The prototype ATR72 which first flew in October 1987, the first of what has already proven to be a successful airliner. The most obvious modification to the ATR42 airframe is the 4.5m fuselage stretch, although the airliner also incorporates more powerful engines, a slightly larger wing, and small wingtip winglets to help enhance performance.

Update – Aeritalia/Aerospatiale ATR72

Aeritalia/Aerospatiale ATR72

First flown in October 1988, the ATR72 has in only a short period of time proven itself to be a serious contender in the regional airliner market.

Basically astretched version of the already successful ATR42, it is aimed at the developing 50-70 seat market now opening up, especially in North America and Europe, and is certainly an aircraft to be considered seriously by potential operators worldwide.

The ATR consortium began when agreement was reached between Aerospatiale and Aeritalia in July, 1980. The ATR program itself was launched in November, 1981, some time behind the development programs of its conceived competitors SaabFairchild, De Havilland Canada, Shorts and Embraer. In the ten years since that time, however, the consortium has been responsible for the development of the ATR42 and ATR72, both of which have proven themselves in the market with strong sales, which at the time of writing stood at some 419 firm. Both aircraft do in fact look set to achieve ATR’s sales objectives of 450 ATR42s in the next 20 years, and 300+ ATR72s in the same period.

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