The Airbus A320 aircraft is a representative of narrow-body air vehicles for medium-haul flights. It was created by Airbus S.A.S. "Airbus A320" (photo below), differs from other aircraft of a similar design in being more spacious passenger compartment, wide shelves for hand luggage, high loading capacity of the lower deck and convenient hatches for luggage.
Short story
The Airbus A320 was developed back in the mid-1980s. At that time, it could easily be called innovative. It, for example, became the first non-military aircraft equipped with Fly-By-Wire (electronic fly-by-wire control system). Previously, this technology was used only on fighter aircraft. Conventional steering wheels were replaced with side control handles, and dial indicators were abandoned in favor of displays. Also, the flight engineer was replaced by computers, which provided the calculation of all the necessary flight parameters and controlled the work of the crew. For the first time, the weight of the aircraft was lightened using composite materials. The Airbus A320 made its first flight in 1987, and its commercial operation began in March 1988. This aircraft had no equal at that time. It went far ahead of its most important competitors, Boeing, while boasting a lower price due to the reduction in the cost of fuselage skin.
Until early February 2008, aircraft installation could only be carried out in the city of Toulouse (France), but since March 2008, due to increased demand, work was also carried out at the Hamburg Finkenwerder plant. Moreover, an assembly line for A320 series aircraft was also later opened in China. As of 2011, the estimated productivity was 4 aircraft per month.
Almost 30 years have passed since the release of the first prototype. During this time, the aircraft was modernized several times. The latest modification, the Airbus A320 NEO, features improved wings and an engine.
Technical characteristics of the Airbus A320 aircraft
- Best seats: 10th or 11th row (depending on configuration).
- Crew - 2 people.
- Length - 35.57 meters.
- The wingspan is 34.1 meters.
- The fuselage diameter is 3.95 meters.
- Maximum allowed takeoff weight- 780 centners.
- Cruising speed - 910 km/h (840 km/h).
- The noise level on takeoff is 82 decibels.
- The maximum possible flight altitude is up to 11.8 meters.
- Flight range is up to 6.15 kilometers.
- Passenger capacity depends on the configuration and ranges from 150 to 180 people.
A320 family of aircraft
A318 is the smallest of the line. The basic configuration of the A318 is designed to carry 107 passengers in two classes of cabins. In the one-class variation of the model, the capacity is 132 passengers. Made its first flight in July 2003. This aircraft can fly over a distance of up to 5950 km. The A318 can also be used at airports with shorter runways than aircraft of similar size and capacity. It is suitable for use at airports located within the city.
A319 is a modified version of the A320 with a shortened fuselage. This was achieved by reducing the number of seats for passengers by two rows. Its dimensions allow it to cover a distance of up to 6850 kilometers. This is the longest range of the entire A320 family. Designed to carry 124 passengers. The permissible range is about 6,650 kilometers; a version is available with increased capacity by 32 seats, but with a shorter maximum flight distance.
A319CJ are business aircraft with a very small capacity, but a significantly longer flight range.
A319LR is a modification of the Airbus A319 with additional fuel tanks and the ability to fly a distance of 8.3 kilometers.
A319ACJ (another name is Airbus Corporate Jet) is a corporate aircraft that can carry 39 passengers with a flight range of up to 12,000 kilometers.
The A320 is a twin-engine airliner with a center aisle cabin. It features four passenger entrances and four emergency exits. The Airbus A320 can accommodate a maximum of 180 passengers. In the basic two-class version, the cabin accommodates up to 150 passengers. The average flight range is 4600 kilometers.
A321 is an extended version of the same Airbus A320. Capacity - from 185 to 220 passengers. The plane first flew in 1994. The flight range is 5600 kilometers.
New Engine Option
Airbus has long been developing new engines that will power the Airbus A320. The interior layout is shown below. This development was called New Engine Option, abbreviated as NEO. Customers are offered a choice of Pratt & Whitney PW1000G and CFM International LEAP-X engines. They're nearly 16 percent more fuel-efficient, although the total savings will be slightly less because about 2 percent of the money saved will go towards re-engineering existing models. The new devices will provide greater flight range (by approximately 950 kilometers) and payload capacity (by as much as two tons). The A320 NEO also features redesigned wings with end plates called shark fins.
Pratt & Whitney's PW1000G
The Airbus CEO said that by installing Pratt & Whitney's PW1000G series engines, a 15-20 percent reduction in operating costs can be guaranteed. First airplanes of this type will be delivered in 2016. In total, Airbus plans to produce 4,000 A320 NEO class aircraft over the next 15 years. One of the largest customers was the American air transport company Virgin America, which completed all the documents and paid for the order for 30 brand new Airbuses at once. A total of 60 aircraft are to be delivered under the contract. IndiGo Airlines also became interested in the new engines and signed a contract for the supply of about 150 A320 NEO aircraft.
