launched the King Air series of 8-12-seat, twin-turboprop aircraft in 1963. Since then, numerous variants have appeared. Deliveries totaled were 6,526 through 2010. Hawker Beechcraft currently 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 250 by two Pratt & Whitney PT6A-52s rated at 850 shp each, and the 350i by two 1,050-shp Pratt & Whitney PT6A-60As. Some 1,229 King Airs are expected to be produced in 2011-20.
The Irkut MS-21 is a twin-turbofan, narrowbody derivative of the defunct Yakovlev Yak-242 airliner. First flight is planned for 2014. The MS-21 family comprises the 150-seat MS-21-200, 181-seat -300 and 212-seat -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. Service entry is targeted for 2016. Primary competition for the MS-21 is likely to come from the Boeing 737, Airbus A320 and Comac C919.
The current L-410UVP-E20 model of this 15-19-passenger, unpressurized, twin-turboprop regional/utility transport aircraft is powered by two GE M601 engines. GE is developing an improved H80 powerplant that combines the M601 design with GE-developed 3-D aerodynamic design techniques and new materials. The H80 features an extended service life of 3,600 flight hours or 6,600 cycles between overhauls and improved hot-day takeoff performance and high-altitude cruise speeds. The engine requires no recurrent fuel nozzle or hot-section inspections.
Mitsubishi formally launched the Mitsubishi Regional Jet family in March 2008. Two basic models are planned: the 78-passenger MRJ70 and 92-passenger MRJ90. Both are powered by a pair of Pratt & Whitney PurePower PW1200G geared turbofans. Extended-range and long-range versions of each basic model are envisioned, while a 100-seater dubbed the MRJ100X is also being considered. First flight of the MRJ is scheduled for 2012. Service entry is planned for 2014. Some 214 MRJs are forecast for production in 2011-20.
Launched in 2007, RUAG Aerospace's Do 228NG (Next Generation) is an updated version of Dornier's original turboprop Do 228. The aircraft is powered by 776-shp TPE331-10 engines and features other improvements such as a new glass cockpit, five-blade propellers and aerodynamic changes to the wing. The first Do 228NGs were delivered in 2010 and 74 are forecast to be built in 2011-20.
The Tu-204-100 short/medium-range, narrowbody commercial transport aircraft is powered by a pair of Aviadvigatel PS-90A turbofans, while the Tu-204-120 variant has two Rolls-Royce RB211-535E4 engines. The Tu-214, also known as the Tu-204-200, has a higher maximum takeoff weight (244,155 lb.) than the Tu-204-100. It retains the PS-90A powerplants of the -100 but carries additional fuel. The Tu-204's first flight occurred in January 1989. Through 2010, 79 Tu-204s (in all versions) were produced.
Viking Air owns the manufacturing rights to a number of out-of-production de Havilland aircraft, including the DHC-6 Twin Otter non-pressurized, high-wing, twin-engine turboprop utility aircraft. In April 2007, Viking Air launched a program to restart production of the 19-passenger Twin Otter. The updated Viking Air Twin Otter Series 400 incorporates more than 800 changes to the Series 300 and is now powered by a pair of Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-34s or optional PT6A-35s.
The MA60 twin-turboprop transport aircraft is a stretched version of the Xian Y7-200A, in turn a variation of the Antonov An-24. Accommodation can be provided for 52-60 passengers. 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, called the -500, is also marketed. In May 2010, a new variant, the MA600, was awarded certification by the Civil Aviation Administration of China.
Xian is developing a twin-turboprop regional airliner dubbed the MA700. This aircraft is not an MA60 variant, but rather a clean-sheet design. Features include six-blade propellers, a T-tail and an unswept, high-mounted wing. Two versions are envisioned: with 70-plus and 90-plus seats. A dedicated freighter variant has also been considered. The MA700 effort is in the design phase, with formal launch tentatively planned by year-end. Negotiations are under way with Pratt & Whitney Canada regarding supply of an engine and may be ongoing with Rolls-Royce.
A wave of new aircraft programs is under way that will help define the next era of the global airline industry. The first of these aircraft types are entering revenue service, and will accelerate the phase-out of some iconic current-generation commercial aircraft models. Boeing in particular will look back at 2011 as a transitional year. The first Boeing 787 was finally delivered on Sept. 26 to launch customer All Nippon Airways (ANA), which is flying its initial 787-8s on short-haul routes.
