Airbus A320: narrow body passenger aircraft. "Airbus A320": description, cabin layout, best places, photos
Airbus A320- This is a passenger aircraft designed to perform flights over short and medium distances. The passenger cabin accommodates from 150 to 180 passengers, depending on the specific modification and the selected layout of the passenger compartment.
There are two classes in the passenger cabin: business class and economy class. In business class, passengers are seated in seats of 4 people in a row. For the movement of passengers in the cabin during the flight, there is one central passage. Due to this, the most comfortable flight conditions for passengers of this class are achieved. The economy class is distinguished by the fact that there are 6 seats in each row. There is also one central aisle, which has a slightly smaller width compared to the business class. However, it is quite enough for unhindered and free movement of passengers and flight attendants around the cabin. The final number of seats in each cabin depends on the selected cabin layout.
The most modern materials are used for interior decoration. After 2000, a wide modernization of existing aircraft and the creation of new ones, taking into account the latest developments, began. As a result of these innovations, the passenger cabin has become much more spacious. Shelves for hand luggage have been increased.
There are two types of lighting in the passenger compartment: the main one, which illuminates the entire passenger cabin, and the individual one, located above each passenger. The brightness of the main light can be changed to any value in the range from 0 to 100% of its power. Individual lighting, made on the basis of LEDs, also has great possibilities for regulation.
Airbus A320 is the second most popular aircraft of this class in the world, second only to Boeing 737. Exactly Airbus A320 is the ancestor of a whole generation of various aircraft.
Briefly about the Airbus A320
Airbus A320 is the second most popular passenger jet in the world. This aircraft is designed to carry up to 180 passengers over short or medium distances. The aircraft has a low-wing scheme with a pair of engines mounted on pylons under the wing. The fuselage is made according to the semi-monocoque scheme. The chassis is a classic tricycle, the main supports are rear.
Airbus A320 marked the beginning of a whole line of models that were developed in different years, taking into account various requirements. The history of the creation of this aircraft began after the success of the model Airbus A300. As a result, a consortium of European aircraft manufacturers Airbus S.A.S. decided to create a new aircraft. He had to successfully compete with the popular at that time Boeing 727 And Boeing 737. However, in order to increase economic efficiency, the aircraft had to have a more advanced control system.
To date, the total number of ordered aircraft is 6.5 thousand copies. At the same time, about 4 thousand boards were produced. As of August 28, 2008, 3945 copies were in operation.
At the same time, aircraft are going to this moment at two factories: in Toulouse and in Hamburg-Finkenwerder. Initially everything Airbus A320 were assembled at the factory in Toulouse, the rest of the models were assembled at both factories. However, in order to implement the economic recovery of production, since 2007, production Airbus A320 the same was established in Hamburg-Finkenwerder. In addition, aircraft assembly Airbus A320 established in the People's Republic of China. It is planned that the plant in China from 2011 will produce 4 boards every month.
History of the Airbus A320
Official flight history Airbus A320 began at the end of February 1987. The first aircraft of this model were equipped with CFM56-5A1 engines. The aircraft quickly passed all tests and certification. In Europe, it was certified at the end of February 1988, and in December of the same year it was certified in the United States. The first customer of the new aircraft was the company Air France, which received its first board in March 1988.
The new aircraft has a number of fundamental design differences that sharply distinguish this model from analogues in the world:
- The most important difference is the fly-by-wire flight control system. As a result of the application of a fundamentally new control scheme, the classic steering columns were replaced with side control handles. The pilot has no direct influence on the controls. All movements of the handle with the help of electrical wiring are transmitted to the control mechanisms, which have the necessary effect. It was on the A320 that such a system was used for the first time.
- The second cardinal difference between this aircraft and its competitors is the use of an advanced cockpit in terms of its equipment. At the end of the 80s, the decision to abandon the use of pointer devices, and replace them with beam displays, was revolutionary. Subsequently, these displays were replaced by LCD monitors. As a result of this innovation, piloting the aircraft has become much easier.
- One more unique feature this aircraft is a horizontal tail. Exactly on Airbus A320 for the first time, a horizontal tail was used, completely made of composite materials.
Generally, in Airbus A320 uses a revolutionary large number of composite materials. Their total mass is approximately 20% of the total mass of a dry aircraft. The main composite materials are reinforced fiberglass and carbon fiber. Various honeycomb fillers are also widely used. The vertical stabilizer and the leading edge of the horizontal tail are made entirely of these materials. Almost all wing mechanization and all non-power structural elements also consist of composite materials.
If we consider less revolutionary, but no less important differences, then here we can mention the number of doors for various purposes. On Airbus A320 there are 4 passenger entrances and 4 more emergency exits.
Specifications Airbus A320
Length - 37.57 m.
Wingspan - 34.10 m.
Fuselage diameter - 3.96 m.
Passenger capacity - from 150 to 180
Maximum takeoff weight - 77.000 kg.
Cruise speed - 840 km/h
Flight range - up to 5700 km.
A320- a family of narrow-body aircraft for short and medium haul airlines, developed by the European consortium Airbus S.A.S. Released in 1988, it became the first passenger aircraft to use a fly-by-wire control system (EDSU).
