What kind of aircraft is the Airbus 320. History of the Airbus A320. Video: Airbus A320 - flight from the cockpit

The Airbus a320 is considered one of the most frequently used passenger airliners. Today there are more than 3.5 thousand aircraft of this series in the world air fleet. The largest Russian air carriers, such as Aeroflot, S7, Rossiya, have 50-60 Airbuses in their fleet. Due to its characteristics, A320 aircraft fly in the skies of Europe, Asia, as well as the Americas and Australia.

Manufacturer

The Airbus A320 is produced by the Airbus S.A.S. aircraft manufacturing group, its headquarters is located in Toulouse, France, and the aircraft itself is assembled in factories in three countries: France, Germany (Hamburg) and Britain.

Since 2011, another assembly line has been launched in China. Airbus Corporation's workforce exceeds 50 thousand people. The very name of the airliner, “Airbus,” translates as “air bus”; it was the only acceptable linguistic option for the French management of the company.

Start of production and modification

The most popular aircraft in this series can be considered the Airbus 320, which was designed to become a competitor to the popular Boeing 727 series. Production began with modifications A320-100 (capacity 130 people) and A320-200 (150 people). Today, the “A320 line” also includes models 318, 319 and 321 modifications of Airbus.

For the first time, the narrow-body (in the cabin there is only one aisle between the rows of seats) new product from airbus industry a320 took to the skies in February 1987. For this aircraft, for the first time in the world, a plane control system was installed not from the helm, but from external devices via a hydraulic drive system. Despite being classified as a narrow-body aircraft, the Airbus A320 has one of the most impressive fuselages in terms of size - about 20 cm wider than similar airliner models. This feature makes it possible to make the seating areas for passengers even more comfortable and install up to six seats in each row.

Flight characteristics

The A-320 airliner has the following technicalcharacteristics:

wing length - 34.1 m;
aircraft height – 11.8 m;
vessel length – 37.6 m;
take-off weight - 73.5 tons;
empty weight of the aircraft is 42.2 tons (a significant reduction in weight was achieved by the designers through the use of lightweight composite materials: plastic reinforced with carbon or fiberglass).

Flight characteristics include:

maximum flight range – 6150 km;
cruising speed – 840 km per hour;
maximum speed – 890 km per hour
maximum flight altitude – 11.3 km;
fuel consumption – 2.5 t/hour.

For your information. The cost of 1 unit of Airbus A-320 is about 94 million dollars.

Meats on the plane:

maximum – 180;
with two-class accommodation - 150.

In the liners of this model, the cabin height has been increased, which made it possible to create shelves for hand luggage more extensive.

The Airbus A320 was the first to use wingtips called sharklets. These parts, about two and a half meters long, are made of lightweight composite materials and serve to improve the aerodynamics of the airliner’s wings, and also increase engine efficiency (up to 4 percent). The wings of Airbuses elongated in this way do not prevent them from easily maneuvering on the runways and taxiways. It is technically possible to mount sharklets on already produced and flying airliners. These details also visually improve the design of the aircraft and give it a futuristic, memorable look.

Layout of seats in the aircraft cabin

The Airbus cabin layout has two main options. Thus, the Aeroflot A320 airliner in one of the layouts has a 5-row seat system for business class, and the remaining seats are intended for economy class. Less used layout: two-row business class and even more economy seats.

Rows 1 to 5 (or 1-2) are reserved for business class passengers, 2 seats on each side of the aisle.

Row 6 (or 3) – economy class seats located in front of the partition between classes. Rows 8 to 10 (12 to 14) are located along the escape hatches (on both sides of the aircraft body). All other rows of seats are ordinary standard business class seats. Toilets are located behind rows 24-25 (29-30).

Description of seats by block of rows

The location of the most convenient seats for flying in the cabin of the Airbus A320 is easier to imagine on the diagram of the airliner used by Aeroflot.

The first row of business can hardly be called comfortable - you have to look at the wall the entire flight. There is no room to stretch your legs, and there will also be no footrests that are mounted on the seats in front. In addition, cradles for babies are usually attached to the partitions, and there is a high probability of listening to children's cries throughout the flight. Odors from the adjacent toilet and kitchen may also be disturbing. There is still one plus - no one will recline the seat back onto the passenger’s lap.

