Xian Aircraft plans to produce a 70-seat regional turboprop aircraft called the MA700 that from the exterior looks very different to its 50- to 60-seat MA60, but looks like the ATR 72-500.

A source at ATR says the French-Italian aircraft-maker plans to complain because of similarities in the fuselages - the dimensions of the MA700 are also similar to the ATR 72-500. ATR acknowledges there is an issue but has declined to comment.

A model of the MA700 was on display at the Zhuhai Airshow. A Xian official admitted to Flight International that the MA700 is similar to the ATR 72.

The official says the MA700’s landing gear is within the main fuselage, whereas the MA60’s landing gear emerges from the engines mounted underneath the wing.

The MA700’s nose and empennage look different to the MA60, but similar to that of the

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