Airbus A320 Aeroflot - cabin layout and best seats. Airbus A320: narrow-body passenger aircraft

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 increased comfort for passengers. 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. A320 – the first aircraft in civil aviation, which uses a fly-by-wire control system (EDCS - the so-called “fly by wire” system). 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 the places increased comfort» - 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 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).

From the moment of commissioning A320 absolutely surpassed all other 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 its V2500 class. 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 lightening each passenger seat and the ability to change the brightness of the lighting throughout the cabin 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. Finding the fourth and eleventh row seats nearby emergency hatch makes them the safest. The passenger compartment is not comfortable enough for a tall person due to technical features aircraft, but despite all these errors, “ Airbus 320» is considered quite convenient for this class. Have a good flight!

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 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 decent 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 option 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 series of aircraft. 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 count 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.

Air travel is the most convenient and only possible way cross vast distances in a short time. However, traveling by plane is very tiring and it is important to to book a hotel at your place of arrival and choose the right seat in the cabin that will best suit your needs. Undoubtedly, air carriers provide passengers with a seat layout, but to determine which seats on the plane are best to choose, we recommend that you familiarize yourself with useful information about the most popular models of “air trains” that most often fly from well-known airlines.

The largest carrier in the Russian Federation is, of course, Aeroflot, which has filled air space Today's popular Airbus models are 319, 320 and 321. These aircraft differ in modifications, number of seats and their location. Let's look at all the features of each model.

The Airbus 320 project began to be developed back in 1984, when the Airbus consortium decided to create an “air machine” capable of becoming a competitor to the Boeing 727. In 1987, the first tests were carried out and the new aircraft made its first flight.

The location of seats on the Airbus 320 aircraft and their number differs depending on the modification. Today there are both models for 150 passengers (in business class, the seats are arranged in two rows, with two seats each, and in economy class there is a 3+3 layout), and liners for 180 people with a single-class cabin. There are also intermediate modifications, so the seat layout on the Airbus 320 aircraft will be different. Before purchasing a ticket, be sure to check the model of the specific aircraft on which you are going to travel.

If we talk about the best and worst seats in the Airbus 320, we will take as an example a model for 180 passengers (single-class cabin):

• Seats 1 to 29, A and F. These seats are located next to the window. Since these seats are located far from the aisle, flight attendants and other passengers constantly scurrying around will not disturb you.
• 1 to 29, B and E. The seats are further away from the window, but you can still look out of it. They are also at a distance from the passage.
• 1 to 29, C and D. These seats are next to the aisle, and in addition to this, you will have to let two passengers sitting next to each other through. The only advantages are the ability to stretch your legs into the passage and quick access to the toilet.
• 1 row. If we talk about the advantages of these seats, then first of all it is worth noting that since no one is sitting in front of you, they will not recline the back of their seat towards you. The 1st row has first access to drinks and food, and thanks to a decent distance from the seat to the wall, you can stretch out your stiff legs without difficulty. Another advantage is that you will be the first to leave the aircraft. Among the disadvantages is the discomfort associated with the fact that you will have to look at the wall the entire flight. It is also worth noting that it is in the first row that women with small children most often sit; few people like this proximity.
• Rows 12 and 13. These places are considered the safest, as they are located closest to the emergency exit. These rows also have more space, allowing you to retract your legs. However, very often the seats in these areas do not recline.
• 11 row. The seats are located in front emergency exit, which is why they are rarely reclining.
• Row 29/30. The most worst places, since they are closest to the toilet and kitchen. Throughout the flight you will “enjoy” the sounds of the tank flushing, slamming doors and other “delights”.

In addition to the Airbus 320, there is also a smaller version of it, the A 319. The plane, diagram, best seats and their features will also be useful.