The seats in the 6th row of economy class also rest against the wall, which brings the same inconveniences and advantages as for business passengers. The inability to recline the front seat back due to the lack of one is even more pleasing, since in economy class there is even less space between the rows than in business class. The disadvantages of these seats include the location of the folding tables not in the back of the chair from the previous row, but in the armrest - this is unusual and not very convenient. Service in-flight meals starts from here, so passengers have the opportunity to choose what they like, and not what is left. For passengers with children, the first rows of seats are the best and most recommended: for infants, you can attach the cradle to the wall, and with older children, you don’t have to be afraid that the child will kick the passenger in front in the back.

Rows 8 to 10 (12 to 14) are adjacent to emergency exits, this has both advantages and some inconveniences. The seats in these places are slightly sloping due to the presence of hatches on the sides of the cabin, for the same reason it can be a little colder here (the problem can be solved simply - with the help of a blanket from the flight attendant). Hand luggage will definitely have to be placed on the luggage racks above the seats, because you can’t put anything in front of your feet, because... this will complicate possible evacuation. Despite these shortcomings, rows 8-10 are the most comfortable (however, they are not accessible to everyone: due to the characteristics of these seats, the elderly, pregnant women, sick people and passengers with small children are not seated here - they will not be able to help the crew in emergency situations). The best seats on the airbus a320 are shown in green on the diagram. This is row number 10 (14), except for seats A and F. They even sell tickets for it with a small premium for comfort (the so-called space seats) - due to the location of the seats immediately behind the emergency exit hatches, an increased space is created where you can stretch legs, while the backs of the seats can be easily lowered (but in the previous two rows they are blocked).

The comfort of seats C and D in the 24th (29th) row (highlighted in yellow) has been reduced, people constantly walk past them and wait in line to get to the toilet.

The most unsuccessful in terms of comfort are seats 25 (30) of the last row (they are marked in red on the interior plan). Since there are toilets across a thin partition from them, all the unpleasant smells and sounds will disturb passengers throughout the flight. There will always be people coming and going to the bathroom and slamming the door. There is also no possibility to recline the back of the chair to a comfortable position. And, as a conclusion, by the last row there is practically no choice left from the food and drinks offered. Tickets for these seats can only be purchased in extreme cases.

The seats in other rows are ordinary, with no special advantages or disadvantages.

Facilities on board

Due to the considerable weight and high cost of equipment, A320 aircraft are not equipped with Wi-Fi-based entertainment systems. For passengers, there are screens in the backs of the front seats (they also provide data on the current location of the aircraft, flight altitude and temperature outside). There are powerful air conditioners for air purification, and there are also individual directional lighting fixtures - quite bright, but not disturbing to others. There are two sockets for every three adjacent chairs; gadgets can be charged via a USB port. It should be noted that not all boards are equipped with these amenities; it all depends on the specific aircraft.

The Airbus A-320 continues to be a very popular aircraft passenger aviation in Europe. Manufacturers continue to improve and modernize it. Thus, at the beginning of 2016, the new Airbus A320-Neo was put into operation, which is characterized by increased efficiency and reduced engine noise.

Video

Airlines with a high level of service try to make air travel as comfortable as possible. However, flying is still quite a tiring thing. That’s why it’s so important to choose the right seats in the cabin. One of the most popular aircraft currently used to transport passengers over long distances is the Airbus 320. The interior layout of both models (320-100 and 320-200) looks approximately the same. Currently only the second model is in operation. From first to technical reasons the developers refused. But first things first.

History of creation

Narrow-body aircraft for short and medium-haul airlines. Airbus began developing the A320 after the success of the A300. The main features of the new product were a digital cockpit and an EDCS (remote control system). Instead of mechanical instruments in front of the pilots’ eyes, already in 1988 all flight data was displayed on a cathode-ray screen. The third innovation is the use of sidesticks instead of steering wheels. These side handles were directly connected to the aircraft's control apparatus. Any movement on the sidesticks was instantly processed by on-board computers and put into action. The high level of automation made it possible to limit the number of crew to two pilots. For the same reason, this model is actively used by Aeroflot.