Competition
The main competitors in the aircraft market for the A320 family are Boeing aircraft. For example, the Boeing 757 is a competitor to the Airbus A321, as it has a longer flight range and greater passenger capacity. Fortunately for Airbus S.A.S., this aircraft model was discontinued in 2005. Although the Airbus A320, about which passenger reviews have always been very good, for a long time was the most popular aircraft, development modern technologies forces developers to improve the liner again and again. In addition, the appearance of the Next Generation line of aircraft on the market displaced the entire A320 family, which prompted Airbus to release A320 NEO class aircraft.
The Airbus A320 aircraft is business card Airbus S.A.S. This airliner is known throughout the world for the fact that, along with the leading models of its main competitor, Boeing, it supplies air carriers with big number cars Today it is known that more than 11,000 aircraft have been ordered, of which 8,000 have already been produced, and most of of which are successfully operated. This makes the liner fundamental in the world civil aviation.
Highest reliability and total use digital technologies, which are designed to ensure flight safety, have turned the Airbus A320 and its closest family models into a real flying computer. This distinguishes the European airliner from its main competitors in the sky.
History of creation
The first mention of the development of a new aircraft in the Airbus concern dates back to 1981. At that time, there was intense debate throughout the continent about why the first models of the 737 family were firmly established in the skies. They needed to prepare a worthy answer.
The French manufacturer focused on efficiency, but the dimensions of the aircraft had to be fully consistent with its main competitors.
By the time of testing, two versions of the machines had been prepared: one for 154 seats (A320-100), the other for 172 seats (A320-200).
Later it was decided to abandon both options and create a 162-seat airliner.
Final tests took place in February 1987, and the consortium received a flight license in 1988.
At that time, the Airbus A320 became the most technologically advanced aircraft of its time. It remains the flagship of the European manufacturer, and the plant constantly supports special programs, aimed at systematically improving not only the digital content of the aircraft, but also the engines and structural elements of the fuselage, wing, and cabin.
The design of the aircraft and its interior
The Airbus A320 served as the founder of the manufacturer's entire family of aircraft. By its design, it is a classic version of a civil aircraft.
This model is a monoplane with two engines located under the wing.
The wing is swept-shaped and has delta-shaped winglets at the ends to reduce air turbulence and save fuel, as well as increase lift force on takeoff.
Special shape winglets (direction both up and down) - characteristic, by which you can distinguish the Airbus A320. However, after 2012, the winglets were changed, turning them into the classic version (pointing upward).
The engines are turbofan, manufactured by CFMI (model CFM56-5B) or IAE (model V2500-A5). In the future, joint work is underway to develop Pratt & Whitney engines (model PW1000G), which can help improve flight efficiency.
The power plants are carried down the wing, since the consoles are thin and do not allow built-in options. The existing engines are the quietest in their class, producing no more than 82 decibels at takeoff.
Fuel tanks are located in the wing and fuselage. The landing gear is traditionally made three-legged - one rotating strut in the nose, the other two in the central part of the wing. Each rack has two wheels, the front trolley has distinctive feature, it does not become vertical, but always has a slightly sloping forward position.
Undeniable competitive advantage Airbus A320 aircraft have the most modern, advanced avionics on board.
The European manufacturer has been preserving this concept for several decades and will use it in its developments. In terms of digital support, the aircraft is the most advanced in the world of civil aviation.
All information about the flight is displayed on liquid crystal monitors.
To improve visibility in the cockpit, the use of devices unique to civil aviation was provided. The A320 does not use steering wheels, but control sticks (like military fighters).
The most important difference is the digital processing of all actions performed by the crew. The aircraft does not provide for a direct mechanical connection between the steering wheel and the flaps, but rather a signal is sent to the computer, which actuates the drive of the control systems. The level of automation made it possible to easily reduce the crew to 2 pilots.
But the same number of personnel is used by its main competitors - Boeing. However, for the Americans, the transition to 2 pilots was accompanied by fierce disputes and numerous commissions and tests, as well as strikes.
The Airbus interior is thought out to the smallest detail.
The engineers took into account everything: from the distance between the seats, to individual lighting and adjusting the brightness of the monitors. The interior of the cabin and the shelves for hand luggage were given special attention increased attention. The cladding uses modern composite panels, and the shelves can hold 11% more cargo than previous versions of the European manufacturer's aircraft. However, some measures came at the expense of capacity.
