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Aerospatiale ATR72-500 ~ Francisco Sánchez-Castañer

The ATR-72 is a stretched development of the popular ATR-42 and was launched in January 1986.

Significant differences between the ATR-72 and the smaller and older ATR-42 include a 4.50m (14ft 9in) fuselage stretch and reworked wings. The ATR-72's wings are new outboard of the engine nacelles and with 30% of it made up of composite materials, comprising composite spars and skin panels and a carbon fibre wing box.

Aside from the baseline ATR-72-200, two developments have been offered, the ATR-72-210, and the ATR-72-500 (previously ATR-72-210A). The ATR-72-210 is optimised for operations in hot and high conditions. It has more powerful PW-127 engines for better takeoff performance.

The ATR-72-500 (renamed from ATR-72-210A on May 18, 1998) further improved hot and high model was certificated in early 1997. It features PW-127Fs driving six blade composite Hamilton Sundstrand propellers.

 

 

Antonov An-24RV ~ SamDim Design

The An-24 is the original aircraft in a prolific and highly successful family of twin turboprop civil and military transports. The An-24 first flew in April 1960 with first production versions entering Aeroflot service in September 1963. Aeroflot was the largest An-24 operator, with others going to Soviet client nations.

Subsequent production versions of the An-24 were the An-24B and the An-24T freighter. A small turbojet in the right engine nacelle to boost takeoff performance resulted in the An-24RT and An-24RV. The An-24P firebomber was also developed before Ukrainian production ceased in 1978.

The An-24 was also developed into the An-26 "Curl" military tactical transport with more powerful engines and redesigned tail, which itself evolved into the An-32 with enhancements for better hot and high performance. Over 550 An-26s are in civil service.

The An-30 development has been produced in limited numbers and is used largely for aerial survey and cartography work. This version is identifiable by its extensive nose glazing.

The An-32 first flew in 1976 and features much more powerful 3760kW (5042ehp) Progress engines for improved hot and high performance. The An-32 features above wing mounted engines to give the larger diameter props adequate ground clearance.

China's Xian Aircraft Manufacturing Company is now the sole production source for the An-24 as the Y-7. The Y-7-100 incorporates a number of modifications including a revised passenger interior and flightdeck, and wingtip winglets. It was developed with the technical assistance of HAECO in Hong Kong during the 1980s.

 

Beechcraft 18 Volpar ~ Brian Gladden

The Beech 18 was one of Beechcraft's most enduring designs. In production from the late 1930's until the early 60's many are still in use all over the world.

This plane represents a late Model Super H with the Volpar Trigear conversion. The Volpar kit added an extended nose and converted the plane to a tri-gear configuration rather than the stock taildragger landing gear.

 

Bombardier Dash8 Q400 ~ Dreamwings

Bombardier's 70 seat de Havilland Dash 8 Series Q400 is the latest and longest member of the successful Dash 8 twin turboprop family, but with new engines, avionics and systems, a modified wing and stretched fuselage is essentially an all new aeroplane

 

 

Britten Norman BN2A Islander

~ Marcel Kuhnt

The BN-2 Islander was Britten-Norman's second original design, work on which began during 1963.

Developed as a Dragon Rapide replacement, the emphasis was on producing a rugged and durable aircraft that had good field performance, low operating costs and was easy to maintain. One unusual feature is that there is no centre aisle between seats in the main cabin, instead there are three doors along each side of the fuselage for passenger boarding. The prototype BN-2 Islander was powered by two 155kW (210hp) IO-360s and first flight was on June 13 1965.

The first production machines were powered by 195kW (260hp) IO-540s and were simply designated BN-2, the first flew in 1967. A small number were built before production switched to the BN-2A which introduced fairings to the main undercarriage legs, wing leading edge and flap droop, and an increased max takeoff weight. From 1970 the base A model was the BN-2A-6 and the BN-2A-7 had extended wingtips, while the BN-2A-2 and BN-2A-3 were powered by the 225kW (300hp) IO-540, the latter with the extended wingtips.

