Essentially an all-new design the A320 was first launched on 23 March 1984, and developed around a digital fly-by-wire flight control system with sidestick controllers, and a gust alleviation function for a smoother ride and greater fatigue life. The roll out of the A320 took place on 14 February 1987 and the aircraft made its first flight on 22 February 1987 from Toulouse with CFM56 engines. European certification followed 12 months later and Air France took the first delivery on 28 March 1988 and began service in April 1988. The A320 has seating for 150 to 179 passengers and the ability to take standard baggage containers. The type was certificated in 1989 for operations with the IAE V2500 high technology engine.
Airbus Industries A320 Article
The A320 was ordered by launch customer, British Caledonian, in 1984, and entered the British Airways fleet after the takeover of British Caledonian in April 1988.
Ten were in British Airways service, five of the initial A320-100 and five A320-200.
Initially the A320-100 was completed as a low gross weight aircraft, but Airbus introduced the A320-200 aircraft, with wing tip fences, a wing centre section fuel tank, and a higher MTOW. This boosted maximum range to 2,865 nm and in the end only 21 A320-100s were built. In June 1993 Airbus also decided to move the A320 family production line from Toulouse, France, to Hamburg, Germany.
In 2001, in his association with the directorship of RMI Titanium Co, Neil Armstrong flew an A320 at Airbus’s headquarters in Toulouse, France.
A320
Engines: 2 x CFM56-5-A1 turbofans, 111.2kN
Take-off weight: 73500-77000 kg / 162041 – 169757 lb
Empty weight: 41900 kg / 92374 lb
Payload: 19100kg / 42109 lb
Wingspan: 34.1 m / 111 ft 11 in
Length: 37.6 m / 123 ft 4 in
Wing area: 122 sq.m / 1313.20 sq ft
Cruise speed: 850 km/h / 528 mph
Range: 4800-5500 km / 2983 – 3418 miles
Crew: 2
Passengers: 150-180
A320
Engines: 2 x International Aero Engines V2500
Wing span: 33.91m
Wing area: 122.4 sq.m
Pax cap: 185
A320-231
Engines: IAE V2500-A1
A320-232
Engines: 2 x IAE V2527-A5, 26,500 lb
Cruise: M0.79
Range: 2900nm
A320-200
Range: 2865 nm
Pax cap: 185
All Aero 