The number of seats on an aircraft of this model may also differ depending on the modification. This figure varies from 124 seats (two-class cabin) to 156 seats (single-class cabin). There are dozens of such configurations. To choose the best places, we recommend paying attention to the following nuances:

• From 1 to 5 row. Most often these are business class seats. There is a little more legroom in the first row, and even very tall people can easily cross their legs. The backrests in business class recline more than the rest of the plane. But, just like in the A320, mothers with children most often sit in the first rows; for this purpose, there are even special fasteners for baby bassinets.
• 6th row. It’s almost impossible to stretch your legs in this row, but since there will be a wall in front of you, you won’t have to fear that someone will throw the back of the chair back on you. Food starts to be served from row 6, so from the point of view of access to drinks, this location is the most advantageous. But there are also disadvantages - the tables are built into the armrests, which makes the seats a little narrower.
• 7th row. The seats in this row are located in front of the emergency exit.
• Row 8, A and F. Uncomfortable seats that are slightly “skewed” towards the hatch. However, these seats have more legroom.
• Row 8, B,C and D,E. According to statistics, these are the most comfortable and safest economy class seats. They are located closest to the emergency exit and have plenty of legroom. There are restrictions for these seats; passengers with animals, children, people with disabilities and the elderly are not allowed to sit on the seats.

The worst seats are located in the last 21st row, as well as seats C and D in the 20th row. Here, just like in the A320, you will be closer to the toilet, and you will be the last to receive drinks and food.

The A321 model is the largest aircraft of the A320 family; in fact, it is an extended version of it, which is characterized by high capacity. This “air train” has a standard configuration that includes a two-class cabin. The number of passengers is 169 economy class seats and 16 business class seats.

However, you can also find other configurations of the A 321. The aircraft, layout, and best seats may differ depending on the flight range. For example, for charter flights, a modification is made to increase the number of seats to 220 in economy class. To determine which seats are better on an airplane of this model, let’s look at a standard Airbus from Aeroflot.

• From 1 to 7 row. These are business class seats, however, compared to previous models, they are uncomfortable. In front of the 1st row there is a wall separating the toilet, which does not particularly protect against unwanted sounds. Sitting in row 7, you will hear the noisy economy class. Therefore, when traveling in first class, try to choose a seat located from rows 2 to 6.
• 8 row. Drinks are served in economy class from this row. In addition, there is more legroom.
• 18th row. By and large, this row contains standard seats, however, they are located in close proximity to the toilet.
• 19 row. These are seats located behind the emergency exit, so in this row, like in row 8, there is free space. Of the minuses, restrooms, the visitors of which will cause inconvenience.
• 20 row. Very comfortable and good places. Although in this zone there is no extra space for the legs, in the 20th row the seats are located close to the windows.

The seats in the penultimate and last row (row 30, C and D, as well as row 31), as in the first two cases, are among the most uncomfortable, due to their close location to the restrooms. It is recommended to choose such seats only in a desperate situation.

In custody

As you can see, the seats on the plane, the layout of which you must study in detail, can be located in different ways. To avoid inconvenience, it is best to choose seats at the front of the plane. Seats near the bathroom are the cheapest, but in this area you will suffer from the noise of the toilet and the queues that will form next to you. The chairs behind the emergency exit can be considered the most comfortable, here you do not risk finding yourself next to a crying child or animals, and there will be enough space for tired legs.

This model of airliner is produced by the Airbus aircraft manufacturing association. The improved design includes a fairly large number of technical innovations. This aircraft became the first passenger aircraft in the world to use a remote control system. Now, instead of the usual steering wheels, pilots use side handles. Many metal parts have been replaced with products made from composite materials.

Airbus A320 of Aeroflot airline

Despite the unique characteristics of the A320 aircraft, its design continues to be improved. The most recent innovation was the wingtips. These bends are designed to reduce fuel consumption.

Unique parameters

The initial version of the aircraft was produced in small quantities, but after the development of an improved model, aircraft production increased to 40 aircraft per month. In addition to the wing tips bent up, modernization was also carried out fuel tanks, significantly increasing their volume. They now hold 29.8 tons of aviation kerosene.

Airbus A320 with wingtips at the Berlin Airshow, 2012

The main characteristics of the device are as follows:

• Height – 11.8 meters.
• Length – 37.6 meters.
• The wingspan is 34.1 meters.
• The weight of the Airbus 320 is 77 tons. This is with full fuel tanks.
• The flight altitude is 11.9 km.
• Maximum speed – 900 km/h.
• Range – over 5000 km.
• The take-off run is 2 km.

