airbus a320

Information may change rapidly as the event progresses. For other uses, see A320 (disambiguation). Airbus A320 family Swiss International Air Lines A320-200 Role Narrow-body jet airliner Manufacturer Airbus First flight 22 February 1987 Introduced 28 March 1988 Status Active service Primary users US Airways

United Airlines

Air France

EasyJet Number built 3,723 as of 31 December 2008[1] Unit cost A318: US$56.0 to $62.1m (2008)[2]

A319: $63.3 to $77.3m (2008)

A320: $73.2 to $80.6m (2008)

A321: $87.7 to $92.8m (2008)

The Airbus A320 family of short- to medium-range commercial passenger airliners are manufactured by Airbus. Family members include the A318, A319, A320, and A321, as well as the ACJ business jet.

First delivered in 1988, the A320 pioneered the use of digital fly-by-wire flight control systems in a commercial aircraft. With more than 3,700 aircraft of the A320 family built, it is the second best-selling jet airliner family of all time after its primary competition, the Boeing 737. Contents [hide] 1 Development 1.1 Background 1.2 Production 2 Design 2.1 Technology 2.2 New winglets 3 Operational service 3.1 Competition 3.2 Replacement aircraft 4 Variants 4.1 A320 4.2 A319 4.3 A321 4.4 A318 4.5 Freighter 4.6 A320 Enhanced 5 Deliveries 6 Accidents and incidents 7 Specifications 7.1 Engines 8 See also 9 References 10 External links //

Development

Background

After the initial success of the A300, Airbus began developing a new model aimed at replacing the world's most popular aircraft at the time, the Boeing 727. The new Airbus would be of the same size, yet offer improved operating economics and various passenger capacities. The digital technology in the A320 would herald a two-generation technological leap over the all-analogue Boeing 727 and be a generation ahead of the Boeing 737-300/-400/-500 series. The A320 was targeted at the global fleet replacement requirements for the 727 and early variants of the 737. S7 Airlines A319 at Domodedovo International Airport Finnair's second A320-200 just after takeoff Planform view of an Iberia A320 at takeoff

After the oil price rises of the 1970s, Airbus needed to minimise the trip fuel costs of the A320. To that end, Airbus incorporated advanced features including fly-by-wire flight control, composite primary structures, centre-of-gravity control using fuel, glass cockpit (EFIS) and a two-person flight deck. The end result was that the A320 consumes 50% less fuel than the 727. According to a study cited by the Stockholm Environmental Institute, the A320 burns 11,608 kilograms of jet fuel flying between Los Angeles and New York City, which is about 77.4 kilograms per passenger in an A320 with 150 seats.[3]

Bernard Ziegler was the initiator of the aircraft's then revolutionary fly-by-wire flight controls with sidestick cockpit controller and full glass cockpit. He successfully convinced aviation authorities