Appearing in 1972 were the 195kW (260hp) powered BN-2A-26 and extended wingtips BN-2A-27, and the 225kW (300hp) BN-2A-20 and extended wingtips BN-2A-21, all four models having higher weights. Further improvements came with the BN-2B range with higher weights, improved interior and instrument panel and shorter diameter props. The 26, 27, 20 and 21 variants were available as before. The 27 and 21 were later dropped while the BN-2B-20 and BN-2B-26 remain in production. The turboprop (Allison 250) powered BN-2T has been built since 1981.

In September1979 Britten-Norman became Pilatus Britten-Norman, in July 1998 it was renamed back to Britten-Norman, and from April 2000 it became B-N Group.

 

Britten Norman BN2A Trislander

~ Marcel Kuhnt

The three engined Trislander takes its inspiration from the configurations of trijets such as the L-1011 and DC-10 in its answer to the need for more power for a stretched version of the Islander (described separately).

Britten-Norman research showed that there existed sufficient market demand to warrant the development of a stretched Islander, and the company concluded that any stretched version would need to offer a 50% increase in internal capacity. The company's novel approach to the need for more power was to add a third engine, rather than two engines of increased power output. A nose mounted engine in the fashion of the Ju-52 was considered, but due to the Islander's nose configuration, BrittenNorman settled on mounting the engine on the vertical tail, resulting in the BN-2A Mk.3 Trislander.

The tail mounted engine involved significant modification to the tail and strengthening of the rear fuselage. Other changes over the Islander include a 2.29m (7ft 6in) fuselage stretch forward of the wing, new main landing gear and larger diameter wheels and tyres.

The first Trislander was in fact converted from the second Islander prototype, and it made the type's first flight on September 11 1970. Early production Trislanders were also conversions of Islanders, while subsequent Trislanders were built on the same production line as the Islander. The first production Trislander flew on March 6 1971, certification was granted on May 14, and first deliveries to a customer occurred on June 29 that year.

Britten-Norman Trislander production ceased in 1982 after 73 were ordered (by which stage the company had been acquired by Pilatus). Plans to produce the Trislander in the USA as the TriCommutair by the International Aviation Corporation, and in Australia never came to fruition. However one of 12 kits built for the TriCommutair project was assembled in Guernsey in the UK and flew in March 1996.

 

De Havilland DHC-3 TTC Super Otter ~ Eugene Heyart

This airplane is the exact copy of the conversion created
by (real world) Texas Turbine Conversions. This Otter has received a more powerfull turbine for a much better performance.

 

 

 

 

De Havilland DHC-6 300 ~ Premiercraft

Canada's most successful commercial aircraft program with more than 800 built, the Twin Otter remains popular for its rugged construction and useful STOL performance.

The Series 300 was introduced from the 231st production aircraft in 1969. It featured the lengthened nose, but also introduced more powerful engines, thus allowing a 450kg (1000lb) increase in takeoff weight and a 20 seat interior. Production ceased in late 1988. In addition, six 300S enhanced STOL performance DHC-6-300s were built in the mid 1970s.

 

De Havilland DHC-6 300 Vistaliner ~ Premiercraft

Canada's most successful commercial aircraft program with more than 800 built, the Twin Otter remains popular for its rugged construction and useful STOL performance.

The Series 300 was introduced from the 231st production aircraft in 1969. It featured the lengthened nose, but also introduced more powerful engines, thus allowing a 450kg (1000lb) increase in takeoff weight and a 20 seat interior. Production ceased in late 1988. In addition, six 300S enhanced STOL performance DHC-6-300s were built in the mid 1970s.

 

De Havilland DHC-6 300 Skydive ~ Premiercraft

Canada's most successful commercial aircraft program with more than 800 built, the Twin Otter remains popular for its rugged construction and useful STOL performance.

The Series 300 was introduced from the 231st production aircraft in 1969. It featured the lengthened nose, but also introduced more powerful engines, thus allowing a 450kg (1000lb) increase in takeoff weight and a 20 seat interior. Production ceased in late 1988. In addition, six 300S enhanced STOL performance DHC-6-300s were built in the mid 1970s.

 

Embraer EMB-120 Brasilia ~ OSS

The Brasilia has proved to be a popular, relatively high speed yet comparatively inexpensive to operate and purchase regional airliner.

