by "facw" (facw)
Published 05/20/2017 at 18:51
by "facw" (facw)
Published 05/20/2017 at 18:51
Tags: Planelopnik
; Embraer
; Planes Ranked
STARS: 2
Continuing this series ( Boeing , Airbus , Other Western European , Soviet Bloc ), we move on to the second to last group, covering planes from the rest of the world (the last entry will go through the non-Boeing Americans). This is a varied and regional jet heavy group without a single widebody airliner (China’s Comac and Russia’s UAC have announced a partnership to build one, but it is nowhere near enough to production to be included here). Anyway, on to the rankings:
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This Brazilian has blurred the lines between regional jets and more traditional short haul airliners, providing a modern and efficient aircraft to serve feeder and commuter routes. With over 1300 aircraft delivered, it has been a tremendous success for Embraer.
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Bombardier’s CRJ series thrived in the regional jet boom of the ‘90s and early 2000s, but it was clear they needed a larger and more modern aircraft to compete with Embraer and even with the the A320 and 737. The recently introduced CSeries is that jet. Featuring a 2-3 cabin configuration the 108 (two class) - 160 (single class) passenger capacity puts it’s sights squarely on the A319 and 737 MAX 7. Initial interest for airlines was strong, but delays have hurt the program, with the first aircraft delivered in 2016.
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Stretching the Canadair Challenger business jet (itself a development of a Bill Lear (of LearJet fame) design which Canadair had purchased), the early CRJ series was in the right place at the right time, and was able to take advantage of cheap fuel, an economic boom, and a 50 passenger limit for subcontracted airlines to sell over 1000 planes before production ceased in 2006.
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A major reworking of the earlier CRJ design to provide significantly more passenger capacity, it has received a steady stream of updates to stay competitive.
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The first Japanese jetliner, the MRJ took its first flight in 2015 and is expected to be operational in 2020. It has around 250 orders, including a 100 plane order from SkyWest.
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Another aircraft that would score a bit higher if it were actually in service, the C919 is a narrow-body 737/A320 competitor that is scheduled to begin flying commercially in 2020. At this point, interest is almost exclusively from within China.
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Comac claims this is a not an MD-90, but it’s an MD-90 (with some upgrades).
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I hope you like regional jets cramped, uncomfortable, loud, and inefficient.
"CB" (jrcb)
05/20/2017 at 18:56, STARS: 0
Counterpoint on the Embraer or whatever in first: it’s way too small. Give me a similar sized Airbus or Boeing any day.
"facw" (facw)
05/20/2017 at 18:59, STARS: 1
I’d much rather take an E-jet than a small 737 or A318/A319. The 2-2 seating makes it much more comfortable, while still being bigger than other 2-2 regional jets.
"CB" (jrcb)
05/20/2017 at 19:00, STARS: 1
As someone who is only six foot, I disagree on the comfortable bit.
"facw" (facw)
05/20/2017 at 19:06, STARS: 0
It’s up to the airline of course, but they normally have the same 31" seat pitch you’d find on any other plane, and the headroom never seems like a problem to me.
"tromoly" (tromoly)
05/20/2017 at 19:37, STARS: 1
Counter-point on the Embraer ERJ: If you board one, you’re likely in the air for only 30 minutes or so, which is nice.
"PanchoVilleneuve ST" (PanchoVilleneuve)
05/20/2017 at 20:01, STARS: 1
I’m now going to go dig out my Aerobiz: Supersonic cart and hook my SNES back up.
"not for canada - australian in disguise" (for-canada)
05/20/2017 at 20:10, STARS: 2
It’s interesting that a country as technologically advanced and wealthy as Japan only produced their first jetliner in 2015. Just kinda shows how much the Americans and Europeans dominate the market.
"facw" (facw)
05/20/2017 at 20:53, STARS: 3
Yeah, though they do have some significant aviation subcontracts.
Additionally, while not a commercial aircraft, Kawasaki does make a jet powered maritime patrol aircraft that first flew in 2007:
Seen next to its American opposite number, the P-8 (737 based), it’s would be a decent sized airliner (one was proposed but it doesn’t look like anything happened with it):
Kawasaki also recently started building a military transport aircraft as well:
But yeah, the only airliner they built post-war was the YS-11, which was a dismal commercial failure that lost hundreds of millions of dollars:
"WilliamsSW" (williamssw)
05/24/2017 at 21:52, STARS: 1
You nailed this ranking. I’ll believe the COMAC jets when they build up a track record, and I think I’d rather fly on a square window Comet 1 than an ERJ145.