Turboprop aircraft atr 72. engine - this is optimal! Briefly about the manufacturer

To normalize the internal air traffic airlines replenish air fleets short and medium haul aircraft. It all depends on what budget the airline has. Of course, it is possible to purchase and include an expensive turbojet aircraft in the fleet, or you can purchase an ATP 72 aircraft and save several million Money and invest them in the development of short-range aviation.

Small. Turboprop. Passenger

Throughout the history of the development of aircraft construction, a huge number of aircraft have been designed and built. It so happened that only large long-haul aircraft and aircraft were heard military aviation. Meanwhile, in addition to flights to long distance, you need to fly to medium and even short-range ATP 72 - this is an excellent representative of universal short-range aircraft civil aviation.

What are its advantages? Because it is relatively small and light. It does not have turbojet engines, but is equipped with two turboprop power units, which is much more profitable for short-range aviation. Such an aircraft consumes not so much fuel and is easy to maintain. Its very design is much simpler and more understandable than that of most of the more powerful aircraft.

ATP 72 is a new generation aircraft. The engine blades look a little old-fashioned and this repels passengers. However, this is a common misconception. Screw thrust, although it gives less speed, is by no means worse than turbojet thrust. Historically, military aircraft have been considered the standard of reliability. Turboprop engines are successfully used on strategic bombers of the Russian Aerospace Forces and military transport aircraft US Air Force. Such engines are most optimal for flights over short distances.

And yet he is a passenger

Surprisingly, many companies use the ATP 72 aircraft as a transport aircraft. Especially American postal services. For domestic mail, it is important that parcels are delivered quickly and transport is not too expensive. It so happened that the ATP 72 fits these requirements perfectly. However, his main focus is Passenger Transportation. This is a full-fledged passenger aircraft. Its capacity is quite high for an aircraft of this class - 72 passengers, a team of stewards and a team of pilots.

If screw, then only "turbo"!

Indeed, they have long been part of history. They were replaced by turboprop aircraft. There is a huge difference between these seemingly related types. Turboprop aircraft are much more powerful. The lifting force is enough to lift not only the plane, but also many passengers. Wherein cruising speed will be as much as 510 km / h. This is very fast for a regional airline aircraft. Of course, this is significantly slower than long-haul aircraft. Given the short flight range, it will seem to passengers that the plane is flying at an incredible speed.

Design features

Each aircraft has its own distinctive features. ATP 72 was no exception, but on the contrary - a benchmark for all short-range aviation. In the design of this turboprop aircraft involved the most advanced composite materials. The caissons of the wings are 100 percent made of carbon fiber. For ATP aircraft, it is gradually becoming a thing of the past. Aircraft are becoming lighter and faster, which opens up attractive commercial prospects for them.

ATP 72 in Ukraine

Despite the fact that in this country by planes regional aviation are the ships of the Tupolev Design Bureau - there is also an ATP 72 here. UTair is its operator. Its flight distance is low and loses to Tupolev aircraft. The maximum flight range is 1500 km. It is for this reason that such an aircraft is unpopular in Russia. Aircraft of the same class are equipped with turbojet engines and are capable of flying up to 8000 km without refueling. ATP 72 are also found in the Russian Federation, but much less frequently. Mainly in the south of Russia.

The problem is the union. The aircraft is completely unsuitable for flying in adverse weather conditions and in the cold season. In the case, it goes into a stall and crashes. This has already happened several times. This problem is a design flaw of the aircraft, it is problematic to solve it by modernization.

Where is the best place to sit?

Where best places in ATP 72? Of course by the window. Can't tell where good places and where are the bad ones. All this is a subjective assessment, because everyone measures the level of comfort in different ways. However, you should not sit in the tail. There, as a rule, the most noticeable maneuvers and swaying of the hull. Window seats will always be the best, because the bird's eye view is always breathtaking.

TASS-DOSIER. On February 18, 2018, an ATR-72-600 passenger plane of the Iranian airline Iran Aseman Airlines, en route from Tehran to Yasuj, crashed in highlands in the province of Isfahan in the central part of the country. There were 60 passengers and 6 crew members on board, no survivors. The TASS-DOSIER editors have prepared a material about the ATR 72 aircraft.

ATR 72 is a twin-engine narrow-body turboprop aircraft for medium haul flights. Developed in the mid-1980s by the Franco-Italian concern ATR (Avions de Transport Regional) based on regional aircraft ATR 42 (the main difference between the ATR 72 is the lengthened fuselage). The first flight was made on October 27, 1988. Operated since 1989, the first customer is the Finnish airline Finnair.

