Information: The Dash 8 program was launched in 1980, designed as a successor to the highly popular Twin Otter and a more fuel-efficient and technologically advanced aircraft than the Dash 7. A rugged, high-frequency, short-haul aircraft makes it a popular venue for commuter service.

Information: The 737-200 together with the 100 are the first generation production models of the world's most successful jet airliner family.

737-200 Specs

Information: The new aeroplane, the 737-400, was developed as a 150 seat class 727 replacement. Although Boeing had initially developed the 180 to 200 seat 757 to replace the successful 727, there still existed a considerable market for a near direct size replacement for the popular trijet. By developing the 737-400 as a minimum change stretch of the 737-300, Boeing was also able to offer considerable commonality, and thus cost, benefits to operators already with the 737-300, and to a lesser extent, the 737-200 in their fleets.

Information: Boeing's Next Generation 737-800 and 737-900 are the largest members of the strong selling 737 family. Unlike the other Next Generation 737s, the -800 and -900 introduce new fuselage lengths, extending 737 single class seating range out to 189, compared with 100 in the original 737-100.

737-800 Specs

Information: The Canadair Regional Jet - or CRJ - is designed to offer the high speed advantages of much larger jets, with similar standards of service while at the same time offering operating economics, particularly over longer stage lengths, close to that of comparable size turboprops.

Information: The A300-600 family followed on from the earlier A300B4 and incorporated a number of significant improvements and refinements, foremost being a two crew flightdeck and increased range.

A300-600 Specs

Information: The 777 was originally conceived as a stretched 767, but airline resistance to such a configuration led to Boeing adopting an all new design. Notable 777 design features include Boeing's first application of flybywire, an advanced technology glass flightdeck, comparatively large scale use of composites and advanced and extremely powerful engines.

Information: The 747-400 externally resembles the -300, but it is a significantly improved aircraft. Changes include a new, two crew digital flightdeck with six large CRT displays, an increased span wing with winglets (the -400 was the first airliner to introduce winglets), new engines, recontoured wing/fuselage fairing, a new interior, lower basic but increased max takeoff weights, and greater range.

747-400 specs

Information: Boeing's 767-400ER is a stretched development of the popular 767-300ER, designed to replace early A300, A310 and 767 twins used on transcontinental services and DC-10-30s and L-1011 trijets used for intercontinental work. It competes with the A330-200.

Information: The A330-300 is the biggest member of Airbus' twinjet family and is closely related to the four engined long range A340 with which it shares near identical systems, airframe, flightdeck and wings, the only major difference being the twin (versus four) engine configuration.

A330-300 specs

Information: The recently launched Airbus A340-500 and A340-600 will result in the world's longest range airliner and the European consortium's first direct competitor to the dominant 747-400.