Both Aerospatiale in France, and Aeritalia in Italy, had developed proposals in the late 1970’s for twin turboprop 38/40 seat aircraft. Both companies were looking for partners to further develop the concepts and eventually, in July 1981, a joint venture consortium, ATR, was formed. The new project was designated the ATR 42, the 42 indicating the number of seats at 81 cm pitch. The initials ATR stand for Avion de Transport Regional/ Aereo daTransporto Regionale/ Regional Transport Aircraft. The type made its first flight in August 1984 and was certificated in September 1985. The launch customer was Air Littorial, a French regional opera¬tor, which began operating the type in the following December. The ATR 42 300 (the higher weight version) accommodates a maximum of 50 passengers, but a more typical layout is for 46 passengers. In addition to the generous overhead lockers, baggage compartments are provided both behind the flightdeck and in the rear fuselage. The aircraft is powered by two Pratt and Whitney Canada PW120s, flat rated at 1800shp and driving Hamilton Standard four bladed composite propellors. The ATR 42 structure makes extensive use of composites, particularly Keviar/Nomex sandwich for the wing and tail leading edges, wing and undercarriage fairings, and fuselage tail cone. Carbon/Nomex sandwich is used for the rudder, elevators, flaps, and engine nacelles, and carbon monolithic structure is used for the ailerons and outer wing panels. using experience gained with the Airbus, the flight deck is EFIS equipped. Subsequently the consortium has developed the ATR 72, a stretched version of the ATR 42 which uses the same wings and tail but uprated engines.
Avions de Transport Regional ATR42 Article
As at May 1995, 286 of these aircraft had been ordered or delivered. ATR42F freighter. The ATR42-500 first flew in September 1994.
The ATR 42-600 pre-series aircraft (F-WWLY c/n 811) completed its maiden flight on 4 March 2010 from Toulouse Blagnac Airport in southern France. The two-hour flight included tests of the Pratt & Whitney PW127M turboprops, the balance of the propellers, the new avionics, hydraulic and electrical systems.
The ATR 42-600 will undertake a 75hour flight test campaign. Many of the systems are the same as used in the ATR 72-600, which began its 150-hour flight test programme in July 2009. To March 2010 ATR had orders for five 42-600s and 54 72-600s.
ATR42-300
Engines: 2 x Pratt & Whitney PW120.
Pax cap: 46.
ATR-42R
Engine: 2 x P&W PW 120 turboprop.
Installed pwr: 2680 kW.
Span: 24.6 m.
Length: 22.7 m.
Wing area: 54.5 sq.m.
Height: 7.586m.
Empty wt: 9937 kg.
MTOW: 15,750 kg.
Payload: 4530 kg.
Cruise speed: 470 kph.
Initial ROC: 490 m / min.
Ceiling: 7650 m.
T/O run (to 15m): 660 m.
Ldg run (from 15m): 560 m.
Fuel internal: 5700 lt.
Range/payload: 2535 km with 4000 kg.
Capacity: 44 pax.
ATR42-400MP
ATR42-500
Engines: 2 x Pratt & Whitney PW127E.
Pax cap: 46-50.