Flight performance

The aerodynamic scheme is a high-wing aircraft with a straight wing and a single-keel T-tail.

Maximum takeoff weight- 22.8 tons;

Wingspan - 27.05 m;

Length - 27.2 m;

Height - 7.65 m;

Passenger capacity - up to 78 people (boarding scheme 2 + 2);

Maximum flight range - 1528 km;

Cruising speed - 345.9 km / h;

Modifications

It has several modifications: ATR 72-100, ATR 72-500, ATR 72-600, differing in engine power and cockpit equipment. For the ATR 72-600 version, a cabin with a higher seating density was certified in 2015, which increased maximum capacity from 74 to 78 passengers. There are cargo versions: ATR 72-Cargo and ATR 72-600F. Military versions are in service with the Italian Air Force, as well as the Pakistani and Turkish navies.

Operators

As of early 2018, 969 ATR 72s have been produced and are operated by more than 120 companies. The largest operator is the Indonesian airline Wings Air (54 aircraft). In Russia, the ATR 72 is operated by UTair - 15 aircraft of this type.

Passenger air travel has long been a part of our lives. It is the most reliable and fast way travel long distances. Of course, plane tickets are so expensive that they can compete with sea tickets in terms of cost. cruise ships. The aircraft market is also filled with hundreds various models. The ATP 72 is one of the few models designed for short distance flights. A significant plus is also the price of this aircraft. The low cost of the car itself and the relatively low cost of operation have a positive effect on the ticket price.

Small but irreplaceable

Large and roomy turbojet aircraft do well over long distances, but use them on short routes it is forbidden. ATP 72 perfectly copes with this task. This aircraft lacks all the features that make short hauls a problem for large aircraft.

First of all, it is a medium-haul turboprop aircraft. Its length is only 27 meters! The target routes of such an aircraft are the airways of domestic airlines.

ATP 72 is devoid of jet or turbojet thrust. It is equipped with only two, which undoubtedly simplifies its operation. Maintenance of such engines is much easier, and besides, they consume less fuel, and its cost is much lower. Many have long been under the impression that propeller-driven aircraft are a terrible anachronism, a rarity and a ghost of the past. Practice says otherwise.

Aircraft like the ATP 72 excel at short, medium and even long haul flights. Turboprop engines are simple and reliable. They are used not only in civil aviation, but also in the military. Turboprop-powered military aircraft are used by the Russian Aerospace Forces and the US Air Force. This once again proves that there are no old engines in the aircraft industry. There are only tasks for which each aircraft is designed, and the engines meet the tasks set to the maximum.

A distinctive feature of the ATR 72 aircraft is that the wing boxes are completely made of carbon fiber. Carbon fiber elements are used everywhere. It is a strong and very light material, which is gradually replacing other composite materials in the construction. Such modern technologies make the aircraft much lighter, which increases its payload.

Is it possible to replace such an aircraft? Of course not! This model is not only reliable and optimal for medium distances, but also suitable for short flights. Its indispensability is explained by its capacity. The plane can carry 74 passengers. For a short-haul aircraft, this is a lot, which means that the aircraft has good commercial efficiency.

Characteristics

ATR 72 is controlled by 2 pilots. Management is classic and does not require long retraining. The plane is surprisingly obedient and manageable. Its base load capacity is about 7,500 tons, which is quite a lot for a regional airlines aircraft. Max Speed is about 511 km / h, and cruising - 509 km / h.

The speed of this aircraft is not as high as the cruising speed of long-range turbojet passenger aircraft. This is not surprising, because its engines will not allow such a high speed, and it is not required.

Flaw

This aircraft has only one drawback, but it is noted by all pilots. The anti-icing system may not be able to cope with its task when adverse weather conditions occur during the cold season. For this reason, several disasters have occurred.

Grandpa 72nd

Almost everything that was created by man has its own prototype. This is especially true for technology. Automotive, marine and river boats and, of course, aircraft develop modernization until the machine exhausts the potential laid down by the designers. ATR 42 became the progenitor of the 72nd model. This is not a prototype and not a mockup. This is a full-fledged aircraft for regional air routes. The main elements and features are the same as the descendant.

2 motors is the best!

