Airbus A320 technical information

[777]

Airbus A320 Short to Medium-Range Jetliner



DESCRIPTION:
Designed to compete with the Boeing 737 and McDonnell Douglas MD-80, the A320 was Airbus' first entry in the narrow-body market. Although the aircraft borrows some features from the larger A300 and A310, it is essentially a new design equipped with many state-of-the-art engineering innovations. For example, the A320 was the first commercial jetliner with a full fly-by-wire control system. Other advanced features include widespread use of composite materials to reduce weight, sophisticated avionics including a gust-alleviation system allowing a smoother ride, advanced cockpit warning systems, and high-technology engines to reduce noise and fuel consumption. The major design variant, the A320-200, also incorporates winglets to improve aerodynamic efficiency. As a result of all these innovations, the A320 has proven to be very reliable and economical in service, and has become Airbus' most widely-sold aircraft to date with some 900 built by 2001. The success of the A320 is further illustrated by the fact that three additional aircraft, the A321 stretched model and A319 and A318 shortened versions have been developed from its basic design.
Data below for A320-200
Last modified 06 July 2003



HISTORY:
First Flight 22 February 1987
Service Entry

28 March 1988 (with Air France)


CREW: 2 flight crew


PASSENGERS: 150 in two classes
179 in one class


ESTIMATED COST:

unknown


AIRFOIL SECTIONS:
Wing Root unknown
Wing Tip

unknown


DIMENSIONS:
Length 123.25 ft (37.57 m)
Wingspan 111.25 ft (33.91 m)
Height 38.71 ft (11.80 m)
Wing Area 1,317.5 ft2 (122.4 m2)
Canard Area

not applicable


WEIGHTS:
Empty 90,400 lb (41,000 kg)
Typical Load unknown
Max Takeoff 162,040 lb (73,500 kg)
Fuel Capacity internal: 6,300 gal (23,860 L)
external: not applicable
Max Payload

42,370 lb (19,220 kg)


PROPULSION:
Powerplant two General Electric/SNECMA CFM56-5 turbofans or
two International Aero Engines V2500-A1 turbofans
Thrust 50,000 lb (222.4 kN)


PERFORMANCE:
Max Level Speed at altitude: unknown
at sea level: unknown
cruise speed: 560 mph (900 km/h), Mach 0.82
Initial Climb Rate unknown
Service Ceiling unknown
Range 2,700 nm (5,000 km)
g-Limits unknown


KNOWN VARIANTS:
A320-100 First production model; 21 built
A320-200 Major production variant featuring winglets and extra fuel tank for increased range


KNOWN OPERATORS: ACES Colombia
Adria Airways
Aer Lingus
Aero Lloyd
Air 2000
Air Canada
Air Europe Italy
Air France
Air Inter
Air Jamaica
Air Luxor
Air Macau
Air Malta
Air Nippon Airways
Airtours International
Alitalia
All Nippon Airways
America West Airlines
Ansett Australia
Austrian Airlines
Balkan Bulgarian Airlines
Braniff
British Airways
British Caledonian
British Mediterranean
British Midland Airlines
Canada 3000
Canadian
China Eastern Airlines
China Northwest Airlines
China Southern Airlines
CNAC-Zhejiang Airlines
Condor Berlin
Croatia Airlines
Cyprus Airways
Dragonair
Edelweiss Air
Egyptair
Eurocypria Airays
Finnair
Fly FTI
GB Airways
Gulf Air
Iberia
Iberworld
Indian Airlines
Jet Blue Airways
JMC Airlines
Kuwait Airways
Lacsa
Lan Chile
Lotus Air
LTU International
Lufthansa
Mexicana
Monarch Airlines
Middle East Airlines
Northwest Airlines
Nouvelair
Pan Am
Philippine Air Lines
Premiair
Qatar Airways
Royal Jordanian
Ryan International
Sabena
Shorouk Air
Silkair
Siuchuan Airlines
Skyservice
South African Airways
Spanair
Srilankan Airlines
Star Airlines
Swissair
Syrianair
TACA
TAM Brazil
TAP Air Portugal
Trans Aer
Trans Asia Airways
Transmeridian Airlines
Tunis Air
United Airlines
US Airways
Vietnam Airlines
Virgin Sun
Volare Airlines
Yes Charter Airlines



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