The Airbus A320 is a narrow-body aircraft, so there is 1 aisle between the seats. The classic layout includes seats for business passengers and economy class. These versions of the liner are the most popular; they can accommodate up to 150 people. Without business seats, Airbus can carry up to 180 people. Standard economical placements involve a “3-3” layout. In business class, the seats are arranged in a 2-2 configuration.
The Airbus A320 has 4 standard exits and 4 emergency exits.
In general, the civilian airliner is superior to its competitors in terms of comfort in all seats in the cabin. But there are places that can safely be called the best in terms of amenities. It is believed that these are, in addition to business seats, economic 4th and 11th rows in the general cabin.
Flight performance
| Airbus A320 | Boeing 737-400 | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuselage length, m | 37,57 | 36,4 |
| Wingspan, m | 34.1 (for the entire family) | 28,88 |
| Takeoff weight, maximum, t | 77 | 62,8 |
| Passenger capacity, persons | 150…180 | Up to 168 |
| Speed, cruising, km/h | 840 | 807 |
| Flight range, km | 6150 | 5000 |
| Ceiling, flight altitude, km | 12 | 11,3 |
Production
Airbus production uses composite materials. They make up up to 20% of all materials used in the construction of the liner. The manufacturer prefers mainly fiberglass-reinforced plastic. Most composites are used in the construction of the wing and keel.
Until 2008, aircraft were finally assembled exclusively in France, at the Toulouse plant. But due to unusually high demand, the German plant in Hamburg also started working in March 2008. Later, China also joined in, and in the future it will assemble up to 4 cars per month on its lines.
Exploitation
The first deliveries of the Airbus A320 began in 1988. At first they were made available to European manufacturers, then to the USA. At the time of their release they were firsts in many aspects. So, they replaced the classic steering wheels with handles, which were placed to the left of the ship’s commander and to the right of the co-pilot.
The aircraft was the first on which composite materials were so widely used in the manufacture of not only the interior, but also the main structures - the wing and fin.
In addition, the Airbus A320 differed from its competitors in that it used the best achievements of computer engineering in its controls.
Modifications
The Airbus A320 is considered the founder of the aircraft series French manufacturer. The success of the airliner served as the foundation for the creation of more advanced aircraft models.
The A318 is the smallest airliner in terms of capacity, which took off in 2003. It can accommodate from 107 to 132 people on board, but has low level noise (which makes it very convenient for use at airports within urban areas). This model can land and take off from short runways.
A319 - received a shortened (compared to A320) fuselage with 2 rows of seats. In terms of the number of seats, there are versions from 116 to 158 seats, but the flight range has increased. Based on this modification, variants are built for business or with larger fuel tanks (flight range - up to 8300 km).
A321 - has been in operation since 1994 and has a shorter flight range than the founder of the A320, but greater capacity. It can accommodate from 170 to 220 people on board.
In July 2011, Airbus S.A.S. entered into a promising agreement with the famous American airline American Airlines for the supply of 130 Airbus A320 aircraft and 130 of the newest Airbus A320neo.
Almost all components of the A320 airliners and the aircraft of the SU family closest to them are transported by transport ships.
Prospects
The company's main hope for the future is the A320 neo model. Changes compared to its predecessor affected the wing design (winglets).
The developers also managed to increase the range by 950 kilometers, and the fuel savings reached 16%, compared to the A320.
In 2016, these aircraft began to be delivered to airlines, but still the majority of pre-orders have not yet been fulfilled, since the A320 neo became the most popular civilian airliner in the world in terms of the number of orders when it was shown to the public at the Le Bourget air show.
Pre-orders for the model broke more than one record. The Malaysian low-cost airline AirAsia ordered the most, signing a deal for 200 aircraft. European carriers, which own the lion's share of the 1,029 pre-ordered aircraft models, also showed interest.
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 service worldwide. The A320 made its first flight back in 1987, but 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 ruler narrow-body aircraft(narrow-body aircraft are those whose cabin has only one longitudinal passage). The fuselage of the A320 Family aircraft is one of the widest, if not the widest, of any single-aisle aircraft in the world. The A320's fuselage is 7 inches wider than its competitors, providing enhanced passenger comfort. The wide fuselage allows you to place from 4 to 6 seats in one row, depending on the width of the seat, or to create a fairly wide longitudinal passage in the aircraft cabin. The aircraft can accommodate 150 passengers in a two-class cabin and up to 180 passengers in a single-class cabin. The A320 cabin is rightfully considered one of the most comfortable in the world among aircraft of this category. In addition, the headroom of passengers has been significantly increased, allowing for large overhead compartments for hand luggage. The Airbus A320 is equipped with large passenger and service doors. The noise emitted by the aircraft has been significantly reduced.
