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 line of narrow-body aircraft (narrow-body aircraft are those whose cabin has only one longitudinal aisle). 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 luggage 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 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 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 footrests, 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 the 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 likes to look at the 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. There is plenty of knee room in this row, but you won't be able to stretch your legs out. 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 aircraft). 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 very limitedly. 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; because of the hatch, the distance to the 8th row is quite large.

10th row (14 for the second option). These are “superior comfort” seats - the best economy class seats. 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, passengers with disabilities or passengers with children cannot fly in these rows.

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 of Ural Airlines starts from the 4th row (the 4th row corresponds to the 6th row of Aeroflot).

The Airbus A320 aircraft is the calling card of the Airbus S.A.S concern. 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 a large number of aircraft. Today it is known that more than 11,000 aircraft have been ordered, of which 8,000 have already been produced, and most of them are in successful operation. This makes the aircraft fundamental in the world of civil aviation.

The highest reliability and total use of 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.

The special shape of the winglets (direction both up and down) is a characteristic feature by which the Airbus A320 can be distinguished. 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. Two wheels are attached to each rack; the front trolley has a distinctive feature: it does not become vertical, but always has a slightly beveled position forward.

The undeniable competitive advantage of the Airbus A320 aircraft is 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. Great attention was paid to the interior of the cabin and the shelves for hand luggage. 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

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 French manufacturer's aircraft series. 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 a low noise level (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. From 170 to 220 people can fit 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 largest order was from the Malaysian low-cost airline AirAsia, which signed 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 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 a person in a single-class cabin (more detailed information about the characteristics of the aircraft, as well as its diagrams, can be found here -).

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.

Attention, friends! We have analyzed the seat layouts, and also noted the best seats in the cabin on A320 aircraft of the largest Russian airlines:

If your airline is not on the list, don’t be upset, there are general selection tips that can help you choose a good seat.

The best seats on the plane
Anna Morozova, editor-in-chief

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. Also, people passing along the aisle and flight attendants are not disturbed.

These places have one drawback - it is difficult to get up from it, you will have to disturb the neighbors.

Places 1-29 B and E: There is no direct access to the window, but you can still look out of it. People scurrying along the aisles and flight attendants with carts do not bother you.

Places 1-29 C and D: It is easy to leave your place, for example to go to the toilet. Also, tall people can stretch their legs into the aisle.

Disadvantages: no access to the window, you will have to let two neighbors through if they want to get up. Also, flight attendants with trolleys and passengers passing through the cabin may be disturbed.

Seats in the 1st row. The first row always has a number of advantages and disadvantages, depending on what is more important to you when you make your choice.

Advantages: No one will throw their chair back at you. You will receive all drinks and food first. The distance to the partition or wall can be significant for the legs. You will be the first to exit the aircraft.

Disadvantages: The distance to the wall/partition may be insufficient.

There is enough room for your knees, but you won’t be able to stretch your legs and stretch them.

Some people are not very comfortable looking at the wall in front of them for the entire flight.

The first seats are most often occupied by passengers with children. You risk finding yourself next to a baby who will cry the entire flight.

The tables, which are usually located in the back of the chair in front, are located in one of the armrests. Because of this, the armrest does not move, and the seats may be slightly narrower.

12 and 13 row They have an advantage over everyone else, since they are located next to the emergency exit. Because of this, there is additional legroom in front of them.

However, there is a high probability that the seats in row 12 either do not recline, or have a limitation in this.

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 kitchen, but the seats most likely do not recline. In general, definitely not first class. You will be accompanied throughout the flight by the sounds of the tank being released and the slamming of doors.

Seats at the front of the plane 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.

Airbus 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.

Until February 2008, final assembly of the A320 was carried out only in Toulouse, but since March 2008, due to high demand, final assembly is also carried out at the Hamburg plant (Finkenwerder). In addition, an assembly line for A320 family aircraft was opened in China with an estimated productivity of 4 aircraft per month (in 2011). The main competitor of the Airbus A320 family is the .

Story

After the success of the A300, the Airbus consortium began developing a new aircraft designed to replace the most popular aircraft at the time - the Boeing 727 and early versions of the Boeing 737. It was intended to create an aircraft of similar dimensions, but more advanced in terms of economy and with different seating options. Digital technology would give the A320 an advantage over its main competitors, the Boeing 727 and 737.

