ATR 42
The shorter sibling: where the ATR family began · First flight 1984 · In service 1985
The ATR 42 is the smaller member of the family and the aircraft the ATR 72 grew out of; its name refers to its typical seating of about 42 to 50. The prototype flew from Toulouse on 16 August 1984, French and Italian certification followed in September 1985, and launch customer Air Littoral received the first production ATR 42-300 on 3 December 1985, flying its first revenue service that month.
The -300, with Pratt & Whitney Canada PW120 engines of 2,000 shp, was built until 1996. The ATR 42-500, first delivered in October 1995, brought PW127E engines, six-blade propellers, a new cabin and higher weights. The current ATR 42-600, launched in October 2007, first flew on 4 March 2010 and was first delivered in November 2012, with PW127M engines and a glass cockpit.
A short-take-off ATR 42-600S flew on 11 May 2022, but ATR stopped its development in November 2024. The standard ATR 42-600 remains in production, used by airlines such as HOP!, Japan Air Commuter and Silver Airways.