Airbus A320 is a short- and medium-haul aircraft. Flight range – 6150 km. Advanced lightweight composites are widely used in aircraft construction, which reduces the weight of the aircraft. The wings of the A320 have an optimized design. The A320 is the first aircraft in civil aviation to use a fly-by-wire control system (EDCS). We will not dwell on this system in detail, we will only say that, unlike the mechanical system in the EMDS, the aircraft is controlled by electronic signals, this system shifts the emphasis from the pilot to automation, thereby ensuring stability in the air, increasing the smoothness of flight, and taking on many control functions yourself, significantly reducing the pilot's workload.
The A320 is the first Airbus narrowbody model to be equipped with new so-called Sharklets - wingtips. Sharklets with a length of 2.4 m made of lightweight composite improve the aerodynamic characteristics of the wing and significantly reduce fuel consumption.
Replacing old endings with Sharklets. Airbus A320 of S7 airlines.
According to Airbus, they can increase flight range by approximately 185 km, payload by 450 kg and reduce fuel consumption by 4%. Each Sharklet consists of 95% composite materials and, despite its impressive dimensions (height 2.4 meters), weighs only 40 kg.
Thanks to all this Airbus characteristics The A320 has gained very wide popularity all over the world, including in Russia. The A320 is widely used in Europe, Asia and on intercontinental routes.
Aircraft of the A320 Family
Length of Airbus A320 - 37.57 meters
Airbus A320 height - 11.76 meters
The wingspan of the Airbus A320 is 35.8 meters with Sharklets wingtips
Airbus A320 take off
Aeroflot Airbus A320 seat layout
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 Aeroflot A320 aircraft have this exact configuration. The second layout option provides only two rows for business class, and all other rows belong to economy class.
Business Class.
1 - 5 rows (1 - 2 rows for the second layout). These are business class seats. Each row has 4 chairs (2 on each side). The chairs are wide and comfortable. Business class seats recline quite far. There are comfortable foot rests, they are located under the seat in front of the passenger sitting in front.
1st row. This business class row has some special features. There is a wall in front of you, whether you like to look at the wall during the entire flight or not is up to you. However, the advantage of the first row is that no one will recline their seat in front of you. Considering the impressive backrest angle in business class, this is quite an important advantage. True, the wall in front of you is equipped with cradles for children, but almost no one uses them. Among the minuses of the first row, it should also be noted that there are no footrests.
Economy class.
6th row (3rd in the second layout). This is the first row of economy class. The advantages and disadvantages are almost the same as the first row of business class. There is a wall in front of you; not everyone enjoys looking at a wall the entire flight. However, no one will throw their back on you here. This point is more relevant here than in business class, since in economy class the distance between the rows is smaller. This row has a lot of knee room, but you won't be able to stretch your 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 because of the consideration of getting food earlier, but because in the back rows you will have a very limited choice of food and drinks.
We also note that the wall in front of the first row of economy class is equipped with bassinets for children, so that the flight may be accompanied by infants.
Airbus A320 interior Aeroflot
Rows 8-9-10 (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 plane). The 8th row is located directly in front of the hatch, and its main drawback is that the backs of the seats in this row do not recline or recline to a very limited extent. The same picture is in the 9th row, since the seats of the 9th row are located 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; due to the hatch, the distance to the 8th row is quite large.
10th row (14 for the second option). These are places of “increased comfort” - best places economy class. They are located directly behind the second hatch, so there is plenty of legroom up front. However, in rows 9-10 you cannot place hand luggage under the seat or at the feet, so as not to block the emergency hatches. Also, elderly people and passengers with disabilities cannot fly in these rows. disabilities or passengers with children.
A common drawback for the outer window seats in rows 8-9-10 is that the seats may be a little crooked due to the hatches. Also, due to the proximity to the hatch, it can be cold in some planes. However, you can always ask the flight attendants for blankets.
The remaining rows. The remaining rows of economy class are regular seats. The only rule here is that the further you go towards 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 aisle seats in the penultimate row. Proximity to toilets will not give you pleasure: people will constantly pass near you, the sounds of doors, draining water, and smells will disturb you. Plus, the backs of the seats in the last row do not recline because of the wall.
Seat diagram of the Airbus A320 airline S7
Airbus A320 S7 interior
First, please read the characteristics of the seats and rows of the Aeroflot A320 aircraft, since the advantages and disadvantages of the seats are basically the same. S7 Airlines allocates only two rows for business class (8 seats). The remaining 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 the S7 correspond to the 8-9-10 rows of the Aeroflot A320.