Embraer first began design work on a new regional turboprop airliner in the late 1970s when the company studied stretching its EMB121 Xingu corporate turboprop to a 25 seat regional airliner. While this was the first aircraft to bear the EMB120 designation (it was named the Araguia), the production EMB120 is an all new aircraft. Design studies of the definitive EMB120 began in September 1979, first flight of a PW115 powered prototype took place on July 27 1983, and entry into service was in October 1985.

Versions of the EMB120 include: the initial production EMB120; the Reduced Takeoff weight EMB120RT; the Extended Range EMB120ER; the EMB120 Cargo freighter; mixed passenger/freight EMB120 Combi; and EMB120 Convertible. Hot and high versions of these models have PW118A engines, which retain their power ratings to a higher altitude.

The current production model is the EMB120ER Advanced, which incorporates a range of external and interior improvements. The fuselage of the EMB120 also forms the basis for the ERJ145 50 seat regional jet.

 

NAMC YS-11 ~ AFG

The only Japanese airliner to enter production since WW2, the YS11 achieved a degree of success in its domestic market and in North America.

The YS11 was a product of the Nihon Aircraft Manufacturing Company (or NAMC), a consortium of Fuji, Kawasaki, Mitsubishi, Nippi, Shin Meiwa (now Shin Maywa) and Showa. NAMC formed on June 1 1959 to design and develop a short to medium range airliner, with particular attention being paid to meeting the specific operating requirements of the Japanese domestic airlines.

NAMC selected the RollsRoyce Dart over the Allison 501 to power the new airliner. Fuji was given responsibility for the tail unit, Kawasaki the wings and engine nacelles, Mitsubishi the forward fuselage and final assembly, Nippi the ailerons and flaps, Shin Meiwa the rear fuselage and Showa the light alloy honeycomb structural components.

The YS11 first flew on August 30 1962 (a second prototype flew that December), and was awarded Japanese certification in August 1964. By that time the first production aircraft were under construction, and the type entered service with Toa Airways (now JAS) in April 1965. Initial production was of the YS11100, the follow up YS11A200 (first flight November 1967) was designed for export markets and featured an increased max takeoff weight. The YS11A300 was a combi passenger/freight model, while the YS11A400 was a pure freighter with a forward freight door.

The YS11A500, 600 and 700 were equivalent to the 200, 300 and 400, but with a 500kg (1100lb) greater max takeoff weight. Production ceased in February 1974.

By late 1998 66 YS11s remained in commercial service. The largest operators were All Nippon (6) and Japan Air Commuter (12).

 

Pilatus PC-12 ~ AFG

The PC-12 is a King Air class and size turboprop aimed at corporate transport and regional airliner operators. It is the latest in a line of single engined PT6 powered Pilatus products.

Pilatus announced it was developing the PC-12 at the National Business Aircraft Association's annual convention in October 1989. First flight of the first of two prototypes occurred on May 31 1991. Certification was originally planned for mid 1993 but a redesign of the wings with the addition of winglets to ensure performance guarantees were met pushed this back, with Swiss certification awarded on March 30 1994 and US FAA FAR Part 23 approval following on July 15 1994.

Compared to the King Air 200 twin, its major competitor, the PC-12's most significant design feature is its use of a single PT6A-67B turboshaft. Internally the PC-12's cabin is also longer (by 6cm/2.4in) and wider (by 15cm/6in) than the King Air 200's, and the same height. The cockpit features EFIS displays and the PC-12 is certificated for single pilot operation while each PC-12 built features a standard cargo door in the rear fuselage. Weather radar is an option but has been fitted to all production aircraft thus far. From 1997 the increased 4.5 tonne MTOW has been standard. New, smaller winglets were introduced in 1998.

The PC-12 is offered in standard nine seat airliner form, in a four passenger seat/freight combi version and as a six place corporate transport. A pure freighter model is under consideration. The PC-12 Eagle is a military special missions platform.

Most PC-12s built thus far have been corporate transports but recent important regulatory changes in Australia, Brazil, Canada and the USA have cleared single engine turboprops for IFR RPT operations in those nations. This has opened up new potential markets for the PC12 as a regional airliner, replacing older King Airs and elderly piston twins such as the Navajo Chieftain and Cessna 400 series.