As of January 2011, there are orders for 6956 aircraft of the A320 family, with 4552 aircraft sold, of which 4467 aircraft are in operation. Until February 2008, the final assembly of the A320 was carried out only in Toulouse, but since March 2008, due to high demand, the final assembly is also carried out at the plant in Hamburg-Finkenwerder. All other versions of the A320 were and are being produced in Hamburg-Finkenwerder. In addition, an assembly line for A320 family aircraft was opened in China with an estimated capacity of 4 machines per month (in 2011). The main competitor of the Airbus A320 family is the Boeing 737 family. The A320 is the second most popular jet passenger liner after the Boeing 737.
Twin-engine swept-wing low-wing wing with single-keel vertical tail, with turbofan engines.
Development
Following the success of the A300, the Airbus consortium began developing a new aircraft to replace the then most popular aircraft, the Boeing 727 and early versions of the Boeing 737. The plan was to create an aircraft of similar size, but more economically advanced and with different seating options. Digital technology would give the A320 an edge over its main competitors, the Boeing 727 and 737.
Peculiarities
Compared to other airliners of similar size, the A320 series features a spacious passenger cabin with large carry-on bins, large lower (cargo) deck cargo capacity and wide luggage loading hatches (after the release of the A318, on other aircraft of the A320 family, mainly manufactured after 2000 of the year, innovations (Enhanced version) were also applied, such as: replacement of interior trim panels; more spacious shelves for hand luggage (internal volume increased by 11%; new Flight Attendant Panel (FAP) with a touch screen; individual lighting above each passenger ( Reading lights) based on LEDs; the ability to adjust the brightness of the main interior lighting from 0 to 100%; LCD displays in the cockpit instead of cathode beam; Some computers, computer logic, changes in mechanisms, and much more were also replaced. For these and other reasons (including relatively low cost of ownership) A320 is very popular yu all over the world.
Another feature of the Airbus A320 is the advanced technical equipment (by the standards of the 1980s) cockpit. Instead of mechanical pointer instruments, information about the position of the aircraft and the state of its engines and auxiliary systems is displayed on six cathode-beam screens occupying most dashboard. In addition, classic aircraft controls have been replaced with special side-sticks located on the sides of the cockpit, so the sidestick of the pilot sitting on the left (usually the aircraft commander acting as the first pilot) is located to the left of his seat. , and the "sidestick" of the pilot sitting on the right (usually the co-pilot, often performing the functions of navigator and flight engineer) is located to the right of his seat. Such a measure significantly improved the working conditions of the crew and, as a result, increased flight safety. These joysticks are not directly connected to control planes; any movement of the joystick is processed by the on-board computer, and the information is transmitted by wire to the hydraulic actuators, which come into action and make the necessary movements of the steering planes. The high level of automation in the control of the aircraft and its systems made it possible to limit the number of crew members to two pilots.
The noise level of an Airbus A320 taking off is 82 decibels.
Production
Components from various factories of the Airbus concern are transported for final assembly to Hamburg (A318, A319, A321) and Toulouse (A320). Almost all transportation is carried out on the A300-600ST Beluga aircraft.
In the course of the economic recovery of the Airbus concern in 2007, German managers managed to transfer production of the A320 from France to Germany.
In addition, the production of A320 type airliners has been established in the People's Republic of China. It is planned from 2010 that the Chinese factories of the concern will produce up to 50 aircraft per year. Also, the Irkutsk Aviation Plant in Russia produces components for A320 type airliners.
The A320 is helping Airbus Industry offset losses related to problems in the production of the giant A380 aircraft. The portfolio of orders is formed by Asian airlines and leasing companies.
The biggest problem for Airbus Industry remains the low exchange rate of the dollar. The planes are paid in dollars, and most of the production is located in the eurozone.
Unit cost
- A318: $56.0 to $62.1 million
- A319: $63.3 to $77.3 million
- A320: $73.2 million to $80.6 million
- A321: $87.7 to $92.8 million
Exploitation
The A320 aircraft program officially began in March 1984. The first flight of the A320 prototype aircraft with CFM56-5A1 engines was made on February 22, 1987. At the end of February 1988, the aircraft was certified in Europe, and in December - in the USA. In March 1988, Air France received its first aircraft. The A320 aircraft is the world's first passenger aircraft with a fly-by-wire control system (EDSU), a cockpit equipped with side control sticks instead of conventional control columns, and a horizontal tail made entirely of composite materials. The A320 aircraft served as the basis for the development of the A321 (185-seat, 1994), A319 (124-seat, 1996) and A318 (107-seat, 2003) aircraft.
Airbus A320 flies up to 4900 km without landing, cruising speed - 901 km/h. Capacity - 150-179 passengers.
Accidents in the early stages of operation, including the crash of the Air France A320, seriously damaged the image of the aircraft and its computerized control system. The cause of the accident has never been conclusively determined, although the commission's official conclusion points to pilot error. However, there is an opinion that computer systems and previously identified shortcomings of the aircraft are to blame.
Competition
The main competitor for the A320 family is the Boeing 737NG family. The Boeing 757 competes with the A321 with slightly longer range and slightly larger passenger capacity, but was discontinued in 2005. For the A318 and A319 models, competing models may be legacy modifications, such as the discontinued Boeing 717. Airbus plans to launch neo aircraft in the near future - this is due to the introduction of the aforementioned Next Generation aircraft on the market.
