The 787 series is a family of twin-engine, widebody airliners. Two versions are marketed. The 787-8 carries 210-250 passengers and has a range of 7,650-8,200 nm. The 787-9, lengthened by 20 ft., carries 250-290 passengers and has a range of 8,000-8,500 nm. Both versions are offered with either two General Electric GEnx-1B or Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 turbofans producing 62,800-69,800 lb. thrust each. A third possible version, the 787-10, would be stretched another 20 ft. beyond the 787-9 and is being studied for launch later this year.

Mitsubishi launched the Mitsubishi Regional Jet (MRJ) family in March 2008. Initially, two basic models are planned: the 78-passenger MRJ70 and 92-passenger MRJ90. Both will be powered by a pair of Pratt & Whitney PurePower PW1200G geared turbofans. Extended-range and long-range versions of each basic model are envisioned, while a 100-seater dubbed the MRJ100X is also being considered. First flight of the MRJ is planned for late 2013. Service entry is planned for the 2015-16 timeframe. Some 182 MRJs are forecast for production in the 2012-21 period.

The Il-96 is a four-engine, medium-/long-range, widebody commercial passenger and cargo transport aircraft. The Il-96-300 first flew in 1988 and was certificated in December 1992. It is powered by Aviadvigatel PS-90A engines. The stretched Il-96-400 exists only as a freighter and is powered by uprated PS-90A1 engines. Two Il-96-300s for government/VIP transport and 12 Il-96-400Ts are forecast for production in the 2012-21 period.

This single-turboprop-powered utility/passenger aircraft first flew in December 1982. Designed with the small-package delivery segment in mind, the two models currently in production are the Caravan 675 and the 208B Grand Caravan. Power for both aircraft is provided by a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-114A turboprop engine rated at 675 shp. Through 2011, Cessna produced 2,107 Caravans of all types and is forecast to deliver 1,015 during the 2012-21 period.

The An-28 and -38 are twin-turboprop utility/transport aircraft. First flight of the An-28 occurred in 1969, with temporary Soviet certification following in 1978 and full certification in 1986. Production was transferred to Poland's PZL-Mielec, now a Sikorsky company. A Westernized version of the An-28, the PZL M28, made its first flight in 1993 and received FAA certification in 2004. A stretched An-28 version, the -38, made its first flight in 1994 and received Russian certification in 1997.

The Irkut MS-21 is a twin-turbofan, narrowbody airliner family that comprises the 150-seat MS-21-200, 181-seat MS-21-300 and 212-seat MS-21-400. All three are to be available in both basic and extended-range versions; the -200 is also to be available in a long-range variant. Power will be provided by Pratt & Whitney PW1400G or Aviadvigatel PD-14 engines. First flight is planned for 2015, with a service entry target date of 2017. Primary competition is likely to come from the Boeing 737, Airbus A320 and Comac C919 families.

As Tom Enders tells employees in a letter, he is convinced that the planned merger of EADS and BAE Systems offers a “singular chance.” But there is a problem: Investors are notably uninspired and European governments lukewarm. There is a real possibility that the deal may still fall through.

The An-148 is a twin-engine regional jet designed to serve the 70-80-seat market. First flight took place in 2004, with type certification by Russia and Ukraine following in 2007. The An-158, a stretched, 99-passenger version, first flew in 2010. Power comes from two Ivchenko-Progress D436-148 turbofan engines. Ten An-148s were built through 2011, and an additional 143 are forecast for production through 2021.