2008-05-26T11:55:00.000-07:00

Airbus A310

The Airbus A310 is a medium to long range widebody airliner. Launched in 1978, it was the second aircraft created by the Airbus consortium of European aerospace companies, which is now fully owned by EADS. The A310 is a shortened derivative of the A300, the first twin-engined widebody airliner. The A310 (along with the A300) ceased production in July 2007. Freighter sales for which the A310 competed are to be fulfilled by a new A330-200F derivative.
The A310 first began life as the A300B10, one of a number of projected developments and derivatives of Airbus' original A300B airliner.
While based on the larger A300, the A310 introduced a number of major changes. The fuselage was shortened by 13 frames compared to the A300B, reducing seating to around 200 to 230 passengers and a new higher aspect ratio wing of smaller span and area was developed. New and smaller horizontal tail surfaces, fly-by-wire outboard spoilers and a two crew EFIS flightdeck were incorporated, while the engine pylons were common to suit both engine options.

The first flight of the A310 occurred on April 3 1982, after the program was launched in July 1978. Service entry was with Lufthansa in April 1983. Early production A310s did not have the small winglets that became a feature of later build A310-200s and the A310-300. The A310-300 is a longer range development of the base A310-200, and has been in production since 1985. This version can carry a further 7000kg (15,430lb) of fuel in the tailplane.
The A310-200F freighter is available new build or as a conversion of existing aircraft (13 A310s were converted to freighters for Federal Express by Airbus partner Daimler Benz [now DaimlerChrysler] Aerospace Airbus). The A310-200C convertible passenger/freighter first entered service with Dutch operator Martinair in 1984.

Variants :

A310 MRTT

The A310 has been operated by many of the world's airforces as a pure transport, however some are now being converted to the "Multi Role Tanker Transport" configuration by EADS, providing an aerial refueling capability. Six have been ordered; four by the German Luftwaffe and two by the Canadian Forces. Deliveries began in 2004. Three are being converted at EADS' Elbe Flugzeugwerke (EFW) in Dresden, Germany; the other three at Lufthansa Technik in Hamburg, Germany. The Chilean Air Force has recently purchased two second-hand A310s to replacMax cruising speed 897km/h (484kt), long range cruising speed 850km/h (459kt). Range at typical airliner operating weight with 218 passengers and baggage and reserves 6800km (3670nm) for A310-200, 7982km (4310nm) for CF6 powered A310-300, 9580km (5170nm) for high gross weight A310-300 with CF6s.Performance its ageing 707-320 'Aguila' tanker and transports. The first was received in October 2007

A310-300

First flown in July 1985, the 300 has an increased MTOW and an increase in range, provided by additional centre and horizontal stabilizer (trim-tank) fuel tanks. This model also introduced wingtip fences to improve aerodynamic efficiency, a feature that has since been retrofitted to some 200s. The aircraft entered service in 1986, again with Swissair. No production freighters of the A310 were produced. Operators such as FedEx instead adapt ex-airline A310s into freighters. Most have been the 300 version.
• A310-300C
A convertible passenger/cargo version, the seats can be removed and cargo placed on the main deck.
• A310-300F
An all-cargo version.

A310-200

The first A310, the 162nd Airbus off the production line, made its maiden flight in April 1982 powered by Pratt & Whitney JT9D engines. The 200 entered service with Swissair and Lufthansa a year later.Also the late series 200 also featured winglets just like the -300. A310-200C A convertible version, the seats can be removed and cargo placed on the main deck.

Capacity
Flightcrew of two. Max passenger capacity at nine abreast 280. Typical two class arrangement for 20 passengers at six abreast and 192 economy class passenger eight abreast. Cargo capacity in fore and aft underfloor compartments can hold 2.44 x 3.17m (88 x 125in) pallets or a total of up to 14 LD3 containers.

Dimensions
Wing span 43.89m (144ft 0in), length 46.66m (153ft 1in), height 15.80m (51ft 10in). Wing area 219.0m2 (2357.3sq ft).

Weights
A310-200 with CF6-80C2A2s - Operating empty 80,142kg (176,683lb), max takeoff 142,000kg (313,055lb). A310-300 with CF6-80C2A8s - Operating empty 81,205kg (179,025lb), max takeoff 150,000kg (330,695lb) standard, or higher gross weight options through to 164,000kg (361,560lb).