New Engine Options
Airbus is currently working on installing new engines for the A320 family. The program was called New Engine Option (new engine options, NEO). Customers will be offered CFM International LEAP-X and Pratt & Whitney PW1000G engines. The new engines are 16% more fuel efficient, but the actual savings once installed on an aircraft will be slightly less as 1-2% savings are typically lost when engines are installed on an existing model. New engines will increase the range (by 950 km) or payload (by 2 tons). The A320neo will also get a modified wing with shark fin endplates.
The Airbus CEO said that when installing Pratt & Whitney's PW1000G engines, one can confidently expect a 20% reduction in operating costs compared to existing engines. The first aircraft are scheduled to be delivered to customers in 2016, and in total, according to Airbus plans, over the next About 4,000 A320neo aircraft will be delivered over 15 years.The lead customer for the new model was Virgin America, which placed a "firm" (i.e. paid) order for 30 A320neo aircraft under a contract for the supply of 60 aircraft concluded on January 17, 2011. In January 2011 IndiGo Airlines signed a preliminary contract for the supply of 150 A320neos and 30 A320s.
At the 2011 Le Bourget Air Show, Airbus announced it had received orders from Scandinavian Airlines System and leasing company Air Lease, as well as Indian low-cost airline IndiGo. On June 23, 2011, Airbus announced that it had received an order for 200 A320neos from Malaysian low-cost airline AirAsia. This order was the largest in the history of aviation. In total, at Le Bourget, Airbus received a record 667 A320neo orders worth $60.9 billion. A total of 1,029 aircraft of this model have been ordered since December 2010, making it the most popular passenger aircraft in the world. On July 20, 2011, American Airlines ordered 130 A320neos and 130 existing A320s. Prior to this, American Airlines operated exclusively Boeing aircraft.
Specifications
| Model | A318-100 | A319-100 | A320-100 / −200 | A321-100 / −200 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Length: | 31.44 m | 33.84 m | 37.57 m | 44.51 m |
| Wingspan: | 34.1 m | |||
| Case Diameter: | 3.95 m | |||
| Height: | 12.51 m | 11.76 m | 11 m | 11.76 m |
| Bearing surface area: | 122.6 m² | |||
| Max. takeoff weight: | 68.000 kg | 75.500 kg | 78.000 kg | 95.500 kg |
| Minimum runway at maximum takeoff weight: | 1.355 m | 1.950 m | 2.090 m | 2.180 m |
| Cruising speed: | 840 km/h or 0.78 M | |||
| Passenger capacity: | 107 to 132 | 124 to 156 | 150 to 180 | 185 to 220 |
| Range of flight: | 5.950 km | 6.850 km | 6.150 km | 5.950 km |
| Fuel supply: | 24.210 l | from 24.210 l to 30.190 l | from 24.210 l to 30.190 l | from 24.050 l to 30.030 l |
| Passenger doors: | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 |
| Emergency exits: | 2 | standard 2, optional 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Flight altitude: | 11.800 m or FL390 | |||
| Fuel consumption: (at working height per hour) |
2.400 l | 2.600 l | 2.700 l | 2.900 l |
| Engines: | 2 CFMI CFM56-5B each 105.9 kN or 2 Pratt & Whitney PW6000A each 96 kN |
2 CFMI CFM56-5B each 104.5 kN or 2 IAE V2500-A5 each 104.5 kN |
2 CFMI CFM56-5B each 118 kN or 2 IAE V2500-A5 each 118 kN |
2 CFMI CFM56-5B each 142.3 kN or 2 IAE V2500-A5 each 146.8 kN |
| First flight: | January 15, 2002 | August 25, 1995 | February 22, 1987 | -100: March 1993 / -200: 1996 |
Technologies
The aircraft is equipped with an EFIS digital avionics system manufactured by the French company TOMCOH-CSF, which consists of six color multifunctional displays for displaying flight and navigation information, as well as data on the operation of on-board systems and warnings about failures. All avionics comply with the ARINC 700 standard.
Extensive use of composite materials (about 20%) in aircraft construction. Mainly used Glass-fiber reinforced plastic (plastic reinforced with glass fiber), Carbon-fiber reinforced plastic (plastic reinforced with carbon fiber), honeycomb core (honeycomb core). Almost all wing mechanization is made of composite materials (slats, flaps, spoiler panels, hatches, nose fairing), and the vertical stabilizer is completely made of composite. The leading edge of the horizontal stabilizer is also composite.
Options
A320
The A320 is a twin-engine aircraft with a central cockpit aisle, 4 passenger entrances and 4 emergency exits. The Airbus A320 can accommodate a maximum of 180 passengers. In a typical 2-class design (2 + 2 seats in business class and 3 + 3 seats in economy class), 150 passengers are accommodated in the cabin. The cargo compartment can fit 7 AKH containers - 3 in the front, 4 in the back. The A320 is - as its name suggests - the founding model of the successful A320 family. Cruise speed A-320 910 km per hour. The average flight range is 4,600 km. Depending on the configuration of the cabin with an additional fuel tank, it is capable of covering a distance of 5,500 km.
A319
Modification of the A320 with a shortened fuselage by reducing the number of passenger seats by two rows. Thanks to the release of variants with different flight ranges and capacities, operators of this type of aircraft receive significant benefits. In addition to the basic model, designed to carry 124 passengers for a range of up to 6650 km, customers are offered a variant with an increased capacity of up to 156 seats.
Airbus also offers two versions of the A319: A319CJ- a business aircraft with an increased flight range.
