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Airbus A220 (Bombardier CSeries)

Bombardier's attempt to capture a part of the market dominated by the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 was at first not very successful. Only after the take-over by Airbus, significant orders were received for the CSeries. By then the aircraft had been rebranded as Airbus A220.

The aircraft has a very streamlined nose, including the four cockpit windows. Also typical for the CSeries/A220 are the canted winglets, attached at 45 degrees with respect to the wings. Finally the CSeries have a squared off tailcone, which similar aircraft don't have.

One of the recognition points of the CSeries/Airbus A220 is the streamlined nose. The bottom of the cockpit windows have a zig-zag shape.

Also the pointed, squared off tail cone is typical for the A220.

Different versions

The variants of the Bombardier CSeries c.q. Airbus A220 only differ in fuselage length.

BD-500-1A10 CS100/Airbus A220-100

The first version is the CS100 or A220-100. It has the shortest fuselage of the two and one overwing emergency exit.

The Airbus A220-100, formerly known as Bombardier CS100, has one overwing emergency exit.

BD-500-1A11 CS300/Airbus A220-300

The CS300 is about four metres longer than the 100, but still has a single overwing emergency exits. To recognise the A220-300 you'd best look at the relative dimensions or count cabin windows...

The CS300/A220-300 is longer than the CS100, which is most apparent when you see both aircraft side by side.

Confusion possible with

Airbus A320 family

a320neo

Already before the CSeries were absorbed in the Airbus family they looked like the A320, in particular the A319neo and A320neo with their big engines. The A319 and A320 how­ever have six cockpit windows and no squared off tail cone.

Embraer E-Jet E2 family

emb190 e2

The Embraer 190-E2 and 195-E2 are the biggest competitors of the CSeries/A220. The Embraers have a narrower cabin, a pointier tail cone and no winglets. The first Embraer 190/195 series had winglets attached to the wingtips at 90 degrees compared to 45 degrees on the A220.

Sukhoi Super Jet

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While smaller than the CSeries/A220 the tail section amy still make you believe that you are dealing with that aircraft instead of a Sukhoi Super Jet, except that the latter has no squared tail cone. The Sukhoi has no winglets, six cockpit windows and much slimmer engines though.

Comac C919

comac c919

While this Chinese jetliner is larger than the A220 it also has four cockpit windows, of which the side windows have V-shaped lower edges. Moreover, the curved wing tips or winglets look similar to the canted winglets of the A220. The A220 has a pointed tail cone though. (photo: Ken Chen/WikiMedia)