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.

Gallery

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

The 100-seat A318 is 6.12 m shorter than the A320 and was launched on 26 April 1999. The type first flew from Finkenwerder Airfield at Hamburg, on 15 January 2002, piloted by Bernd Schaefer.

The A318 Elite, based on the smallest model in the A320 family, was available in two standard interior configurations. For 14 or 18 passengers, it has a range of up to 4000 nm / 7410 km carrying 8 passengers. The first Elite flew in October 2006 and was delivered to Comlux.

Gallery

A318
Engines: 2 x Pratt-Whitney PW6000, 98-107kN
Wingspan: 34.1 m / 111 ft 11 in
Length: 31.4 m / 103 ft 0 in
Height: 12.6 m / 41 ft 4 in
Wing area: 122 sq.m / 1313.20 sq ft
Take-off weight: 59000-61500 kg / 130073 – 135585 lb
Empty weight: 38900 kg / 85760 lb
Payload: 14000kg / 30865 lb
Max. speed: 0.82M
Cruise speed: 0.78M
Range w/max.payload: 2750-3700 km / 1709 – 2299 miles
Crew: 2
Passengers: 107-129

Engines: CFM56-5
Pax cap: 107

Realising the A300B2 was larger than required, Lufthansa pressed Airbus for a 200 passenger wide-body. Lufthansa insisted on the use of new technology, and made considerable contribution to the newbA310, incorporating a two-crew digital flight deck and extensive use of composite materials.

Airbus Industries A310 Article

While the A300 was under development, Airbus looked at a smaller capacity variant. The A310 was officially launched in July 1978, offering a capacity between 210 to 250 passengers in mixed-class layouts. The second aircraft of Airbus, the A310-200 has a shorter fuselage than the A300 and first flew on 3 April 1982 as a 191-280 short/medium-range wide-body airliner. French and West German certification was received on 11 March 1983 and in April 1983 the launch customers Lufthansa and Swissair began services.

Lufthansa, jointly with Swissair, became the launch customer of the A310-200, ordering 25. Plus 25 options in a US$1.5 billion deal. The A310-300 began transatlantic service with Lufthansa in March 1990.
The fuselage was essentially the same as that of the A300, except shorter, allowing the development and manufacturing costs to be kept down. The wing and horizontal tail surfaces were new, including a high technology wing from BAe of much reduced area and span. The cockpit was a forward-facing two-man area, with advanced digital avionics.
Since May 1986 the basic production version, the A310-200, have been delivered with drag-reducing wingtip fences. The A310-200C and A310-200F are convertible and all-cargo versions respectively. The first major variant was the A310-300 with extended range. First flying on 8 July 1985, this variant has wingtip fences as standard, additional fuel in the tailplane and an optional central tank fitted in part of the cargo hold. Swissair was the first customer.

Biman Banglades Airlines ordered two A310-300s from Airbus on 31 January 1995. The 221 passenger aircraft were delivered on 13 June and 19 August 1996.
The first A310 to be converted to an in-flight refuelling role was revealed at Dresden, Germany in 2004. The A310MRTT has pods added to the outer ends of its wings and four auxiliary tank/containers installed in the lower cargo hold. The aircraft can also be used as an airborne hospital with up to six intensive care units and 56 stretchers or, as a combined cargo and troop transport version, can carry 12 pallets and 54 troops.
Airbus indicates additional fuel cells with the abbreviation ACT (Additional Centre Tank), first used on the A300 600 and A310 300. This tank is installed in the forward part of the rear hold, aft of the main landing gear bay, and displaces two LD3 containers. (An additional tank may also be installed at the expense of more baggage/cargo space.)

A310
Engines: 2 x Pratt & Whitney PW4152 turbofans, 220kN
Take-off weight: 157000 kg / 346128 lb
Empty weight: 70275 kg / 154931 lb
Wingspan: 43.89 m / 143 ft 12 in
Length: 46.66 m / 153 ft 1 in
Wing area: 219 sq.m / 2357.29 sq ft
Max. speed: 1038 km/h / 645 mph
Cruise speed: 850 km/h / 528 mph
Range: 9175 km / 5701 miles
Crew: 2
Passengers: 210-250

A310-300
Engines: 2 x Pratt & Whitney PW4152 turbofan, 52,000lbs thrust OR General Electric CF6-80C2A2 turbofan, 52,000lbs of thrust.
Length: 153.08ft (46.66m)
Width: 144.03ft (43.90m)
Height: 51.84ft (15.80m)
Empty Weight: 178,111lbs (80,790kg)
Maximum Take-Off Weight: 361,556lbs (163,999kg)
Maximum Speed: 560mph / 902kmh / 487kt
Maximum Range: 5,965miles (9,600km)
Service Ceiling: 42,651ft (13,000m)
Accommodation: 8 + 220