view large		 Aerospacelines/Boeing (Super) Guppy
TA handful Boeing 377 Stratocruisers have been converted to transport parts of Airbus, NASA and others. 

 photo: F-BGTV, Airbus , Düsseldorf 01.04.95, Werner Fischdick

 


view large		 Aerospatiale/Sud Caravelle
This elegant French jet was revolutionary and a first in many aspects. The type has all but disappeared from service

 photo: TC-AKA ex Istanbul Air, Istanbul 02.95, Servaas Verbrugge

other links: Caravelle club  Sudaviation , Carav. web museum, promovideo 


view large 		Aerospatiale/BAC Concorde
This supersonic jet was operationally a modest success but fascinated the world from its first flight in 1969 til its last in 2003 and beyond.

 photo: F-BTSD Air France, Paris CDG 31.05.03, Werner Fischdick

other links: Concordesst ,  Concordejet  


view large		 Aerospatiale/Sud Nord-262
The Nord 262 was a commuter prop with 29 seats built in the 1960s. Although a modest succes (110 built), some are still in service.

 photo: TG-NTR of RACSA, Flores 05.2001  Servaas Verbrugge

other links: French Navy Nord-262A

 


view large		 ATR-42 and 72
This French / Italian built twin prop seats between 40 and 70 passengers. With current high fuel prices, sales spead up again, now having passed the 700 mark.

 photo: D-AEWH of Eurowings, Dusseldorf 31.07.04 Aart Langevoort

links: ATR 

 


view large		 Airbus A-300
Europe's main manufacturers agreed about building a 300 seater widebody airliner together. It first flew in 1972 and after a slow start, Airbus built a whole family around this design, and cargo versions are still manufactured.

 photo: TC-ONY Onur Air, Dusseldorf 31.07.04 Aart Langevoort

 

 

other links: 

 


view large		 Airbus A-310
The shorter A-310 was a derivative of the A-300, a modest 255 have been built between 1982 and 1998, most of which are already relegated to cargo service. 

 photo: C-GVAT Air Transat, Toronto 24.06.04 Micha Lück


view large		 Airbus A-318
The shortest version of the A-320 family flew in 2002 and after problems with the PW engine are solved, sales finally reaching 100, are still slow compared to the A-319 and A-320.

 photo: F-GUGD Air France, Amesterdam 16.03.04, Aart Langevoort

 

 

 

 

other links:  Club Airbus/French Frog

 


view large		 Airbus A-319
The shortened A-319 first flew in 1995 as a 737/DC-9 replacement. With more then 1000 sold and also popular with Low Cost carriers, it's one of the stronger Airbus in the market now. 

 photo: 9A-CTH Croatia AL, Dusseldorf 30.07.04, Aart Langevoort


view large		 Airbus A-320 / 321
The A-320 was the first Airbus narrowbody, flying in 1987, and the first true challenge to Boeing and MDD. Expanding this 160 seat design into smaller and longer versions, Airbus covers half of the important 100-200 seat market by the start of the 21st Century. 

 photo: A-321 C-GKOI Air Canada, Ottawa 23-6-04 Micha Lück


view large		 Airbus A-330
In 1987, Airbus took the unusual step of announcing the joint launch of twin- and four engined airliners based on the same fuselage. The two engined A-330 has proven by now to be most successful of the couple.

 photo: D-ALPF  LTU, Dusseldorf 31.07.04 Aart Langevoort

 

 

 

 

other links: Airbus A340 website 

 


view large		 Airbus A-340 200 and 300 series
The four engined A-340 was to make it suitable for long range routes, but with longer ETOPS possible gets a little outdated, with few more orders after 2003 

 photo: LV-ZRA Aerolineas Argentinas, EZE 17.09.98, Sebastián Popovsky


view large		 Airbus A-340-500/600, A-350, A-380 and A-400
The stretched A-340 with a capacity for 350-400 passengers was the first true 747 alternative. While having some high profile orders, the total number is slightly disappointing 

 photo: EC-IQR Iberia, Madrid 02.04.05 Aart Langevoort


view large		 Antonov 22, 72/74 
The Antonov 22 was the biggest prop-engined airliner ever and  the 72/74 a medium sized  cargo aircraft

 photo: An-72 ES-NOI Atlantic Airlines, Coventry 11-7-05 Aart Langevoort

  

 

other links: 

 

 


view large		 Antonov 124/125, 140, 148 
, the 124/225 is the largest aircraft now in service, the new An-140, an ATR-styled commuter prop with its future uncertain due to some crashes, and the An-148 is a new Regional Jet.
 photo: An-140 UR-14002 Aeromost, Bratislava 10.03 Servaas Verbrugge

N/A		 AVIC I ARJ21
IThis Chinese regional Jet resembled the DC-9 and Boeing 717 a lot, the first flight is due in March 2008.

