GEMINI AER LINGUS ATR-72-600 1/400 EMERALD REG#EI-GPP (**)

GeminiJets 1/400 scale Aer Lingus ATR 72-600 diecast model is As Real as it Gets and measures approximately 2-11/16-inches long with 2-11/16-inch wingspan. Manufactured as an officially licensed product by GeminiJets as a limited edition, highly collectible model, this Aer Lingus ATR 72-600 - Registration EI-GPP - has been meticulously recreated from ATR's blueprints and features realistic landing gear and detailed graphics, assuring the utmost accuracy and superior quality. A Display Stand is included. During the early 1980s, many airlines around the world were still operating Convair, YS-11 and HS-748 type aircraft for their smaller 50 seat class operations. This period saw the emergence of many new generation large commuter types, including the ATR 42, with 42 representing the initial seat count. Formed by the consortium of two companies, Aeritalia, of Italy, and Aerospatiale, of France, the ATR 42 brought modern comfort into the turboprop market. The first ATR 42 flew on August 16, 1984 and went into service with Air Littoral, of France on December 9, 1985. As the popularity of the ATR 42 grew, a need for a larger version of the original aircraft was requested by many airlines. Consequently, a stretched version, known as the ATR 72, with seating for 64 to 72 passengers first flew on October 27, 1988, with the first delivery having been made to Kar-Air, of Finland, on October 27, 1989. ATR also offers a cargo conversion program for older ATR aircraft, enabling the passenger airframes to be retrofitted accordingly, thereby giving those aircraft a new lease on life as converted freighter planes. Additionally, ATR now also manufactures a new, factory-built freighter version of the aircraft, identified as the -600F. Both the ATR 42 and 72 series continue to be very popular aircraft, with more than 1,500 units having been delivered. Over the years, many improvements have been made to the cabin, cockpit, as well as the performance characteristics of the aircraft, keeping them current with today's technology to assure its continued success.