What kind of aircraft is it?
If an airport is like a huge station, the COMAC ARJ21 is one aircraft with its own personality. The COMAC ARJ21 is a Chinese regional jet designed to connect smaller and medium-sized cities.
Its main job is: regional jet airliner. It usually flies: regional routes. A typical cabin has about 70 to 90 seats. Current encyclopedia status: in service.
A kid-friendly way to remember it: It is like a small bridge between cities, helping more places join the air route map.
What is it like inside?
A regional jet is not trying to carry the most passengers at once. Its job is to connect smaller cities and make the air route map more useful.
How to spot it
- engines mounted near the tail
- a T-shaped tail
- a shorter fuselage
When you look at an aircraft, do not start with the name. First compare whether the body is narrow or wide, then check where the engines are, and finally look at the wingtips and tail. After a few tries, each aircraft begins to have its own face.
Quick facts
- ARJ means Advanced Regional Jet.
- It is often used on regional routes.
- It is an important step in China's civil aircraft development.
Next time you see a photo of the COMAC ARJ21, cover the caption first. Try to identify it from the nose, wings, engines, and tail, then decide whether it is mainly a short-route or long-route aircraft.