 

other links:

view large		 BAe-146 and Avro RJ
Initially developed by Hawker Siddely, the 146 was powered by four low powered turbofans for operations to noise conscious areas and short runways. BAe relaunched the Avro Regional Jetliner in 1992 which meant a small revival, but production ceased in 2002.

 photo: C-GRNX Jazz, YOW 24.06.05, Micha Lück 

other links:Smiliner

view large		 Avro / BAe/ HS- 748
The UK answer to the F-27 and other 50 seaters was the HS-748. it sold reasonably and has also been licence built in India, the last one was produced in 1988.

 photo: HR-ATC Atlantic, Tegucigalpa 14.12.04, Servaas Verbrugge

other links: HS748.com 

 


view large		 BAe Jetstream J-31 and HP-137
More then 10 year after Handley Page produced the HP-137, BAe updated the design and built almost 400 units of this 19-seater till the mid 1990s.

 photo: ZK-JSR OriginPacific, NZL 07.2004 Micha Lück 

 

 

 

 

other links: Jetstream Club 

 

 

 


view large		 BAe Jetstream J-41 / 4100
In 1990 a stretched 29-seat version of the Jetstream was launched. Hardly a success, in a few years, 105 frames were built before production ceased.

 photo: ZK-JSR OriginPacific, NZL 07.2004 Micha Lück 

view large		 BAe ATP
The ATP, first flight in 1986, was an advanced and stretched version of the old HS-748, but it failed to gain comparible substantial orders.  After a struggling 10 years and 65 built, the unbuilt fuselages were sent to the scrapheap. 

 photo: G-MANP, Brisitsh AW Citiline, I O Man, 13.03.04 Thomas Klein


view large		 BAC 1-11 / Rombac 1-11
With a production of 244 frames, this was one of the most successful British aircraft. If the energy put in Concorde was spent on stretched and reengined versions, we might have still seen it everywhere today. 

 photo: G-AZMF European Avtn, Bournemouth 03.02  Servaas Verbrugge

other links: BAC 1-11jet 

 


view large		 DH-106 Comet / Nimrod
The Comet was the first jetliner to operate. The whole industry learned of it's crashes. The later versions were technological fine but soon outdated. The military Nimrod is based on the Comet but with newer engines.

 photo: G-BDIX ex Dan-Air, East Fortune, 30.09.01 Servaas Verbrugge

other links: Comet Homepage , Marc Schaeffers' , CometMP , Target lock: Nimrod 

view large		 HS-121 Trident
The Hawker Siddely Trident only had limited success, 117 aircraft  were sold, that was blamed to listen too closely to BEA (later BA) 's specifications. The last Trident flight occured in 1997 in China.

 photo: G-AVXB ex BEA, Duxford 23.02.03 Servaas Verbrugge

other links: about G-AWZK 

 


view large		 BAC / Vickers VC-10
Another British aircraft which was overshadowed by its US competitors like the 707 and DC-8. Although withdrawn from passenger service in 1981, some survive as tankers and VIP transporters with the RAF.

 photo: G-ASXC  ex BOAC, Duxford 23.02.03, Servaas Verbrugge

other links: Little VC10derness 

 


view large		 Beech 99
The Beech 99 (15 seats) was a pioneer in the commuter market, although not built in great numbers, later designs by Embraer, Swearingen and Beech were based on this concept

 photo: N206AV Air Vegas, Las Vegas North 04.12.2002, Servaas Verbrugge

 

 

other links:

 


view large		 Beech 1900 and 2000 Starship
This Beech 1900 (19 seats) first flew in 1982 and remained longer in production then its competitors, til 2003. The Starship was an innovative biz-plane but failed commercially has been pulled off the market. 

 photo: N1552C ACE, Anchorage 08.99, Servaas Verbrugge


view large		 Beechjet 400
The Beechjet 400 series were originally developed by Mitsubishi as the Diamond 1. The military version is the T-1A Jayhawk for the USAF

 photo: TC-MHS Premier I, Dusseldorf 30.07.04 Aart Langevoort

other links:  

 


view large		 Boeing 707 , 720 and KC-135
The first flight of the 707 in 1954 marked the start of the jet revolution in the airline business. Military KC-135 survive in bigger numbers then the 707 due to the CFM-56 reengine program.