Airbus 320, the interior diagram of which is presented below, has a length of 37.59 m, a height of eleven meters, and a maximum width of thirty-four meters. With a maximum load of one and a half hundred people, the airliner can cover a distance of six thousand kilometers. The difference in modifications affected the number of seats. The two-class model is designed for 150 passengers, and the one-class model is designed for one hundred and eighty.

Airbus 320 aircraft: updated interior layout

The A320 has a number of advantages compared to other airliners: large shelves for hand luggage in the spacious cabin, wide hatches for loading luggage and a large cargo deck. In the early 2000s, the cladding panels in the cabin were changed, FAPs were made with touch screens, the volume of shelves for hand luggage increased by eleven percent, LED individual lighting and the ability to adjust the brightness of the cabin appeared. In addition, computer logistics were updated, cathode-ray screens were replaced with LCD displays. For these reasons, as well as due to its relatively low cost, the Airbus is very popular in the world.

Production

Parts from various factories are supplied to Toulouse for final assembly of the A320. In 2007, German managers achieved the transfer of production to Germany. Production capacity is forty-two units per month, in KRN - fifty aircraft per year. Some parts supplied with the A320 release allows Airbus Industrie to compensate for losses associated with the production of the A380. But the company incurs losses due to the difference in exchange rates. Payment for equipment occurs in dollars, and production is concentrated in the Eurozone. The successful model served as the basis for the development of the A321, A319 and A318.

Airbus 320: interior diagram

Aeroflot best places on the plane he names the following: A, B, E, F in the fourth row and B, C, D, E in the eleventh. General rules seat selection - standard. Before purchasing a ticket, familiarize yourself with the aircraft layout diagram from booklets that can be purchased at the ticket office. “Good” tickets sell out quickly, so it’s better to arrive early for registration. It is better not to purchase places in the tail, near the galleys and toilets. When purchasing, be guided by your taste: if you are going to sleep the whole trip, it is better to choose a place near the wall, and if you are admiring the clouds, then by the porthole. These are two different concepts. Study the brochures carefully.

The Airbus 320 200, the interior diagram of which is presented below, includes twenty-five rows of five or six seats each. The first five rows are dedicated to business class. The distance between the rows in this model is quite limited. The first row has its own characteristics:

business chairs have a large angle of inclination, you can easily recline the back without hitting anyone;
Passengers with small children rarely fly business class, although the entire cabin is equipped with mounts for baby bassinets;
Business class passengers will not have dedicated legroom.

Economy Class Features

The sixth row is located in front of the partition of the Airbus 320 airliner. The interior diagram demonstrates this in detail. The seat pitch in economy class is even smaller. But passengers in a separate row do not have to worry that someone will recline their seat on them. If you don’t take magazines with you on the road, you’ll always have to admire the wall in front. Since this is the first row of economy class, service begins from there.

The eighth row is close to the emergency exit. Therefore, the seat backs are very limited in movement. Passengers in the ninth row will face the same problem. Places A and F can be beveled. But, thanks to the large distance between the rows, passengers can sit comfortably with their legs stretched out. If one of your neighbors needs to go out, they can do so without disturbing you.

The first nine seats B and E do not have porthole access. They are located in the middle of the row. Passengers from seats C and D can quickly leave them at any time without disturbing their neighbors. But flight attendants with trolleys and other flight participants may be in the way when they move along the aisle in the Airbus 320 100 model.

The interior layout is designed in such a way that the best economy class seats are in the tenth row: B, C, D and E. Passenger comfort is achieved by easily reclining seats and large legroom. But hand luggage will have to be placed under your feet, since there is no space under the seats for it. This situation will make access to escape hatches difficult. It is better not to buy tickets for the ninth and tenth rows for passengers with children and the elderly. The safest seats on this plane are in the fourth and eleventh rows, as they are located next to the emergency exits.

Other interior features

The outer seats of the twenty-fourth row can be very uncomfortable due to their close proximity to the toilet stalls. It is worth preparing in advance for a constant crowd of people around the seats. The seats in the last, twenty-fifth row are considered the most uncomfortable on the plane. In addition to the smell from the toilet, constant movement, the sound of the tank draining and slamming stall doors, people sitting in the last row will not be able to recline their chair back.