A319LR- modification of the Airbus A319 with additional fuel tanks, increasing the flight range up to 8300 km.
А319ACJ (Airbus Corporate Jet)- a business aircraft carrying 39 passengers at a distance of up to 12,000 km.
A321
The A321 liners, put into operation in early 1994, are the largest in the A320 family. The typical layout of the A321 provides accommodation for 185 passengers in two classes or up to 220 passengers in one class for charter and budget flights, while the flight range is up to 5600 km.
A318
Designed to carry 107 passengers in a typical two-class layout or up to 132 passengers in a single-class layout, the A318 entered service in July 2003. It can fly up to 5950 km. A318 can be operated for more than short runways than other aircraft of the same size.
In addition, in 2007 the A318 was certified to perform steeper landings. Thanks to these qualities, combined with the low level of noise generated, the A318 becomes suitable for operation from airports located within urban areas.
The A318 introduced a number of advanced on-board systems, which are now being installed on other models of the A320 family, which improves the reliability of aircraft in operation and reduces the cost of maintenance and the purchase of spare parts. Among them is an interior information and control system with an interactive screen located on the cabin equipment control panel (Cabin Intercommunication Data System).
A318 Elite The smallest and youngest of the Airbus corporate aircraft; the price of the aircraft is about $50 million. It was exhibited at the Jet Expo 2007 exhibition at Vnukovo-3 in the fall of 2007.
Supplies
| Orders | Supplies | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Total | Unfilled | Total | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997 | 1996 | 1995 | 1994 | 1993 | 1992 | 1991 | 1990 | 1989 | 1988 |
| A318 | 83 | 9 | 74 | 2 | 6 | 13 | 17 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 9 | ||||||||||||||||
| A319 | 1,489 | 213 | 1,276 | 4 | 51 | 88 | 98 | 105 | 137 | 142 | 87 | 72 | 85 | 89 | 112 | 88 | 53 | 47 | 18 | ||||||||
| A320 | 4,484 | 1,886 | 2,598 | 44 | 297 | 221 | 209 | 194 | 164 | 121 | 101 | 119 | 116 | 119 | 101 | 101 | 80 | 58 | 38 | 34 | 48 | 71 | 111 | 119 | 58 | 58 | 16 |
| A321 | 883 | 249 | 634 | 8 | 51 | 87 | 66 | 51 | 30 | 17 | 35 | 33 | 35 | 49 | 28 | 33 | 35 | 22 | 16 | 22 | 16 | ||||||
| Total | 6,939 | 2,357 | 4,582 | 56 | 401 | 402 | 386 | 367 | 339 | 289 | 233 | 233 | 236 | 257 | 241 | 222 | 168 | 127 | 72 | 56 | 64 | 71 | 111 | 119 | 58 | 58 | 16 |
Accidents and disasters
As of September 8, 2011, 26 aircraft were lost in accidents and disasters (two A321s, three A319s, twenty-one A320s, there were no accidents on the A318 account), 790 people died (according to the table - 806 people).
| date | Board number | Place | Victims | Description of the incident |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26.06.88 | F-GFKC | Mulhouse | 3/136 | Demonstration flight at low altitude, crashed into trees |
| 14.02.90 | VT-EPN | Bangalore | 92/146 | Crashed on approach due to pilot error |
| 20.01.92 | F-GGED | near Strasbourg | 87/96 | Crashed on descent, crew misunderstood instrument readings |
| 14.09.93 | D-AIPN | Warsaw | 2/70 | Rolled off the runway during landing due to crew error |
| 10.03.97 | A4O-EM | Abu Dhabi | 0/115 | Aborted takeoff |
| 22.03.98 | RP-C3222 | Bacolod | 3+0/130 | When landing, one engine was forgotten to be reversed |
| 11.04.00 | F-OHMD | minatitlán | 0/0 | Burned out while refueling |
| 23.08.00 | A4O-EK | Bahrain | 143/143 | Couldn't go around, crashed into the sea |
| 07.02.01 | EC-HKJ | Bilbao | 0/143 | Rough landing |
| 24.07.01 | 4R-ABA | Colombo | 0/0 | Attack of the Tamil Tigers on the airport |
| 28.08.02 | N635AW | Phoenix | 0/159 | Rough landing |
| 19.01.03 | N313NB | NY | 0/2 | Crashed into the wall while moving to the terminal, technicians mistake |
| 21.03.03 | B-22603 | Tainan | 0/175 | Rough landing |
| 03.05.06 | EK-32009 | near Sochi | 113/113 | Crashed in the sea during go-around, PIC error |
| 05.05.06 | EK-32001 | Brussels | 0/0 | burned out in the hangar |
| 05.05.06 | EK-32010 | Brussels | 0/0 | burned out in the hangar |
| 05.05.06 | SX-BVB | Brussels | 0/0 | burned out in the hangar |
| 17.07.07 | PR-MBK | Sao Paulo | 12+187/187 | On landing, he went off the runway and crashed into a fuel depot |
| 30.05.08 | EI-TAF | Tegucigalpa | 2+3/124 | Rolled off the runway and fell apart |
| 27.11.08 | D-AXLA | at Perpignan | 7/7 | Flight at low altitude and low speed, crew error |
| 15.01.09 | N106US | Hudson | 0/155 | Birds got into the engines. Emergency landing to the water. |
| 28.07.10 | AP-BJB | near Islamabad | 152/152 | Crashed while landing in adverse weather conditions. |
| 24.09.10 | EI-EDM | Palermo | 0/129 | Rough landing to the end of the runway. Decommissioned. |
| 25.08.11 | 5A-ONK | Tripoli | 0/0 | Destroyed during the battles for the airport. |
Gallery A320
Airbus A320 - a family of medium-haul narrow-body commercial aircraft developed by Airbus in the mid-1980s. The family includes liners, A320 and, as well as ACJ modifications - business jets based on them. Aircraft are produced at four factories: in Germany, France, China and the USA.