 photo: T-95 LADE, El Palomar 01.05, Sebastián Popovsky

other links: KC-135 str , Sentry , KC135.org

view large		 Boeing 717 ( MD-95)
MdDonnell Douglas prepared the MD-95 as DC-9 sized modern aircraft. After Boeing took MDD over, the aircraft was remarketed as the 717 but failed to gain more then 155 orders, production ceased in 2006.

 photo: N895AT AirTran, New York LGA 01.01.05, Micha Lück

other links: B717.de 

 


view large		 Boeing 727 - 100
The 727 first flew in 1963 and was the most succesfull jetliner for a long time. The short -100 was built til the early 1970s.

 photo: XA-SKC Aerolineas Internacionales, 12.10.00 Mexico DF, Servaas V

 

 

other links: Bensons 727's , Airplanehomes, 727datacenter 

 


view large		 Boeing 727 - 200 
The longer 727-200 was the most successful variant and has played a major role especially in US domestic aviation in the 1970s til 1990s. About a quarter still survives mainly as cargo converted aircraft. 

 photo: 5N-BDG Chanchangi AL, Kaduna 12.03, Andrew Worthington


view large		 Boeing 737  100 and 200 series
Boeing announced the 737 in 1965 to get a hold on the regional jetliner market, were McDonnell Douglas was successful with the DC-9. Sales were sluggish in the first 10 years but by 1980 the 737-200 advanced was the best selling aircraft.                                                       photo: C-FHJC Canjet, YOW 24.06.04, Micha Lück 		 

 

other links: boeing 737 online , 737 information ,737 technical 

 


view large		 Boeing 737 300, 400 and 500 series
The engines of the 200-series were becoming outdated, though, and Boeing first flew the re-engined and stretched 300 in 1984. A bigger (400) and smaller (500) counterpart followed soon. This generation outsold any competitor until the late 1990s.                                 photo: HS-TDA 737-400 Nok Air, Udon Thani 23.09.04 Servaas Verbrugge

view large		 Boeng 737 NG (600 to 900 and BBJ)
The Next Generation 737 was announced in 1993 and being built since 1997, it remains head to head with the A-320 family. The total 737 family reached the 6000 sold and 5000 built mark by early 2006. 

 photo: ZK-PBC 737-800 Pacific Blue, Micha Lück

other links: new Boeings 

 


view large		 Boeing 747 100 / 200 / 300
The Boeing 747 Jumbo Jet first flew in 1969. Its upperdeck was based on the idea the aircraft could easily carry on as a freighter, when it would became superfluous due to supersonic transports.

 photo: N716CK Connie Kalitta 747-122F Amsterdam 17.04.04, Aart Langevoort

 

 

 

other links: 747SP website , new Boeings 

 

 


view large		 Boeing 747 SP
The short bodied 747SP was a gawky niche aircraft for long distances, the 45 aircraft built have become obscure relics. 

 photo: YK-AHB Syrianair, Amsterdam 01.01.05 Aart Langevoort


view large		 Boeing 747-400 and 800
The 747-400 variant was sold since 1988 but lately lost market share against two engined widebodies. The new longer -800 was launched in 2005 but mainly attracts interest by cargo airlines.

 photo: DQ-FJK Air Pacific, Vancouver 2004 Micha Lück


view large		 Boeing 757-200
Together with the 767, Boeing launched this 727 follow up in 1978. It became a reasonable success especially in the USA, although production ceased in 2005. 

 photo: 'C-GTSN/ 803 Harmony Air, Vancouver 2004, Micha Lück

 

 

other links: B757info 

 

 


view large		 Boeing 757-300
The ultra stretched 757-300 came into service in the late 1990s but was too late to gain more then a few orders.

 photo: D-ABOF Condor/Thomas Cook, Dusseldorf 01.08.04 Aart Langevoort


view large		 Boeing 767
Boeings first widebody twin, as answer to Airbus A-300 and 310, was the 767. After a slow start, especially the 300ER series sold quite well. Production continues at a trickle by 2006.

 photo: N797AX Airborne Express, KILN 29.07.04 Matt Kluck

other links: new Boeings 

 


view large		 Boeing 777 and 787
This biggest twin jetliner in service first flew in 1994. Together with the 200ER, the stretched 300 and the 300ER (in service since 2005), the 777 is now the most popular big long range aircraft on the market. The 787 is also selling very well, first flight expected in late 2008.