This is an even smaller twin-engine aircraft. Turboprop engines are installed in various modifications. It all depends on the preferences of the customer. It is small and can accommodate only 42 passengers. Strictly speaking, the capacity is reflected in the name of the model. However, this only applies to the base model. The aircraft is built in such a way that the number of seats in the cabin can be both increased and decreased. Thus, it is universal.

The target audience

ATR 42 is bought not only by private airlines, but also by quite wealthy ones. individuals. This is a small and light machine that does not cost sky-high money. Regional large entrepreneurs are quite capable of not only acquiring this aircraft, but also maintaining it.

Concern

Every thing has a creator. Aircraft is real estate, for the construction and design of which requires design department and good production capacity. Small young companies are not able to independently establish the creation and production of aircraft, they simply do not have enough money. Mergers of several companies, leasing production facilities from large giants, do an excellent job with this.

The ATR concern is Franco-Italian. It is formed by 2 companies, the French Aérospatiale and the Italian Alenia Aeronautica. These two small companies are engaged in the development of aircraft engines and fuselages. The planes themselves are made in factories. Boeing Corporation, which allows us to conclude that the concern's products are of high quality.

The Franco-Italian airline ATR has been producing aircraft for almost 30 years. The first passenger aircraft was the ATR-42 aircraft, which began to be produced in 1985, the ATR-72 model is based on the 42nd model.

Is the ATR-72 reliable?

Foreign aircraft are fundamentally different from domestic ones. The ATR-72 uses state-of-the-art electronics, a first-class autopilot with automatic landing capability, weather radar, ground and other aircraft collision warning systems. Against the background of domestic technology, the same AN aircraft, ATR loses only by the lack of the ability to land on unpaved airfields. Otherwise, it is a first-class liner of excellent reliability.

The ATR-72 engines are manufactured by Pratt & Whitney, which at one time produced engines for Formula 1, and today produces mainly space engines.

The ATR-72 has well-configured hydraulics - in the event of an engine explosion, the aircraft does not lose controllability. All systems are duplicated, easy to diagnose. In general, the aircraft is very simple, both in piloting and maintenance. In Russia, it is served at UTair and S-7 centers in Tyumen and Novosibirsk. Almost all ATR aircraft flying in Russia - new or with a small touch.

In addition, the ATR-72 aircraft is the most reliable aircraft when operating under low temperatures. That is why UTair and NordStar use the ATR-72 so actively - it does not fail even in 50-degree frosts. Moreover, these aircraft are actively used in Canada, where other brands simply do not hold up.

Why are ATR-72s falling?

The weak point of the ATR-72 is icing. But these planes do not fall because they are of poor quality. Simply because it is precisely the possibility of exploitation at severe frosts, excellent handling and minimal maintenance, relax people. Destroying an ATR-72 is a lot of work. But this is a plane, it is still a dangerous object and you need to look after it. That is why the ATR-72 crashed near Tyumen - it stood for so many hours under heavy snow, it was not treated with an anti-icer. Aviation does not allow careless attitude.

Today, ATR-72 aircraft are sprayed with even the smallest possibility of icing. In addition, there is an opinion that then, in Tyumen, the commander could still keep the liner. After all, the plane began to stall after the flaps were removed. If the flaps were set back, it might be possible to regain control of the machine. Icing killed 68 people in the US in 1994.

In general, despite the ease of piloting, gross operating errors are a common cause of accidents with the ATR. Most of the accidents are related, for example, to overrunning runway. At the same time, one must be objective of 678 aircraft, 17 crashed. And that's a pretty impressive number.

But despite this, it is worth recognizing that the main cause of ATR aircraft crashes is the human factor.

Aircraft ATR 72 are used for flights over short and medium distances. These 2 screw models are designed for 72-74 passengers. If you are going to fly on a similar aircraft, it is worth learning how to choose the right places.

General information about the ATR 72

The appearance of the aircraft may seem old-fashioned: instead of turbojets, you will see turboprops. They look less spectacular, but their design is optimal for short distance flights:

Fuel consumption is less and maintenance is easier.
Although ATR 72 aircraft are inferior to airliners in terms of speed, they win in terms of reliability. Screw thrust is used not only in civil aviation. If you look at Russian Aerospace Force bombers or US Air Force warplanes, you will see that they are equipped with turboprop engines. There will be no reason to doubt the safety of the ATR.

To evaluate appearance ATR 72, watch the video and watch the takeoff:

The main purpose of such models is passenger transportation. For this reason, the manufacturer, the Franco-Italian concern ATR, relies on interior comfort and reliability. Flights on these aircraft will leave you with a pleasant experience!