The first in the family in 1988, the A320 entered the market - the base for all models. In 1994, the A321 appeared, and then smaller versions of the A319 (1995) and A318 (2003). The A320 was the first commercial aircraft in the world to use a fly-by-wire control system and a joystick instead of a yoke.
At the end of 2016, 7,421 aircraft of the family were delivered, of which 7,101 aircraft are in operation. The portfolio of orders is more than 5600 aircraft. In 2016, a new generation of the family was introduced to the market: .
Story
By the 1980s, this issue had already become urgent. Old European planes are already outdated, and American ones, due to the virtual lack of competition, developed slowly. Many European manufacturers were working on the issue of creating a new generation of aircraft, and the development of technology, theoretically, made it possible to create a very progressive machine. Consolidation into the Airbus concern allowed them to share the risks and try to enter the most massive niche of the aviation market.
Initially, the program was called JET (Joint European Transport) and was initiated in 1977. The base of work was the British Aerospace research center in Weybridge, UK. It was planned to create an aircraft with a capacity of 130-188 seats and equipped with two CFM56 engines. It was decided to create three modifications: SA1, SA2 and SA3 (SA - Single Aisle - one pass in the cabin). In parallel, Airbus conducted research on practically the same A319, A320 and A321 aircraft. Some time later, after the return of the British to Airbus, the JET project became the basis for the A320 family.
In 1981, the project was officially named A320. It was the SA2 version that was supposed to become the base for the entire family. The concern actively cooperated with the American Delta Air Lines in working out the airlines' requirements for the future aircraft. The A320 was supposed to carry about 150 passengers over a distance of 3440 kilometers. The fuselage diameter also had to be larger than that of the Boeing 737.
One of the main trump cards of the future airliner was to be a fly-by-wire control system - the first in a commercial aircraft. This system not only simplified production and reduced the weight of the aircraft, but also increased the reliability of control, and hence flight safety. Besides, new complex management involved the abandonment of the classic steering wheel and the transition to a joystick. Subsequently, a similar scheme was extended to all Airbus models.
Engines were chosen for a long time. Even options for open-rotor engines were considered, but the developers considered it too exotic. The CFM56 engine was chosen - the most optimal at that time. Later, the IAE V2500 engine also appeared, created by International Aero Engines - an amalgamation of Rolls-Royce, Pratt & Whitney, JAEC (Japanese Aero Engine Corporation), Fiat and MTU Aero Engines.
Production of the A320 did not start immediately for a number of reasons. Firstly, each member country of the concern wanted to place the final assembly on its territory. Moreover, it was not so much about money, but about prestige. Another major dispute was the division of labor between countries in the production of components and in R&D. There were questions of subsidizing, contractors and so on. As a result, the creation of prototypes did not begin until 1984, when the production chain was finally approved.
Work began to boil only after Airbus received orders for 96 liners from 5 airlines from Europe and the USA. The first A320 was presented to the public in 1987 in a colorful ceremony attended by high-ranking politicians and celebrities. On February 22, 1987, the aircraft took off for the first time. A year later, the A320 received a type certificate from the European aviation authorities (at that time this organization was called JAA - Joint Aviation Authorities). Deliveries began at the same time to the first customer - Air France.
As of 2009, the entire production process for one A320 took about 8 months. The aircraft are assembled at production sites in Toulouse, France, Hamburg, Germany, Tianjin, China and Alabama, USA. Large parts of most aircraft are transported by transport. At the beginning of 2017, Airbus produces about 50 aircraft of this model monthly.
Airbus A320 is the most popular European aircraft. Skyships channel video
Design
Twin-engine low-wing swept-wing, single-keel vertical tail, with turbofan engines located under the wing.
A feature of the Airbus A320 is the advanced technical equipment of the cockpit and the fly-by-wire control system (and this is in the 80s). Instead of mechanical pointer instruments, information about the position of the aircraft and the state of its engines and auxiliary systems was displayed on six cathode-ray screens that occupied most of the dashboard. In addition, classic aircraft controls have been replaced with sidesticks. The control system is electronic - the impact on the controls is processed and transmitted to the engines and hydraulics via a computer.
Modifications
The first major modification of the basic aircraft was the A321 version, also known as the A320 Stretched (extended), A320-500 and A325. Development of this version began in 1988 after receiving orders for 183 units from 10 airlines. The new aircraft practically did not differ from the basic A320, except for the lengthening of the fuselage and minor changes in the wing structure (double-slotted flaps and other wingtips with an increase in wing area by 4 sq. m.). The fuselage was lengthened by 6.94 meters. Due to the lengthening of the passenger compartment, it was also necessary to add two exits in the central part. The maximum takeoff weight increased by 9.6 tons.
Production of the new version was established at the plant in Hamburg, while the base A320 was produced in Toulouse. The A321 made its first flight in 1993. Two aircraft participated in the tests: one was equipped with CFM56 engines, the second IAE V2500.