 photo: N77014 777-224 Continental, Amsterdam 05.04 Servaas Verbrugge

other links: 777 Fleetpage , flying safely on the 777 , new Boeings 

 


view large		 Bombardier Global Express / Continental
The Global Express was launched in 1991 and first flew in 1996, it's one of the largest business jets available, while the Continental is slightly smaller.

 photo: XA-NGS Auckland 09.07.04, Micha Lück

other links:  

 


view large		 Bristol Brabazon, Britannia 
The Britannia was the only western long range turboprop airliner, but failed to sell well. T

 photo: G-AOVT ex Monarch, Duxford 23.02.03 Servaas Verbrugge

other links: Britannia 

 


view large		 Britten Norman / Pilatus Trislander
A variation of the small Islander (9 seats) was the three engined Trislander (17 seats). Few of them are built and still in service.

 photo: ZK-LGR Great Barrier, Raratonga 2004, Micha Lück

other links:  

 

 


NA

 Canadair CL-44, CL-415
The CL-44 was a derivative of the Brisol Briannia and has been in cargo service til the end of the 20th century . The CL-415 is a turboprop engined firefighter and still in production.

 

other links: CL44 , Swingtail

 


view large		 Canadair Regional Jet
Canadair was experienced with their Bizjets, a strechted version of the Challenger was launched in 1991 aimed at the Regional market. While production of the 50-seaters have stopped, the 70 to 90 passenger versions still sell reasonably.

photo: D-ACHI Lufthansa Cityline, Zurich 07.04, Aart Langevoort

other links:  

 


view large		 Canadair Challenger
The Challenger is a fairly large businessjet, originally based on a LearStar design. The latest versions are still in production. 

 photo: D-ANKE Challenger 604, Dusseldorf 01.08.04, Aart Langevoort

other links:  

 


view large		 Casa / Nurtanio 212, 235, 295 
Spains Casa C-212 Aviocar has sold 430 units mainly to military operators. ;like Its follow up, the CN-235, the aircraft are licence-built by Nurtanio in Indonesia as well.

 photo: Casa 235 EC-FBC Binter Mediterráneo, PMI 05.92, Werner Fischdick

other links:  

 


view large		 Cessna Citation
The development of the Citation bizjet family started in the mid 1960s, seven subtypes are still in production today. 

 photo: CS-DHA Netjets Citation 550B, Dusseldorf 01.08.04, Aart Langevoort

other links: Citation Shares 

 


view large		 Convair 240 , 340, 440, 580, 600
Convair built more then 1000 piston engined 240/340/440s more then 100 survive 50 years later, mostly converted with turboprops.

 photo: ZS-KSA King Salomon Airways, 2000, Micha Lück

other links:  

 


view large		 Convair 880, 990
The Convair 880 and 990 were faster but less economical then its main competitors, the 720 and DC-8, and few were flying beyond 1980.

 photo: N8806E Convair 880, Lissabon 11.99, Servaas Verbrugge

other links: Convairjet , Convair Calamity

 


view large		 Curtiss C-46 Commando
The C-46 was way bigger then the DC-3 and more then 3000 were built during WW 2. Unlike the prettier DC-3, very few C-46s survive, a dozen are still airworthy.

 photo: HI-495CT ex AMSA, Santo Domingo 05.04.94, Werner Fischdick

other links:

 


view large		 Dassault Mercure
The Mercure was a marketing failure due to its short range which made it unattractive for airlines with a route structure with longer routes -like almost all airlines. 

 photo: F-BTMD Air Inter, Paris Orly 08.04.89, Werner Fischdick

other links: 

 


view large		 Dassault Falcon
The bizjet Falcon is still in production though.

 photo: C-GMND Falcon 900C, YOW 24.06.04 Micha Lück

other links: Falcon 

 


view large		 DHC-5 Buffalo  and DHC-7
The Buffalo was a turboprop engined follow up to the DHC-4 Cariboo military transport aircraft. The DHC-7 was a STOL 50 seater, the final four engined propellor passenger plane ever. Both were moderate succeses with production around 115.

 photo: OY-CBU DHC-7 Greenland Airways 04.11.05 Calgary, Bill Knight

 

:  

 

 

 

 

other links: Twin Otter Int 

 

:  

 


view large		 DHC-6 Twin Otter
The bigger two turboprop engined version of the Otter is a timeless commuter transport. Almost 40 years after its first flight, most are still flying in less developed areas. 

