The Antonov An-140 is a twin-engine transport primarily used as a commercial regional airliner seating 52 passengers, but it is also employed by the Russian Ministry of Defense. The aircraft is powered by Motor Sich TV3-117VMA-SBM1 turboprop engines, 2,500 shp each, although Pratt & Whitney Canada PW127As (also 2,500 shp) may be used as alternatives. First An-140 flight occurred in 1997, and an estimated 31 units have been built to date. The Aviacor plant in Samara, Russia, also manufactures the An-140, and Iran’s HESA offers a license-built An-140 “Oghab” maritime patrol aircraft variant.

The An-148 is a twin-engine regional jet designed to serve the 70-80-seat market. First flight of the An-148 took place in 2004, with type certification by Russia and Ukraine following in 2007. Power for the aircraft comes from two Ivchenko-Progress D436-148 turbofan engines. Three test aircraft and approximately 15 production aircraft were manufactured through 2013, and an additional 62 are forecast through 2023.

The ATR series are turboprop-powered regional transport aircraft first developed in 1981 by the European joint venture formed by Aerospatiale (now Airbus Group) and Aeritalia (now Alenia Aermacchi, part of the Finmeccanica group). The ATR 42’s first delivery occurred in 1985, followed by the ATR 72 in 1989. The latest versions are the ATR 42-600 and the ATR 72-600. Both -600 variants are powered by a pair of Pratt & Whitney PW127M engines, rated at 2,400-2,750 shp each. Through 2013, ATR delivered 429 ATR 42s and 678 ATR 72s.

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.