The second version of the A320 was the reverse modification - the shorter A319. Like other versions, it was created according to the concept of a 130-140-seat aircraft, once known under the SA1 index. It was the smallest aircraft ever built by Airbus and the consortium was initially skeptical of it, holding it only as an A320M-7 project, where "-7" meant an A320 minus 7 fuselage sections. However, with the success of the 320 and 321 models, it was decided to put this version into production as well, making it a direct competitor to the junior Boeing / . 4 sections in front of the wing and 3 sections behind the wing were removed, shortening the fuselage by 3.73 meters. The number of emergency hatches above the wing was also reduced from 4 to 2. The light aircraft did not need high thrust and the engines were somewhat derated.
The production of the aircraft was established at the plant in Hamburg, in the same place where the A321 was made. The aircraft made its first flight in 1995 and a year later the first A319s were handed over to the Swissair fleet. In 1997, the A319 broke the distance record in its class by flying from Hamburg to Winnipeg, Canada - 6,645 kilometers non-stop.
A318
The A318 aircraft was created in the mid-1990s in the process of joint work of the Chinese AVIC, the Singaporean STA, the Italian Alenia and the Airbus concern. The goal of the AE31X project was a small 95-125-seat aircraft, or two aircraft of these capacities. The aircraft was powered by DFM56, P&W PW6000 and Rolls-Royce BR715 engines.
In the end, it was decided to use the A320 liner as a base. Work on a completely new aircraft was curtailed in 1998. Work continued in the early 2000s. It is ironic that Airbus was developing the smallest aircraft in the lineup, the A318, and the largest aircraft in the lineup, the . The aircraft first took off in 2002 and since 2003 began to be delivered to customers.
A320 E Enhanced family(improved family)
A320 Enhanced family is the result of a large-scale work on the modernization of all produced models of liners of the family. Improvements have affected a number of engine systems, aerodynamics (new wingtips - sharklets), weight reduction and design of the passenger compartment (ergonomics, LED lighting, touch displays for passengers, etc.). The updated A320 series began to be delivered from 2007.
A320 NEO New engine Option
A320NEO is a logical continuation of a series of family upgrades and the largest part of it. The improvement of these aircraft has become a necessity caused by the appearance of new liners of a similar class: Canadian, Russian and Chinese. Unlike the improvements of the Enhanced family series, the NEO modification meant the reengineering of the aircraft with their most advanced engines in this class at the moment: CFM LEAP-1A and Pratt & Whitney PW1100G. These engines are 14-16% more economical than their predecessors, and this made it possible to increase the payload mass by 2 tons or, by filling in more fuel, increase the range by 950 km.
Airbus A320 cabin map
| Type | mainline passenger aircraft | |||
| Modification | A318 | A319 | A320 | A321 |
| Power point | 2 x PW6000A (10.8 tf each) |
2 x IAE V2500A5 (12.23 tf each) |
2 x IAE V2500A5 (14.99 tf each) |
|
| Maximum number of passengers | 132 | 156 | 186 | 236 |
| practical ceiling | 12 500 m | |||
| Range of flight | 5,750 km | 6,950 km | 6,100 km | 5,950 km |
| Maximum takeoff weight | 68 t | 75.5 t | 78 t | 93.5 t |
| Cruising speed | 829 km/h | |||
| Wingspan | 34.1 m | 35,8 | ||
| Wing area | 122.4 m2 | |||
| Length | 33.84 m | 37.57 m | 44.51 m | |
| Height | 12.56 m | 11.76 m | ||
The Airbus A320 is one of the most popular aircraft in the world. At the time of writing, there are 3,497 Airbus A320s in operation around the world. The A320 made its first flight back in 1987, but the production of this model is still ongoing.
The A320 is the first model of the so-called "A320 Family", which also includes the A318, A319 and A321. This is a line of narrow-body aircraft (narrow-body aircraft are called aircraft, in the cabin of which there is only one longitudinal passage). The fuselage of the A320 Family is one of the widest, if not the widest, single-aisle aircraft in the world. The A320's fuselage is 7 inches wider than its competitors, providing improved passenger comfort. The wide fuselage allows you to place in one row from 4 to 6 seats, depending on the width of the seat, or to make a fairly wide longitudinal passage in the cabin. The aircraft can accommodate 150 passengers in a two-class cabin and up to 180 passengers in a single-class cabin. The cabin of the A320 is considered to be one of the most comfortable in the world among aircraft of this category. In addition, the space above the head of passengers has been significantly increased, which allows for large overhead luggage compartments for hand luggage. The Airbus A320 is equipped with large passenger and service doors. Significantly reduced aircraft noise.
Airbus A320 is a short and medium haul aircraft. Flight range - 6150 km. Advanced lightweight composites are widely used in the design of the aircraft, which reduces the weight of the aircraft. The wings of the A320 have an optimized design. A320 - the first aircraft in civil aviation, which uses the Electric Remote Control System (EDSU - the so-called “fly by wire” system). We will not dwell on this system in detail, we will only say that, unlike the mechanical system in the EDSU, the aircraft is controlled by electronic signals, this system shifts the focus from the pilot to automation, thereby ensuring stability in the air, increasing flight smoothness, and taking on many control functions for themselves, greatly reducing the workload on the pilot.
