![]() ![]() ![]() The flight computers on the A320 allow pilots to control the aircraft exactly how they want by eliminating unwanted movements. The Airbus A320 is known to be a pleasant aircraft to fly, thanks to its fly-by-wire system and computerization. As of May 2022, Airbus has received 16,206 orders for the A320 and has delivered 10,359 of them. In October of the same year, 37 years since its release, the A320 overtook its competitor, the Boeing 737, in sales to become the world’s highest-selling jetliner. I n 2019, Airbus became the largest airliner manufacturer in the world, thanks in no small part to the A320’s immense success. This was purely a testament to the forethought that Airbus had put into the A320, making it vastly superior to the competition in design and specifications. Path to SuccessĮven before its first flight, Airbus had received over 200 orders, more than half of which were surprisingly from carriers in the United States, a continent firmly controlled by Boeing & McDonnell Douglas. The program achieved its goals for the A320 and would set the basis for its continued success. The older aircraft had the designation CEO (Current Engine Option) added to differentiate the new from the old. The engines use for the A320neos are CFM International’s LEAP-A1 and Pratt & Whitney’s PW1000G. The program’s focus was to improve the fuel efficiency of the Airbus A320 family by 15% and gain extra performance where possible.Īirbus planned to achieve these fuel savings using smarter aerodynamics and new engines. In December 2010, Airbus, once ahead, caught Boeing asleep at the wheel when it launched the A320neo (New Engine Option) program. The system dramatically reduces pilot workload and allows them to focus on flying. It provides current information and corrective action that can be taken to prevent cascading failures. The system went one step ahead of its competitors at the time. The cockpit of the A320 is devoid of analog gauges and is outfitted with a glass cockpit running their proprietary Electronic Centralized Aircraft Monitoring (ECAM) system. Technology also allowed the manufacturer to do away with the traditional yoke controls that were required for hydraulically actuated controls and replace them with the now characteristic side-stick controls. ![]() It aims to reduce pilot error, which is the cause of 70% of accidents. The inputs from the pilot on the controls are transmitted to the flight computer, which will filter out unwanted movements and allow razor-sharp control of the aircraft. The A320 is the first aircraft to introduce digital fly-by-wire controls in commercial jetliners. Which were more than the 5,000 km (2,700 nm) airlines expected. The combination of newer fuel-efficient engines, reduced weight, and smart materials gave the A320 a maximum range of 5,700 km (3,078 nm). But it is 4% more fuel-efficient than the latter. ![]() The IAE engine produces 2% less thrust than its CFM counterpart, 110 kN to 111.2 kN. However, a version equipped with the IAE’s V2500-A1 was soon made available. Initially, the A320 was only powered by CFM International’s CFM56-5-A1. The A320 is the first Airbus to offer customers a choice of powerplant. The overall effect was a lighter, more fuel-efficient aircraft that had an MTOW of 78,000 kg (172,000 lbs) and a maximum payload of 18,0205 kg (40,136 lbs), which was higher than the competition. It is the first aircraft to use composite materials on flight surfaces. 15% of the A320 is made of composite materials. The Airbus A320 is typically configurated to carry between 140 – 170 passengers, but in a single-class configuration could hold a maximum of 186.Īirbus pioneered the use of composite materials in their aircraft and expanded its use with the A320. In March 1984, Airbus announced the A320, a single-aisle twinjet designed for short and medium-haul flights. In order to effectively compete with the well-established Boeing 737, Airbus decided to future-proof the A320, reduce manufacturing costs, and undercut Boeing. The aircraft would be powered by CFM International’s 56 series turbofan engines to accomplish this. The JET program aimed to create a single-aisle twinjet capable of ferrying roughly 150 passengers for around 5,000 km (2,699 nm). The JET program was initially independent of Airbus however, it would later be handed over to the company. In the late 1970’s stakeholders in the EU aviation industry saw the need to end the dominance of Boeing and McDonnell Douglas in the single-aisle jetliner market, which led to the start of the JET (Joint European Transport) program. ![]()
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