The aircraft development program began in March 1984. The prototype A320 with CFM56-5A1 engines made its first flight 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 is the world's first passenger aircraft with a Fly-By-Wire fly-by-wire control system, a flight deck with side-mounted controls instead of conventional control columns, and a horizontal tail made entirely of composite materials.

Compared to other airliners of similar size, the A320 series features a spacious passenger cabin with large overhead bins for carry-on luggage, large lower deck (cargo) deck cargo capacity and wide luggage hatches. After the release of the A318, on the remaining aircraft of the A320 family, mainly produced after 2000, innovations (Enhanced version) were also applied, such as: replacement of cabin cladding 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 cabin 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 the relatively low cost of maintenance), the A320 is very popular all over the world.

Another feature of the Airbus A320 is its technically advanced cockpit (by the standards of the 1980s). Instead of mechanical dial gauges, information about the aircraft's position and the state of its engines and auxiliary systems is displayed on six displays that occupy most of the instrument panel. In addition, the classic airplane controls are replaced with special side-sticks located on the sides of the cockpit, so that 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 serving as a navigator and flight engineer) is located to the right of his seat. This measure significantly improved the working conditions of the crew and, as a result, increased flight safety. These joysticks are not directly connected to the control planes; any movement of the joystick is processed by the on-board computer, and the information is transmitted through wires to hydraulic actuators, which come into action and make the necessary movements of the steering planes. The high level of automation in controlling 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 Airbus factories 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.

During the economic recovery of Airbus in 2007, German managers managed to achieve the transfer of A320 production from France to Germany.

In addition, the production of A320 airliners has been established in the People's Republic of China. It is planned that from 2010 the concern's Chinese factories will produce up to 50 aircraft per year. Also, the Irkutsk Aviation Plant in Russia produces components for the A320 airliners.

The A320 helps Airbus compensate for losses associated with problems in the production of the giant A380 aircraft. The order portfolio is formed by Asian airlines and leasing companies.

The biggest problem for Airbus remains the low dollar exchange rate. Aircraft are paid for in dollars, and most of the production is located in the eurozone.

Exploitation

The A320 aircraft served as the basis for the development of a whole family of aircraft:

• A320 - the basic modification of the airliner, accommodating from 150 to 180 passengers
• A321 - a stretched version of the A320, accommodating from 185 to 220 passengers
• A319 - modification of the A320 with a shortened fuselage by reducing the number of passenger seats by two
• series, has the longest flight range in the entire family (6,850 km)
• The A318 is the smallest member of the A320 family. Accommodates from 107 to 132 passengers.

Accidents in the early stages of operation, including the crash of one of the first production A320 Air France on June 26, 1988, seriously tarnished the image of the aircraft and its computerized control system. The cause of the accident was never fully determined, although the commission's official conclusion pointed to pilot error. However, there is an opinion that computer systems and previously identified deficiencies in the aircraft are to blame.

Competition

The main competitor for the A320 family is the Boeing 737NG family of aircraft. competes with the A321, having a slightly longer range and slightly larger passenger capacity, but its production ceased in 2005. For the A318 and A319 models, competing models may be older variants such as the discontinued . In the near future, Airbus plans to begin production of NEO series aircraft - this is caused by the appearance on the market of the above-mentioned Next Generation aircraft.

In the first half of 2003, Skytrax (UK) conducted a study to determine passenger preferences. During the study, more than 69 thousand people were surveyed, who had to decide on their tastes based on a number of criteria proposed in the survey (in particular, the audibility of engine noise in the cabin, the comfort of the seats and the distance between the rows). As a result, about 59% of respondents considered the cabin of the A-320 aircraft the most comfortable (while the other nominee, the Boeing 737, received just over 25% of the votes).

New Engine Option

Despite the fact that a quarter of a century has passed since the introduction of the A320, the aircraft is constantly being modernized in accordance with the requirements of the time. Airbus is currently working on installing new engines for the A320 family. The program is 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 the aircraft will be slightly less as 1-2% savings are typically lost when installing engines on an existing model. New engines will increase range (by 950 km) or payload capacity (by 2 tons). The A320neo will also receive a modified wing with shark fin endplates.