The A320 is the first narrow-body Airbus model to feature the new so-called Sharklet wingtips. The 2.4m sharklets made of lightweight composite improve the aerodynamic characteristics of the wing and significantly reduce fuel consumption.
Replacing old endings with Sharklets. Airbus A320 airline S7.
According to Airbus, they allow to increase the flight range by about 185 km, payload - by 450 kg and reduce fuel consumption by 4%. Each Sharklet consists of 95% composite materials and despite its impressive size (2.4 meters high) has a mass of only 40 kg.
Thanks to all these characteristics, the Airbus A320 has gained very wide popularity all over the world, including in Russia. The A320 is widely used in Europe, Asia and also on intercontinental flights.
Aircraft "Family A320"
Airbus A320 length - 37.57 meters
Airbus A320 height - 11.76 meters
Airbus A320 wingspan - 35.8 meters with Sharklets wingtips
Airbus A320 takeoff
Seat plan for Airbus A320 Aeroflot
As you can see in the diagram, Aeroflot's A320 has two different cabin layouts. They differ in the number of business class seats. In the first option, there are 5 rows of seats in the business class compartment, and the remaining rows are for economy class passengers. Most of Aeroflot's A320 aircraft have just such an arrangement. The second layout option provides only two rows for business class, and all other rows are for economy class.
Business Class.
1 - 5 rows (1 - 2 rows for the second layout). These are business class seats. There are 4 chairs in each row (2 on each side). The chairs are wide and comfortable. Seats in business class recline quite a bit. There are comfortable footrests, they are located under the seat in front of the seated passenger.
1st row. This series of business class has some features. There is a wall in front of you, whether you like to look at the wall during the entire flight or not, it's up to you. However, the advantage of the first row is that no one will lean back in front of you. Given the impressive backrest angle in business class, this is a pretty significant advantage. True, the wall in front of you is equipped with cradles for children, but almost no one uses them. Of the minuses of the first row, the lack of footrests should also be noted.
Economy class.
6th row (3rd in the second layout). This is the first row of the economy class. The advantages and disadvantages are almost the same as those of the first row of the business class. There is a wall in front of you, not everyone is pleased to look at the wall for the entire flight. However, here no one will throw back on you. This point is more relevant here than in the business class, since in the economy class the distance between the rows is less. There is quite a lot of room for the knees in this row, but it will not work to stretch the legs. Folding tables are located in one of the armrests, which automatically makes it immovable. One of the important advantages of the front rows is that food and drinks are served from these rows. This circumstance is an advantage not only and not so much from the consideration of getting food earlier, but from the fact that in the back rows you will have a very poor choice of food and drinks.
We also note that the wall in front of the first row of the economy class is equipped with cradles for children, so that the flight can be accompanied by the proximity to babies.
Salon Airbus A320 Aeroflot
8-9-10 rows (12-13-14 for the second option). The A320 has two escape hatches on each side of the fuselage, both located in the middle of the cabin (see photo of the aircraft). The 8th row is located directly in front of the hatch, and its main drawback is that the seat backs in this row do not recline or recline very limitedly. The same picture is in the 9th row, since the seats of the 9th row are in front of the second hatch, that is, between two hatches. However, the 9th row has a big advantage - there is a lot of legroom, because of the hatch, the distance to the 8th row is quite large.
10th row (14 for the second option). These are the places superior comfort» - best places economy class. They are located directly behind the second hatch, so there is plenty of legroom ahead. However, in rows 9-10 you can not put hand luggage under the chair or at the feet, so as not to block the emergency hatches. And also in these rows it is impossible to fly the elderly, passengers with disabilities or passengers with children.
A common drawback for the extreme window seats in rows 8-9-10 is that the seats can be a little crooked due to the hatches. And also because of the proximity to the hatch in some aircraft it can be cold. However, you can always ask the flight attendants for blankets.
The rest of the rows. The rest of the economy class rows are regular seats. The only rule here is that the farther to the tail, the poorer the choice of food and drinks will be.
Last rows. The seats in the last two rows are not the best, especially the seats in the last row and the seats near the aisle in the penultimate row. Proximity to the toilets will not give you pleasure: people will constantly pass near you, the sounds of doors, water drains, smells will interfere. Plus, the backs of the seats in the last row do not recline due to the wall.
Seat plan in Airbus A320 airline S7
Salon Airbus A320 S7
First, please familiarize yourself with the characteristics of the seats and rows of the Aeroflot A320 aircraft, since the advantages and disadvantages of the seats are mostly repeated. S7 Airlines allocates only two rows for business class (8 seats). The rest of the rows belong to the economy class sector.
We only note that the 3rd row of the A320 S7 corresponds to the 6th row of Aeroflot, and the 10-11-12 rows of S7 correspond to the 8-9-10 rows of the A320 of Aeroflot.
Seat plan in the Airbus A320 of the airline "Ural Airlines"
UralAvia allocates 3 rows (12 seats) for business class, the remaining rows are for economy class. The advantages and disadvantages of the seats are the same as in similar Aeroflot aircraft. Check out the characteristics of Aeroflot A320 seats at the beginning of the article. Economy Class A320 Ural Airlines starts from the 4th row (the 4th row corresponds to the 6th row of Aeroflot).
The Airbus A320 is a narrow-body passenger aircraft developed by the Airbus concern. Serial production of the liner continues from 1987 to the present day.