The number of seats in the cabin for ordinary passengers is 180, and in the case of a cabin layout with business class seats, the capacity of the Airbus A320 without pilots is 150 people.

The developers introduced many technical innovations to the project of this model. The plane became the first passenger airliner with fly-by-wire control system. Its advantages lie in the automatic control of many parameters of the aircraft. In particular, the specified program does not allow overload, and also reacts to the power of the crosswind. Pilots are alerted to any discrepancies by on-board digital electronics supplied by French manufacturers.

It instantly copes with flight and navigation information, instantly processing data related to the operation of on-board systems. Timely warning of pilots about failures greatly facilitates the work of pilots. All electronic equipment meets international standards.

The image from the cameras is transmitted directly to the monitors

Each wing is equipped with one powerful turbojet engine. Regardless of the model, the motors installed are different. The serial number of the modification depends on their types.

Modernization of the A320 airliner

Today, engineers and designers of the Airbus Corporation are improving this aircraft, which has been given the name: “A320neo”. This is another step in the modernization of this model. A large number of elements made of composite materials will be added: plastic reinforced with glass fiber and carbon fiber. Honeycomb core is also used.

The aircraft development program includes the following changes: weight reduction of the entire structure, improved interior design, and increased luggage compartment.

The main part of the wing mechanization is made of heterogeneous artificial materials. These are spoiler panels, nose cone, slats, flaps, etc. The vertical tail is completely composite. The material consists of two or more components. Each of them is separated by a clear boundary. In most composites, the components are divided into a matrix and its constituent reinforcing elements. They are designed to improve mechanical performance. The front part of the horizontal stabilizer is also made of composite.

The modernized model will be equipped with new economical engines. The emission of harmful substances and noise levels will be significantly reduced. Fuel consumption will be reduced by up to 15%. The wings will also be improved. Now the ends will resemble shark fins. According to the calculations of the developers, it is precisely such designs that reduce fuel consumption. Thanks to all the innovations, the flight range will increase by almost 1000 kilometers.

Flying laboratory, aka the very first A320 with tail number MSN001

Peculiarities

Compared to other airliners of similar sizes, the A320 model is quite large passenger compartment, equipped with wide shelves that can accommodate a large amount of hand luggage. The huge cargo compartment and extended hatches for loading luggage stand out here. The company's developers made all these and other changes after 2000.

The interior panels were replaced. Now passengers can easily place hand baggage 10% more than before. Individual LED lighting appeared above each chair. The main light in the cabin can be adjusted as needed. Outdated cathode ray monitors have been replaced by liquid crystal displays.

In addition to electronics, the developers worked on many mechanisms, significantly improving their performance. All this contributed to a reduction in the cost of service.

Another feature of the A320 model is the technically improved cockpit. Now any information regarding auxiliary systems, as well as the aircraft’s engines, its flight position and other parameters, is displayed on several displays occupying the main part of the instrument panel.

Thanks to the side control handles, the work of the pilots has been greatly simplified. These joysticks are not directly connected to the planes. Any movement of the levers is processed by a computer, after which the information is transmitted to the drives, whose operation is based on hydraulics. The high level of automation made it possible to limit the number of crew members to two pilots, and also significantly increased passenger comfort and flight safety.

Official development of the A320 aircraft model began in 1984. The car first took off three years later. Despite this, the liner has not been written off, but is constantly being modernized. This is dictated by the demands of the time. In particular, the developers are somewhat reducing the passenger space, thereby increasing the number of seats.

As for production lines, they are open in many countries around the world. Relatively recently, an aircraft assembly plant in China began producing 4 aircraft per month.

At the Le Bourget air show, held in 2011, this model was in high demand. Thanks to this, the management of the Airbus concern received several large orders from leasing and even budget organizations. In total, the aircraft manufacturing association received 667 orders, which undertook to supply 1,029 A320 model aircraft to customers. The total amount of all orders was almost $70 billion. This figure made the airliner the most popular in the world.