Even the tallest passengers may feel uncomfortable on this plane. This is due not only to turbulence, but also to the technical nuances of the airliner. However, despite these shortcomings, the A320 model is one of the most successful in the world. More than four thousand cars have already been produced, seven more are being prepared for launch.

Development prospects

Although the A320 made its first flight a quarter of a century ago, the aircraft is constantly being modernized. Currently, developers are working on installing new engines that will save fuel by fifteen percent, as well as increase the flight range by 950 km or the payload by two tons. The Airbus 320, whose interior layout is practically no different from its predecessor, received the prefix neo- (new engine options) in its name. According to the company's general director, the new equipment will reduce operating costs by 20%. is preparing for release in 2016. And in just 15 years, Airbus production plans to sell 4,000 units. 670 orders have already been collected for a total quantity of one thousand units. In Russia, the first customer was the airline Transaero.

Summary

The most comfortable aircraft for long flights today is the Airbus 320. The cabin layout, studied in detail before purchasing a ticket, allows you to determine a comfortable place for the flight. Depends on it general impressions about the time spent on the plane. No. 4 (A, B, E, F) and No. 11 (B, C, D, E) are the safest seats on the Airbus 320 airliner. The S7 interior diagram demonstrates this in detail.

They have this model in their fleet. Aeroflot is among them.

If you look at the characteristics of the A320 aircraft, you can easily see why it is in such demand among all companies. Capacity Airbus aircraft The A320 and the weight of the Airbus 320 - everything about this aircraft is impressive. The passengers themselves speak about it more than positively.

They began to create this airliner so that the company could have suitable competitor for and 727. Its developers wanted to make its similar in size, but at the same time improve the technologies that were used at that time in aircraft.

Airbus A320-200.

One of the innovations was fly-by-wire control system in the cockpit. This means that instead of steering wheels, handles were introduced. Also in the design of the Airbus itself they used composite materials.

The airliner was assembled in Toulouse, and then in Hamburg, as it began to be in demand.

In March 1984 work began on the production of this aircraft. So the first flight of the new model was carried out in 1987. In 1988 Air France purchased the first aircraft of this type.

Features of the Airbus A320

It refers to narrow-body types passenger airliners , with enough wide fuselage. This aircraft was developed for routes near and far. Him two engines - turbofan, which are located under the wings.

This same airliner was the first to have so-called Sharklets. These are special wing tips that allow increase the aerodynamic characteristics of the wings, and also reduce fuel consumption.

Inside the cockpit.

In addition to innovations in the cockpit, he the aircraft interior has also undergone changes. He more spacious, and the shelves for hand luggage are large and spacious. There is also individual lighting for each passenger in the cabin. A photo of the Airbus A320 interior is presented below.

The cargo deck has also been expanded, as well as hatches for loading luggage.

Aircraft maintenance is also less expensive. This was one of the reasons for the popularity of this aircraft. The noise level of the aircraft has also been reduced.

Cabin.

Its flight range is 4900 km. Cruising speed reaches 840 km/h. The salon can accommodate up to 140-180 passengers. Empty aircraft weight - 42,100 kg.

It is easily recognizable by one small feature - the front landing gear is slightly skewed.

Interior layout

As a rule, the salon only has one central aisle. Available 4 passenger exits and 4 emergency exits.

A typical layout is two chairs in a row in Business and three in Economy.

As you can see, thanks to its characteristics, the Airbus A320 has become very popular not only in Europe and America, but also in Russia and Asia. There are currently about 6,092 such aircraft in operation.

S7 Airlines – Russian airline, founded in 1957 under the name "Siberia". In 2005 it was renamed S7 Airlines. Provides air transportation both within the country and outside the Russian Federation.

Airbus A320-100 is the first variation of the Airbus A320, which was developed in the 80s of the last century. The A320-100 was produced in limited quantities, as an improved new modification soon appeared - the A320-200, which became the main one. The A320 continues to be improved. Most new option air carrier – A320 neo.