Salon overview and layout of the best places
The Airbus A320 with a two-class layout of the passenger cabin (business and economy) can accommodate 150 passengers.
The business class cabin accommodates (according to the passenger cabin layout) six seats, occupying rows with numbers from 1 to 3. There is a wider (compared to the economy class cabin) central aisle, and the seats are arranged according to the “2-2” pattern. The business class is located in the forward part of the passenger cabin of the Airbus A320, has softer seats and a slightly more varied menu than for economy class passengers. The distances between the chairs here are large, which ensures proper rest for the legs even for tall people.
The best seats in business class are in the second row, especially at the windows. Somewhat unsuccessful are the places of the first and third rows. This is due to the fact that the seats of the first row, although they have more legroom, are at the same time located directly at the toilet and utility rooms. This feature causes sometimes heavy traffic here, which can seriously interfere with relaxing holiday. The third row seats are located close to the partition separating the business class cabin from the economy class. The movement of attendants and the noise coming from the economy class can also cause some inconvenience.
Behind the business class cabin is the economy class with a narrower central aisle, as well as seats arranged in a 3-3 pattern. Economy class seats are occupied (according to the scheme) in rows numbered from 4 to 27.
The best seats for economy class are in the fourth row. This is due to their somewhat remoteness from the noisy middle and somewhat more legroom for passengers. Not the best for the economy class are the seats located at the very end (in the 27th row). Their inconvenience lies in the proximity of the toilet and utility rooms, which can cause a lot of inconvenience. When booking tickets, these not-so-best places should be avoided if possible.
Airbus A320 variants
To date, there are 4 variants of the Airbus A320: A318, A319, A320 and A321.
The Airbus A318 is the most compact of the entire A320 family, with seating capacity ranging from 107 in two-class to 132 in one-class. One of the most important qualities of this liner is that it can take off from shorter runways.
It is also worth noting that it was on the Airbus A318 that the advanced on-board systems were first installed, which are now equipped with all aircraft of the A320 family.
Commercial use aircraft was launched in 2003.
The Airbus A319 is a slightly shortened version of the Airbus A320 by removing the last two rows of passenger seats in the economy class cabin. Thanks to this, the aircraft can use a shorter runway. The base model has a passenger capacity of 116 people, but there is another version that can carry up to 156 people.
Operation of the A319 began in 1996.
Airbus A319 has the following modifications:
- Airbus A319LR - the main difference from the base model is additional fuel tanks, which allow to increase the flight range up to 8000 km.
- Airbus A319CJ is a business modification with an increased flight range.
- The Airbus A320 is a narrow-body aircraft with a maximum passenger capacity of 180 people. Commercial use has continued since 1988.
- Airbus A321 is an extended version of the Airbus A320 with increased (up to 220 people) passenger capacity. The aircraft is medium-haul (flight range - up to 5950 km). Operated since 1994.
Specifications A320
Structurally, the Airbus A320 is a low-wing aircraft. The wing is swept. Plumage - vertical single-keel. The power plant of the Airbus is represented by two turbofan engines, the brand of which depends on the model of the aircraft.
The Airbus A320 was created as a replacement for the obsolete A300 aircraft of the Airbus concern, as well as to compete with the Boeing 727 and Boeing 737 aircraft that had gained at that time (mid-80s of the XX century). The main innovation was the complete modernization of on-board electronics, as well as an improved dashboard: cathode ray tubes were used instead of pointer instruments.
Another important difference between the A320 family and the early Airbus aircraft is that instead of standard steering wheels for pilots, a sidestick (side control stick) was used, which, coupled with modern electronics at that time, made it easier to control the aircraft and limit its crew to two pilots.
Flight performance of the A320 family aircraft:
| Airbus A318-100 | Airbus A319-100 | Airbus A320-200 | Airbus A321-100 | |
| Length, m | 31,4 | 33,8 | 37,6 | 44,5 |
| Wingspan, m | 34,1 | |||
| Fuselage diameter, m | 3,95 | |||
| Cabin width, m | 3,7 | |||
| Height, m | 12,5 | 11,8 | 11 | 11,8 |
| Bearing surface area, m² | 122,6 | |||
| Max. takeoff weight, kg | 68 000 | 75 000 | 77 000 | 93 500 |
| Minimum runway at maximum takeoff weight, m | 1355 | 1950 | 2090 | 2180 |
| Cruising speed | 840 km/h or 0.78 M | |||
| Passenger capacity | 107 to 132 | 116 to 156 | 140 to 180 | 170 to 220 |
| Flight range, km | 5950 | 6850 | 6150 | 5950 |
| Fuel reserve, l | 24 210 | from 24 210 | from 24 210 | from 24 050 |
| up to 30 190 | up to 30 190 | up to 30 030 | ||
| passenger doors | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| emergency exits | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 |
| Practical ceiling, m | 12 000 | |||
| Fuel consumption, l | 2400 | 2600 | 2700 | 2900 |
| Engines | 2 CFMI CFM56-5B each 105.9 kN or 2 Pratt & Whitney PW6000A each 96 kN | 2 CFMI CFM56-5B each 104.5 kN or 2 IAE V2500-A5 each 104.5 kN | 2 CFMI CFM56-5B each 118 kN or 2 IAE V2500-A5 2 IAE V2500-A5 each 118 kN | 2 CFMI CFM56-5B each 142.3 kN or 2 IAE V2500-A5 each 146.8 kN |