About the manufacturer

Established in 1981, ATR has already produced 1,500 aircraft. It has successful trade with 100 countries, with the main products being the Type 42 and 72 models. Component production is located in Italy (fuselage and tail parts) and France (wing assembly). Final assembly, air testing and certification take place in France.

Development history

Back in the mid 1980s. the company decided to create new model for regional flights. The ATR 42 was taken as the basis, and some of its design features have been preserved to this day. The main difference was the capacity: the number 72 indicates how many passengers the aircraft can carry. The indicator was improved by increasing the fuselage and wingspan. Also, when creating the aircraft, more powerful engines were installed.

The first airline to use the new model was the Finnish carrier Finnaire. On its flights, the liner appeared in 1989. Later, the design was improved, and the manufacturer released the ATR 72-500 aircraft. In addition to using new propellers and engines, the manufacturer has taken care of a more modern control system.

In 2007, the concern announced a new development - ATR 72-600. The designers have made the following changes:

equipped the aircraft with engines that, if necessary, switch to a more powerful mode during takeoff;
equipped the cockpit with liquid crystal monitors and installed an advanced computer;
increased luggage racks and changed the design of the seats.

In 2015, the company received the necessary approvals from the European Aviation Safety Agency and introduced a new seating arrangement. As a result, passenger capacity increased to 78 people.

Specifications

Photos of aircraft ATR 72

To get an idea of the ATR 72 aircraft, take a look at the photo:

Scheme of the salon and the best places: where to sit

When buying tickets for the ATR 72 plane, study the cabin map and choose the best seats. Their placement has differences related to design features models. The fact is that landing is carried out through the door, which is closer to the tail of the liner. This is the difference with the usual plane layout: usually the passengers sitting in the bow are the first to take their seats, and after arrival they leave the cabin before other travelers. But in the ATR models, those at the tail will take advantage of these advantages.

Features of the choice of places

Business class in such aircraft is often absent, and the entire cabin is reserved for "economy". But, even if you are offered better conditions, in practice the difference is small. A tangible plus will be the presence of space that allows you to stretch your legs, and an expanded menu.

If you have not chosen a front row seat, there may not be enough legroom.

The best and worst places in the ATR 72

Usually flights on such models take no more than 3 hours, so when choosing not the most convenient places the discomfort will be short-lived. But to make the experience of the flight more pleasant, pay attention to the following recommendations:

The best places are 1A, 1B, 1C and 1D. Although you will be among the last to leave the ship upon arrival, the advantages of the option compensate for the disadvantage. First of all, you will receive more space for the legs, which will relieve not only discomfort, but also the formation of blood clots. Also, you will not suffer from increased noise, since the motors are located closer to the center of the aircraft. If you choose the 1A or 1D chair, you will enjoy the views from the porthole, but it will be difficult to get up to the toilet without disturbing the neighbors. But passengers who have taken seats 1B or 1C will walk along the aisle without any problems.
The worst places are considered to be in the 17th row, since they are located near the toilets. You will experience special inconvenience immediately after landing, because a large number of of people. During the flight, you will be disturbed by other passengers who want to use the toilet.
If you are traveling with small children, seats in rows 3-10, located to starboard, will become the best choice. They are equipped with retractable cradles, so you do not have to hold the child in your arms for several hours.

It is enough to take into account these nuances, and there will be no difficulties. True, according to reviews, there are situations when the chairs do not have mechanisms that allow you to recline the back. If you encounter a similar problem, contact the flight attendant and, if possible, she will transfer you to another seat.

The menu in the economy class does not please with variety.

Since the economy class fare does not include variety on the menu, grab a bite to eat at the airport or take food with you. However, due to the short duration of flights, the proposed snack may be enough for you.

Experienced air travelers share their impressions on specialized forums. As for the reviews about flights on the ATR, they are not always positive: due to the small size of the aircraft in windy weather, you will feel a lot of jolts during takeoff and landing. To avoid similar situations, experienced passengers are advised not to buy tickets for seats located in the tail. While you'll get off the boat sooner after landing, a few minutes won't make a difference, but you won't have to endure the shaking at altitude.

Conclusion

Despite the shortcomings, the ATR 72 is a fairly modern aircraft. Despite its small size, it is safe: malfunctions in the operation of such models are usually associated with icing, so they are not used on flights passing through regions with a harsh climate. Otherwise, traveling on the ATR will appeal to those who are looking for economy class options.

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