Specifications

Number of seats – from 140 to 180
Wingspan – 34.1 m
Airliner length – 37.57 m
Interior length – 27.5 m
Cabin width – 3.7 m
Cruising speed – 840 km/h
Maximum speed – up to 890 km/h
Flight range – up to 6,150 km

Airbus A320 is very popular with many airlines around the world. Let's look at the arrangement of seats in the aircraft cabin and find out how to choose the best ones.

Airbus A320 interior diagram

The Airbus has many different seat layout options. But the company only uses one of them, which has 158 seats: 8 of them are in business class, and 150 are in economy class. The aircraft cabin is divided into two sectors: business and economic. A320 interior layout:

Business Class

In this sector of the Airbus, the seats are located in the nose of the aircraft in a 2-2 pattern in 2 rows. If you are looking for a place for a comfortable and enjoyable flight with a high level of service, then business class is your choice. Each seat has enough privacy for the most relaxing flight on the Airbus A320. There is a separate bathroom for business class.

Economy class

Behind the partition from business class is economic class. It starts from row 3 to 27. The seats are arranged in a 3-3 row pattern. The bathrooms are located at the end of the sector, behind row 27.

In front of row 3 we see a partition that separates business class. There is more space in front here, compared to standard seats in the cabin, food will be served to you first, because service begins from this row, no one will tip the back of the chair on you, since you have no neighbors in front. But during the flight you will have to look at the partition.

9 row. There is an emergency exit behind it. From this we can conclude that the back of the seat is motionless, which will make the flight uncomfortable.

Row 10 is placed between two emergency exits, which gives both pros and cons to these places. The advantage is that there is additional space in front. Minus – the back of the chair does not recline.

11 row. There is an emergency exit in front of it. The presence of more legroom and the fact that the backrest is movable makes these seats very comfortable for travel.

Passengers flying in emergency exit seats (rows 10 and 11) will be read additional safety instructions. Also, you cannot leave hand luggage at the aisle; it will need to be placed on a shelf. Pregnant women, passengers with children, disabled people and passengers who do not speak Russian or English cannot fly in these seats.

Row 26 is located near the bathrooms. And, since economy class toilets are located only at the end of the plane, there will be a constant crowd of people, unpleasant smells and sounds.

Row 27 is the last row of the aircraft. It is located in front of the toilets. In addition to the disadvantages of row 26, the chairs in this row have a fixed backrest.

Best places

Business class – 1st and 2nd row.
Economy class – rows 3 and 11.

Nice places

Economy class – row 10.

Bad places

Economy class – rows 9, 26 and 27.

The nose of the aircraft is the quietest flight. This part is located far from the engines, so it makes the least noise and chatter.

The middle part of the plane is quite comfortable. Little turbulence is felt and engine noise is moderate. But, if you want to fly by the window, you should know that rows 8-15 are located above the wings, which guarantees limited visibility from the window.

The tail part is the most inconvenient and safest part. According to statistics, passengers flying in this part of the plane survive plane crashes more often than other passengers.

To ensure a comfortable flight, you need to familiarize yourself with the layout of the aircraft you will be flying. It is better to do this on the official website of the airline whose services you use. Have a good flight with S7 Airlines and Airbus A320!

From the moment of commissioning A320 absolutely surpassed all others civil aircraft in terms of use high technology– both in aerodynamics and in the field of on-board equipment.

History of creation

After ten years of discussions, in which almost all aircraft manufacturers in Europe took part, the consortium Airbus Industry in 1981, he began implementing a project for a 150-seat airliner for short- and medium-haul routes.

At that time, aircraft with large
passenger capacity, so two cars with 154 and 172 seats were taken into development. These were two models A320-100 And A320-200, but in 1984 such a project was abandoned in favor of one 162-seat vehicle. New project provided for two versions of the aircraft, differing only in the capacity of the fuel tanks and designation A320-100 And A320-200 remains relevant.

First flight A320

The new aircraft was first flown on February 22, 1987, under the name A320-100, only 21 aircraft were produced in the series of such airliners. Second option A320-200 became the main representative of airliners A320, the airworthiness certificate for this model was issued in November 1988. This plane is different from A320-100 increased maximum take-off weight, wingtips with delta-shaped winglets and an additional fuel tank of 8016 liters in the center section.

