Latest Commercial Aviation Content by Aviation Week & Space Technology
Oct 14, 2013
In developing the 525-passenger A380, Airbus chose to leap past Boeing's 747 in capacity class. Boeing markets the 747-8 to indirectly compete with the A380, but no direct competition to the A380 exists in the 500-plus-seat market. The A380 is powered by four turbofan engines rated 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. First flight occurred in 2005, with 101 A380s produced through 2012.
Oct 14, 2013
The C212 made its first flight in March 1971, and deliveries began in May 1974. It is currently built in Indonesia by Indonesian Aerospace (IAe). Some 477 C212s (of all versions) were produced in Spain and Indonesia through 2012. The C212 is an unpressurized, 21-28-passenger regional twin-turboprop. The C212-200 is powered by Honeywell TPE331-10R-511C or -512C turboprop engines rated 900 shp each. The C212-300 used TPE331-10R-513C turboprops, also rated 900 shp each. The latest production model, the C212-400, is equipped with TPE331-12JR-701C engines rated 925 shp each.
Oct 14, 2013
The 15-19-passenger L-410 is an unpressurized, twin-turboprop regional/utility transport aircraft. The current production L-410UVP-E20 is powered by two GE M601 engines. Under development is an improved variant called the L-410 NG that will feature GE H80 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 engine and the AV 725 propellers into the L-410UVP-E20.
Oct 14, 2013
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.
Oct 14, 2013
The An-124 is a four-engine, intercontinental-range, heavy-lift cargo transport, and the An-225 is a six-engine, heavy-lift jet that was 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.
Oct 14, 2013
The An-148 is a twin-engine regional jet designed to serve the 70-80-seat market. First flight took place in 2004, with type certification by Russia and Ukraine in 2007. Power for the aircraft comes from two Ivchenko-Progress D436-148 turbofan engines. Two test aircraft and 15 production aircraft were produced through 2012, and an additional 60 are forecast for production through 2022. The An-158, a 99-passenger version that is also powered by D436-148s, first flew in 2010.
Oct 14, 2013
The ATRs are turboprop-powered regional transport aircraft built by a joint venture of EADS and Alenia Aermacchi. 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 ATR 72-600. Both -600 variants are powered by a pair of Pratt & Whitney PW127M engines, rated 2,400-2,750 shp each. Through 2012, 422 ATR 42s and 611 ATR 72s were delivered. Production of 668 ATRs is forecast for the 2013-22 period.
Oct 14, 2013
Beech launched the King Air series of 8-12-seat, twin-turboprop aircraft in 1963. Since then, numerous variants have appeared. Total production 6,314 through 2012. Beechcraft currently markets the King Air C90GTx, King Air 250 and King Air 350i. The C90GTx is powered by two Pratt & Whitney PT6A-135 turboprops producing 550 shp each; the 250 by PT6A-52s rated at 850 shp each; and the 350i by 1,050-shp PT6A-60As. Some 1,286 King Airs are expected to be produced in the 2013-22 period.