The Airbus CEO said that by installing Pratt & Whitney's PW1000G engines, one can confidently expect a 20% reduction in operating costs compared to existing engines. The first aircraft are planned to be delivered to customers in 2016, and in total, according to Airbus plans, about 4,000 A320neo aircraft will be delivered over the next 15 years. The main customer of the new model was Virgin America, which placed a “firm” (i.e. paid) order for 30 A320neo as part of an agreement for the supply of 60 aircraft, concluded on January 17, 2011. In January 2011, IndiGo airline entered into a preliminary contract for the supply of 150 aircraft A320neo and 30 A320.

At the 2011 Le Bourget Air Show, Airbus announced it had received orders from and leasing company Air Lease, as well as Indian low-cost airline IndiGo. On 23 June 2011, Airbus announced it had received an order for 200 A320neos from Malaysian budget airline AirAsia. This order became the largest in aviation history. In total, Airbus received a record 667 orders for the A320NEO at Le Bourget, valued at $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.

Sharklets

Sharklets are winglets developed by Airbus specifically for the new A320Neo family of aircraft. According to the company's statement, Sharlets improve the aerodynamics of the aircraft by increasing the effective aspect ratio of the wing and reducing the induced drag created by the vortex breaking off from the end of the swept wing. Airbus estimates that the use of Sharklets will reduce fuel consumption over long distances by 3.5%, which will also mean a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions. In addition, A320 family aircraft with Sharklets will be able to increase payload by 500 kg or increase range by 180 km (100 nautical miles) while maintaining standard load. Also, an increase in take-off weight can be converted into the use of lower engine thrust during takeoff, which will accordingly save the resource of the power plant. Among other advantages of the innovation, Airbus cites improved climb characteristics and an increased initial cruising altitude.

Technologies

The aircraft is equipped with an EFIS digital avionics complex manufactured by the French company TOMCOH-CSF, consisting of six color multifunction displays for displaying flight and navigation information, as well as data on the operation of on-board systems and failure warnings. All avionics comply with the ARINC 700 standard.

Extensive use of composite materials (about 20%) in aircraft construction. Mainly used are Glass-fiber reinforced plastic, Carbon-fiber reinforced plastic, and honeycomb core. Almost all the wing mechanization is made of composite materials (slats, flaps, spoiler panels, hatches, nose fairing), and the vertical stabilizer is entirely made of composite. The leading edge of the horizontal stabilizer is also composite.

A320 family

A321

The A321 airliners, which entered service at the beginning of 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 low-cost flights, with a flight range of up to 5,600 km.

The A320 is a twin-engine aircraft with a center aisle cabin, 4 passenger entrances and 4 emergency exits. The Airbus A320 can accommodate a maximum of 180 passengers. In a typical 2-class configuration (2+2 seats in business class and 3+3 seats in economy class), the cabin accommodates 150 passengers. The cargo compartment can accommodate 7 AKH containers - 3 in the front, 4 in the rear. The A320 is - as its name suggests - the founding model of the successful A320 family. The cruising speed of the A-320 is 910 km per hour. The average flight range is 4600 km. Depending on the interior configuration with an additional fuel tank, it can cover a distance of 5,500 km.

The A319 is a 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 capacity, operators of this type of aircraft receive significant advantages. In addition to the basic model, designed to carry 124 passengers over a range of up to 6,650 km, customers are offered an option with increased capacity up to 156 seats.

One of the most popular modes of transport, especially when traveling long distances, is air. Traveling by plane is faster than land transport, highly comfortable and safe. Despite information about tragedies and plane crashes, according to statistics, flying is the safest way to travel.

If you compare the frequency of plane crashes and road accidents, it becomes clear that an airplane is still much more reliable.

Passenger airliners

The first passenger aircraft began to be used en masse from the beginning of the 20th century. They were small in size and carried no more than 15 passengers at a time. Over time, aviation developed more and more, and aircraft began to be produced in many countries around the world. In the last century, their models were evaluated solely in terms of passenger and cargo capacity, as well as flight range. Currently, in addition to these indicators, more requirements are placed on manufacturers - the aircraft must be economical in terms of fuel consumption and have a very low noise level. In modern conditions, these requirements are very important, and manufacturing companies around the world are obliged to take them into account.

