Embraer 170/190 - Aircraft Recognition Guide

Embraer 170/190 (E-Jet) family

Embraer's second family of regional jets, after the EMB145 series, is one of a conventional design. This means low swept wings, two jet engines under the wings and a horizontal stabiliser attached to the rear fuselage. As this is quite a frequently used configuration it may be difficult to recognise the E-Jet family. Common for all aircraft in the family are the shape of the nose, similar to the larger Boeing 787, the short triangular dorsal fin, engines with separate fan and core exhausts and pointed tailcone with APU exhaust.

The nose shape of Embraer 170/190 family of aircraft is similar to that of the Boeing 787.

The tail of the Embraer E-Jet family has a short triangular dorsal fin and a pointed tail cone with APU exhaust, hence it is often bare metal.

Different versions

To differentiate between the E-Jet subtypes you have to look at

the length of the fuselage
the number of cabin windows
the number of the emergency exits
the shape of the engine nacelles
the presence and shape of winglets

Embraer 170 (EMB170-100/ERJ170-100)

The Embraer 170 is the first and smallest member of the E-Jet family, and of the first generation (E1). Its winglets are tall and narrow, and straight up. The engines have a relatively large core exhaust, especially compared to the engines of the E2 memebers. Compared to the 190/195 it has no overwing emergency exits. The difference with the Embraer 175 is mainly in the number of cabin windows. On the left side the 170 has eighteen windows, the 175 twenty. This makes it quite difficult to distinguish both versions.

The Embraer 170 is the shortest of the E-Jet family.

Engine nacelle of first generation Embraer 170/190 family aircraft (E1).

The original winglet of Embraer 170/175 and 190/195 is perpendicular to the wing.

Embraer 175 (EMB170-200/ERJ170-200)

Officially designated EMB170-200, but marketed as Embraer 175, this version is nearly 2 metres longer than the Embraer 170. This results in only two more cabin windows, which makes it difficult to keep them apart.

However, an improved version of the Embraer 175 has larger winglets, attached to the wingtips at 45 degrees. This version is sometimes referred to as the 'long-wing E175'. The original Embraer 175 then became known as the 'short-wing'.

Confusion possible with

Mitsubishi SpaceJet

This aircraft is very similar in appearance as the Embraer 190/195. The best you look at the nose and the cockpit windows. The nose is more pointed than that of the Embraer, but this is quite subtle. (photo: Chiyoda I/WikiMedia)

Sukhoi Super Jet

The Sukhoi Super Jet 100 has a similar size as the Embraer 170/175. However, it can easily be recognised by the engines with single exhaust nacelles. Also the SSJ lacks a triangular dorsal fin, has no winglets, but has six cockpit windows instead of four.

Airbus A220

Formerly known as the Bombardier CSeries the Airbus A220 has the same basic configuration as the Embraer 170/190 family. Especially the A220-100 has similar looks as the EMB190/195-E2. The A220 has a wider fuselage, a flat tail cone and canted winglets as recognition points.

Original version of Embraer 175, sometimes called 'short-wing'.

Winglet of 'long-wing' Embraer 175 is still tall, but canted.

Improved version of Embraer 175 with larger, canted winglets; sometimes called 'long-wing'.

Embraer 175-E2 (ERJ190-500)

This is the smallest member of the second generation E-Jet, the E2 family. Based on the Embraer 175 it still has no overwing emergency exits, even though it is 0.6 m longer than the original ERJ175. This makes it easy to distinguish from the larger E2 members. Compared to the ERJ175 is has no winglets and different engine nacelles, with a larger diameter engine, of which the core exhaust is relatively small. Also the main landing gear is different, being a levered type with the wheels not lined up with the axis when standing on the ground.

The Embraer 175-E2 can be distinguished from the 'regular' EMB175 by the engines and lack of winglets, and from the other E2 versions by the lack of overwing emergency exit. (photo: Claudio Capucho)

The E2's engines have a large diameter, but the core exhaust is small.

Embraer 190 (EMB190-100/ERJ190-100) & Lineage 1000/1000E (ERJ190-100ECJ)

The stretched version of the EMB170 is the Embraer 190. Other than a longer fuselage, with one overwing emergency exit on each side, the aircraft has new, larger wings, a larger horizontal stabiliser and a different engine subtype. However, in the outside appearance the latter changes are hardly visible.

Based on the Embraer 190 frame Embraer developed a dedicated corporate jet version, dubbed Lineage 1000. This variant is officially designated EMB190-100BJ or ERJ190-100ECJ. Compared to the standard Embraer 190 it has a longer range and a more luxurious cabin.

The Embraer 190 has a single overwing emergency exit.

Embraer 190-E2 (ERJ190-300)

With no winglets but raked wingtips, and much larger diameter engines the Embraer 190-E2 is easily distinguished from the E1. It has one overwing emergency exit on each side, compared to none on the E175-E2 and two on the E195-E2.

The levered main landing gear of the Embraer 190-E2 is well visible: the wheels are begin the axis.

Embraer 195 (EMB190-200/ERJ190-200)

Just like the Embraer 175 is a stretched version of the 170, the Embraer 195 is slightly longer than the 190, nearly 2.5 metres to be exact. Thus keeping them apart is quite a difficult job. The difference is eleven cabin windows before the emergency exit or twelve on the 195.

It is hard to see that this Embraer 195 is longer than the Embraer 190. In particular the distance betwen the wing-fuselage fairing and the tail bump may be a clue.

Embraer 195-E2 (ERJ190-400)

Like the Embraer 175-E2 and 190-E2 this is the second generation ERJ195. It has the same differences compared to the first generation as the Embraer 190-E2. Additionally, it is nearly three metres longer than the Embraer 195. Therefore it is easily recognisable by the two overwing emergency exits on each side.