Seating diagram of the Airbus A320 of Ural Airlines
UralAvia allocates 3 rows (12 seats) for business class, the remaining rows are economy class. The advantages and disadvantages of the seats are the same as in similar Aeroflot aircraft. Check out the Aeroflot A320 seat specifications 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).
February 02, 2012 One comment
To decide whether you like this aircraft, you need to study reviews of the Airbus A320 100/200. Currently, it is one of the most popular aircraft used for long-distance flights.
Considering this model, it should be said that we are talking about two aircraft, A 320 100 and A 320 200. The first was supposed to mark the beginning of the line of Airbus A 320, but specifications did not satisfy the developers. Only 21 cars were produced. However, insufficient fuel reserves did not allow long-distance flights. It was replaced by the Airbus A320 200, equipped with additional fuel tanks.
It was he who became the main representative of this type. All positive reviews passengers about the Airbus A320 100/200 belong to this model of medium-range aircraft.
Airbus A320-100/200 interior diagram
The cabin layout (seat arrangement) of the Airbus A320 100/200 allows you to study in detail where and how the available economy class seats are located. The entire impression of the flight depends on how comfortable the seats are purchased. Using the diagram, it is easy to choose the best (safe) seats in the Airbus A320 100/200. Traditionally they are located near exits. IN Airbus cabin A320 100/200 the safest seats are considered to be No. 4A, No. 4B, No. 4E, No. 4F, No. 11B, No. 11C, No. 11D, No. 11E, which are located near the emergency exits.
Business class rows 1 to 5 appear specific feature- the presence of mounts for baby bassinets, which makes these places the best for flying with children, and for those who hope for a quiet and relaxing flight - additional noise and fuss. Also, such fastenings are available in the 6th row and are located on the partition (wall).
Even tall passengers feel comfortable here. Most not comfortable places are located at the end of the salon. In this type of airbus, turbulence was added to the usual technical nuances. The backrests in the last row do not recline. Which also negatively affects the reviews of passengers who got these seats.
Otherwise, this model turned out to be one of the most successful, which was reflected in the number of orders for these machines. Currently, more than 4 thousand cars have been produced, almost 7 thousand more units are planned to be produced, and the queue for orders continues to grow.
The number of seats on the Airbus A320 aircraft (Airbus A320) varies (depending on the model and configuration) from 150 passengers in a two-class cabin (2+2 seats in business class and 3+3 seats in economy class) and up to 180 people in single-class cabin.
Therefore, in order to accurately advise the best seats on the A320, you need to know information about exactly the plane in which you are going to fly.
If the airline you are interested in is not on the list, do not worry, there are general tips choices, guided by which, you can understand what each specific place is like.
The first example of an Airbus A320 configured with 180 seats in a single-class cabin.
Advantages and disadvantages of passenger seats - the best seats in the Airbus A320 cabin.
Places 1-29, A and F: They are located near the window, which you can look out of during the flight (depending on the weather and time of flight). No one will bother you when sitting down or getting up from your seat. These places have one drawback - it is difficult to get up from it without disturbing the neighbors.
Places 1-29 B and E: There is no access to the window, but you are also not disturbed by people scurrying along the aisle and flight attendants with carts.
Places 1-29 C and D: It is easy to leave your place, for example to go to the toilet, or during an evacuation. Disadvantages: there is no access to the window, and flight attendants with trolleys and people passing through the cabin can also disturb you.
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Seats in rows 1, 12 and 13 They have an advantage over everyone else, since they are located next to the emergency exit. Because of this, there is additional free legroom in front of them.
However, there is a possibility that the seats in row 12 either do not recline, or have a limitation in this.
And in the first row, tables (which are usually located in the back of the seat in front) can be located in the armrest. Because of this, the armrests do not move and the seats are slightly reduced in size.
Seats in the 11th row a little worse than the standard ones, since there is an emergency exit right behind them, because of this, they most likely either do not recline or have a limitation.
Seats in the last row, 29/30 Not only are they closest to the toilets and galley, but the seats most likely do not recline. In general, definitely not first class.
Seats at the front of the cabin have several advantages. First- you will be the first to get what the flight attendants treat you to during the flight. It happens that towards the end of the salon some drinks run out and you have to be content with what is left.
Second- upon landing, you will be one of the first to leave the plane.
However, you risk being surrounded by children; these seats are often given to passengers with strollers and small children.
- If possible, carefully study the diagram of the airliner you will be flying on.
- Ask an airline representative for advice
- Do not take seats at the very rear, close to the toilets, galley and other technical areas.
- Do not take seats in which the seats do not recline or are limited in this
- Do not take seats that have a partition directly in front of them.
Happy landing!
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