Types of passenger aircraft

According to their dimensions, passenger aircraft are usually divided into wide-body, narrow-body, regional and local. Wide-body aircraft are the largest in size and passenger capacity, their length is more than 70 meters, diameter - 4-5 meters. The width of the cabin of such an airliner can accommodate 6-10 rows of passenger seats. These aircraft are used for long- and medium-haul flights and are very expensive. Narrow-body aircraft are considered the most common; almost every airline has them. They are used at medium distances, they are smaller in capacity and diameter - 4 meters. The Airbus Industry A320 belongs to this type, which is much cheaper and more economical to operate. Regional aircraft can accommodate up to 100 passengers and are often used for domestic flights within one country; local aircraft are even smaller in size and fly over distances of up to 1000 km.

Airbus Industrie ("Airbus Industry A320")

The manufacturer of the A320 aircraft is the European consortium Airbus S.A.S. Work on the creation of such a board began in Europe in the early 70s. The main task facing the manufacturers was to create a model that would accommodate 130-180 passengers, maintain low noise levels and provide the ability to operate on short runways. Such an aircraft was created 17 years later - the Airbus Industry A320 made its first flight on February 22, 1987. All work on its research was completed, and it was put into production. The Airbus Industry A320 (photos of the aircraft are presented in the article) impresses not only aviation professionals with its appearance, but also passengers.

The first customer was the French airline AIR France, which purchased the first aircraft. This happened after the Airbus Industry A320 aircraft passed mandatory certification in Europe at the end of February 1988, and in the USA in December. Then, in subsequent years, this model gained widespread popularity and spread throughout the world.

Peculiarities

The Airbus Industry A320 has a number of technical features that distinguish it from other aircraft of this type. The most important distinguishing feature is considered to be the presence of a fly-by-wire control system - EDSU. Such a system has not been used in aircraft manufacturing before; it was first installed on the Airbus Industry A320. In the cockpit there are 6 screens on the instrument panel, which display information about the status of the engines and the position of the aircraft, as well as information from auxiliary systems. In addition, there is an improvement in the cockpit - the so-called side sticks, side handles - their functions replace the usual aircraft steering wheel. Each pilot, for his part, has such a sidestick installed. All technical innovations and new characteristics make it possible to automate the control of the aircraft; therefore, the number of pilots has been reduced to two people. The changes affected not only the cockpit, but also the passenger cabin - compared to other aircraft of this type, the Airbus Industry A320 has a wider cabin and more space for hand luggage. The shelves are 11% wider, individual lighting is provided above each passenger seat, and it is now possible to adjust the brightness of the interior lighting - from 0 to 100%.

Automatic control of the Airbus Industry A320 aircraft is carried out through the operation of on-board computers - they have also been optimized and improved. Thanks to all these technical characteristics, it has gained trust and popularity around the world. Many Russian airlines constantly use this particular aircraft model, the Airbus Industry A320, Aeroflot, Sibir S7 and others.

Interior layout

Each seat in the passenger cabin has a number of disadvantages and advantages that should be kept in mind when purchasing a ticket. Modern sales systems allow each passenger who purchases an air ticket in advance to choose a specific seat in the cabin. Each of them has not only a number, but also a letter that denotes a row. Therefore, it is advisable for an air passenger to know what the cabin layout of the Airbus Industry A320 is. You can see on it that seats A and F are located next to the window, rows B and E are in the middle of the seats, C and D are next to the aisle. From the first to the sixth row there are business class seats; they have a greater distance between the seats and recline almost to a lying position. Rows 1, 12 and 13 are located next to the emergency exit, the last rows are near the toilet.

Most often, passengers prefer seats at the front of the cabin - the exit is closer there and there is a larger selection of drinks offered. Please keep in mind that these seats are most often booked by passengers with children. One of the most comfortable aircraft for passengers is the Airbus Industry A320. Reviews from frequent fliers testify to its comfort and reliability.

Plane crashes

According to official data, during the entire period of operation of the Airbus Industry A320, 26 serious accidents and disasters occurred. In most cases, according to the results of investigations, the cause of the plane crash was the human factor - incorrect actions of the pilots and crew led to tragic consequences. Instances of rough operations are mentioned; in these cases there are no casualties, but the aircraft is not subject to further operation. The largest disaster associated with the Airbus Industry A320 is considered to have occurred in 2007 in Sao Paulo - a plane belonging to TAM Airlines rolled off a wet runway, crashed into an airport fuel depot and caught fire. There were 199 people on board the plane, there were no survivors.