The A340 is a four-engine, intercontinental, widebody commercial transport aircraft. A prototype flew in October 1991, and deliveries began in January 1993. The A340-200 and -300 were certificated by the European Joint Aviation Authorities in December 1992 and the FAA in February 1993. Both models are powered by four 31,200-34,000-lb.-thrust CFM56-5C4 turbofans. Two newer models, the longer-range -500 and the stretched -600, are powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 500s. Typical seating for the -200, -300, -500 and -600 is 262, 295, 313 and 380 passengers, respectively.

Business model for legacy and low-cost carriers is converging, in both the U.S. and Europe.

Currently in development, the A350 is a twin-engine, widebody jetliner intended to compete with Boeing’s 787 and 777. The A350 is powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines rated in the 75,000-97,000-lb.-thrust range, and will have a cruise speed of around Mach 0.85. Three basic versions are being marketed: the -800, -900 and -1000. Depending on the version, the A350 seats 276-369 passengers, and will have a range of 8,100-8,500 nm. The maiden flight occurred in June 2013. Type certification is expected in late 2014, -900 service entry in the same timeframe.

In developing the 525-passenger A380, Airbus chose to leap past Boeing’s 747 in capacity class. Boeing markets the 747-8 to compete with the A380 indirectly, but no direct competition to the A380 exists in the 500-plus-seat market. The A380 is powered by four turbofan engines rated at 70,000-76,500 lb. thrust each, and can be outfitted with either the Rolls-Royce Trent 900 or GE/Pratt & Whitney Engine Alliance GP7200. Airbus currently produces only a passenger version of the A380.

The C212 is an unpressurized, twin-turboprop-powered military transport with room for up to 25 fully equipped troops or a payload of up to 6,504 lb. Along with transport duties, the aircraft has seen popularity in a maritime patrol role. Developed by Spain’s CASA, and once known as the Aviocar, the C212 made its first flight in March 1971; deliveries began in May 1974. Some 477 C-212s (of all versions) were built through 2013, including about 110 aircraft assembled by Indonesian Aerospace (IAe).

The L-410 is a 15-19-passenger, unpressurized, twin-turboprop-powered, regional/utility transport aircraft. The current-production L-410UVP-E20 model is powered by two GE M601 engines. Under development is an improved variant called the L-410 NG that will feature GE H85-200 engines, Avio AV 725 five-blade propellers, a new wing and a new glass cockpit. As a first step toward development of the NG model, Aircraft Industries is integrating the H80-200 engine and the AV 725 propellers into the L-410UVP-E20. More than 1,100 L-410s have been produced.

The An-28 and An-38 are twin-turboprop utility/transport aircraft. First flight of the An-28 occurred in 1969, with temporary Soviet certification following in 1978 and full certification in 1986. A Westernized version of the An-28, the PZL Mielec M28, made its first flight in 1993 and received FAA certification in 2004. A stretched An-28 version, the An-38, made its first flight in 1994 and received Russian certification in 1997. The An-28 is powered by two PZL Rzeszow TWD-10B/PZL-10S engines, with the Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-65B powering the M28.

The An-124 is a four-engine, intercontinental-range, heavy-lift cargo transport, and the An-225 is a six-engine, heavy-lift jet designed to carry the Soviet shuttle orbiter Buran. Initial flight of a production An-124 prototype took place in 1982 and commercial operation began in 1986. The An-124 is powered by four Ivchenko-Progress D-18T turbofan engines, while the An-225 uses six. Fifty-five An-124s and one An-225 have been produced to date.