Consortium Airbus is constantly working to modernize its aircraft, a program has been launched New Engine Option by equipment A320 new economical power plants. Pratt & Whitney engines PW1000G According to the company's management, operating costs will be reduced by 20%, and the airliner itself will receive improved aerodynamics and a new passenger cabin design.
The Russian company Transaero has signed a firm contract for the purchase of 8 units А320neo, which began to enter service in 2015.

Design features of the A320 airliner

According to its aerodynamic design A320 is a monoplane with a low-swept wing, under which engines are located on both sides and a single-fin tail.

The airliner's wing is thin with high aerodynamic efficiency, all mechanization is made of composite materials, the fin and the leading edge of the stabilizer are also made of composite. Side winglets on the wing tips save fuel and reduce induced drag.

Airbus A320 - flying throughout Europe

Power plants since 1989 have been equipped with the quietest and most powerful engines in their class, the V2500. Engines A320 during takeoff mode they produce a noise level of no more than 82 decibels. The aircraft has a three-wheel landing gear, each bogie has two wheels. The main struts are retracted in flight into the center section, the nose strut is retracted into the front part of the fuselage.

A distinctive feature of the aircraft is fly-by-wire control. In the cockpit, the commander on the left side and the co-pilot on the right have two sidesticks, replacing the usual steering wheel. The sidesticks do not have a direct connection with the control surfaces; any deviation is calculated by the computer and the signal from it gives a command to the hydraulic drive to deflect the rudders.

Video: Airbus A320 - flight from the cockpit

These side control sticks freed up space for the pilots' fold-down tables and improved visibility of the six color LCD displays, two directly in front of the pilots and two in the center of the instrument panel. The displays provide pilots with all the information about the navigation situation, the operation of power plants and other equipment of the aircraft.

Passenger cabin A320 made very spacious, the shelves for hand luggage have a large volume, there is a lot of space for cargo on the lower deck and wide hatches for loading luggage. The cabin is lined with modern panels, a touch display on the Flight Attendant Panel, LED lighting for each passenger seat and the ability to change the brightness of the entire cabin lighting from 0 to 100%.

Flight performance

The length of the aircraft is 37.57 m.
The height of the aircraft is 11 m.
Wing span – 34.1 m.
The cabin width is 3.7 m.
Maximum take-off weight – 77 tons.
Minimum take-off distance – 2090 m.
Engines – 2 x IAE V2500-A5.
Thrust – 2 x 104.5 kN.
Cruising speed is 840 km/h.
Number of passengers – from 140 to 180.
Fuel consumption – 2700 l/hour.
Range – 6150 km.
Practical ceiling – 12 thousand m.
Crew – 2 people.

Features of choosing the best places

Flying an airplane is still very tiring and depends on the right seat and A320 gives you the opportunity to spend time in the air calmly and comfortably. The rules for choosing seats are usual; on the booklet, which you can buy at the ticket office, there is a layout of seats in the passenger cabin.

The choice of seat depends on your taste, there is only one peculiarity - the chairs next to the toilet and in the back are the most uncomfortable and restless. If you want to relax and sleep well during the flight, choose a seat near the bulkhead; if you like the view from the window, please look at the ground or admire the view of the clouds.
Aeroflot names the best seats in the cabin A320 the following: in the fourth row - A, B, E, F and in the eleventh - B, C, D, E.

In the cabin A320 The first five rows are considered business class; the seats in these rows can be reclined far back without creating inconvenience for passengers in adjacent rows. Business class has seating for baby cots, but no dedicated legroom.

Economy class is separated by a partition; the distance between the seats is less than in business class, but the backrest can be reclined to its full extent without interference. The chairs in front of the partition have their inconveniences; if you don’t bring reading literature, you will have to look at the wall all the time, but service begins from this row.

a320 - interior

Due to the proximity of the toilet, seats in the twenty-fourth row are the most restless; children and older people are not recommended to purchase seats in the tenth and ninth rows. The location of the fourth and eleventh row seats near the emergency hatch makes them the safest. The passenger cabin is not comfortable enough for a tall person due to the technical features of the aircraft, but despite all these errors, “ Airbus 320» is considered quite convenient for this class. Have a good flight!