 photo: '605' West Coast Air, Vancouver 2004, Micha Lück


view large		 DHC-8  100 / 200 / 300
The 2-engined commuter with versions of 37 or 50 seats proved to be a successful commuter aircraft. Launched in 1983, it is still being built by 2006. 

 photo: N835EX US Airways Express, New York LGA 01.01.05 Micha Lück


view large		 DHC-8 / Dash 8-400
The stretched version for up to 70 seats is a slow but steady seller with a healthy orderbook by 2006, being much cheaper and hardly slower then the Regional Jets.

 photo: LN-RDI, SAS, Copenhagen 09.04.04 Aart Langevoort


view large		 Douglas DC-4 / C-54 Skymaster
The first of the big Douglas four engined pistons was mainly built for the US Air Force during the 2nd World War.

 photo: PH-DDS Dutch Dakota Association, Amsterdam 05.11.00 Servaas Verbrugge

 

 

other links: spirit of freedom

 


view large		 Douglas DC-6 / C-118 and DC-7
The first of the big Douglas four engined pistons was mainly built for the US Air Force during the 2nd World War.

 photo: EC-ATR DC-7 ex Spantax, Gran Canaria, 04.01.00 Servaas Verbrugge


view large		 McDonnell Douglas DC-8
Douglas answer to Boeings 707 was the DC-8. It first flew in 1958. Both aircraft shared the position of main intercontinental trunk airliner till the Jumbo's became popular.

 photo: 9XR-SC Silverback Cargo, Amsterdam 01.01.05 Aart Langevoort

other links: DC-8.org , DC-8 gothard

 


view large 		 McDonnell Douglas DC-9
The DC-9, designed in the early 1960s, is the grandfather of a twin jet family which is built till 2006. Some earlier DC-9s are still in service

 photo: ZS-NNN Sun Air, Lanseria 26.02.04 Servaas Verbrugge

 

 

 

other links: DC-9.com ,. MD-80.net, International MD-80 forum , Dustin's MD-80 page , 

 

 


view large		 McDonnell Douglas MD-80
The follow up of the DC-9, the stretched DC-9-81, had a production run of almost 1200 but is now slowly disappearing from service

 photo: N828NK Spirit Air, New York LGA, 01.01.05 Micha Lück


view large		 McDonnell Douglas MD-90
The modernized MD-80, a slightly stretched and reengined MD-90, was too late and had some snags preventing it to be ordered and built in significant numbers.

photo: LN-DOA SAS, Copenhagen 09.04.04 Aart Langevoort


view large		 McDonnell Douglas DC-10
The Douglas DC-10 first flew in 1970. Hampered with some early design flaws and lots of bad publicity because of some crashes, the DC-10 turned out to be the better seller compared to Lockheeds rival.

 photo: 9G-ANE Ghana Airways, Dusseldorf 31.07.04 Aart Langevoort

 

 

other links: dc-10.net,  md-eleven.net , MD-11.org

 


view large		 McDonnell Douglas MD-11
The performance of the late 80s MD-11 lacked compared to what MDD promised, although the 200 built are now popular freighters.

 photo: PH-MCU Martinair, Amsterdam 16.03.04 Aart Langevoort


view large		 Dornier 228
Dornier launched its 19 seater in the early 80s. It had modest success both with airlines and airforces. Production in Germany came to a standstill with 247 frames but continues in licence in India. 

 photo: D-ILWB LGW, Dusseldorf 31.07.04 Aart Langevoort

 

other links:  

other links:  


view large		 Dornier 328 prop and Jet
The development of the Fairchild-Dornier Do-328 turboprop commuter plane started in 1988. The roll out was in 1991 and the plane was developed for 30-40 passengers. With the bankruptcy of Dornier, production came to a halt

 photo: G-BWWT Scot Airways, Amsterdam 11.06.04 Aart Langevoort


view large		 Embraer 110 Bandeirante
Embraer had international success with it's 19 seater commuter Bandeirante, which first flew in 1968 and remained in production till 1990. It was the main competitor against the DHC-6 and Metro.     photo: ZK-FTS Air Raro, Rarotonga 07.07.04 Micha Lück

 

  

 

 

 

other links: Emb 145 study guide ,  embjets.net (about 170/190 family)

 


view large		 Embraer 120 Brasilia
Embraer launched its fairly successful 30 seater Brasilia in 1983 as logical addition to the 110 Bandeirante (19 seats). Production stopped recently at 359 frames.                                                               photo: N393SW Skywest/United Express, SFO 17.02.01  Servaas Verbrugge