2008-05-26T09:54:00.000-07:00

Airbus A300

The Airbus A300 is a short to medium range widebody aircraft. Launched in 1972 as the world's first twin engined widebody, it was the first product of the Airbus consortium of European aerospace companies, wholly owned today by EADS. The A300 ceased production in July 2007, along with the smaller A310. Freighter sales for which the A300 competed are to be fulfilled by a new A330-200F derivative.
he A300 was the first airliner to use just in time manufacturing techniques. Complete aircraft sections were manufactured by consortium partners all over Europe. These were airlifted to the final assembly line at Toulouse Blagnac by a fleet of Boeing 377 derived AeroSpacelines Super Guppy aircraft. Originally devised as a way to share the work among Airbus's partners without the expense of two assembly lines, it turned out to be a more efficient way of building airplanes (more flexible and reduced costs) as opposed to building the whole airplane at one site. This fact was not lost on Boeing, which, over thirty years later, decided to manufacture the Boeing 787 in this manner, using outsized 747s to ferry wings and other parts from Japan.

Technology :

Advanced wings by de Havilland (later BAE Systems) with:
a. supercritical airfoil section for economical performance

b. advanced aerodynamically efficient flight controls
222 inch diameter circular fuselage section for 8-abreast passenger seating and wide enough for 2 LD3 cargo containers side-by-side
Structures made from metal billets, reducing weight
First airliner to be fitted with wind shear protection
Advanced autopilots capable of flying the aircraft from climb-out to landing
Electrically controlled braking system
Later A300s incorporate other advanced features such as
2-man crew by automating the flight engineer's functions, an industry first
Glass cockpit flight instruments
Extensive use of composites for an aircraft of its era
Center-of-gravity control by shifting around fuel
The first airliner to use wingtip fences for better aerodynamics
All these made the A300 a substitute for the widebody trijets such as McDonnell Douglas DC-10 and Lockheed L-1011 for short to medium routes. On the early versions, Airbus used the same engines and similar major systems as the DC-10

CREW : 2 to 3 flight crew

PASSENGERS :

250 in three classes
266 in two classes
330 in one class

KNOWN VARIANTS :

A300B1 First prototypes : 2 built
A300B2 First production model
A300B4 Longer-range model with increased fuel capacity, Kruger leading edge flaps, and increased maximum takeoff weight; total of 284 B2 and B4 aircraft built before production ended in 1984
A300C4 Convertible freighter model with large cargo door added in port side
A300-600 Improved passenger model with extra row of seats, re-designed two-crew flight deck, and numerous drag-reduction items including wing-tip fences
A300-600R Long-range model of A300-600 with increased maximum takeoff weight and trim tank
A300-600 Convertible Convertible freighter model of A300-600 A300-600F Dedicated cargo version of A300-600 A300-600T Beluga Extensively modified A300-600 with enlarged fuselage for carrying outsized loads

DIMENSIONS:
Length 177.42 ft (54.08 m)
Wingspan 147.08 ft (44.84 m)
Height 54.25 ft (16.53 m)
Wing Area 2,798.6 ft2 (260.0 m2)
Canard Area not applicable

WEIGHTS:
Empty (A300-600) 172,400 lb (78,200 kg)
(A300-600R) 198,000 lb (89,815 kg)
Typical Load unknown
Max Takeoff (A300-600) 363,765 lb (165,000 kg)
(A300-600R) 375,885 lb (170,500 kg)
Fuel Capacity internal: 16,380 gal (62,000 L)
external: not applicable
Max Payload 87,930 lb (39,885 kg)

KNOWN OPERATORS:

Abu Dhabi Amiri Flight
Air Afrique
Air Anatolia
Airbus International Transport
Air Contractors
Airfoyle
Air France
Air India
Air Inter
Air Inter Europe
Air Jamaica
Air Liberté
Air Macau
Air Niugini
Air Scandic
Air Togo
Akdeniz Airlines
Alfa Airlines
Alitalia
American Airlines
Anatolia
Angel Airlines
Ariana Afghan Airlines
Australian Airlines
Aviation Sales Leasing Company
Aviation Systems International
Avion Aircraft Trading
AwAir International
Bellview Airlines
Cathay Pacific Airways
Channel Express
China Airlines
China Eastern Airlines
China Northern Airlines
China Northwest Airlines
City Bird
Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC)
Continental Airlines
DHL Airways
Eastern Airlines
Egypt air
Emery Worldwide Airlines
Emirates
Emirates Post
Euro First Air
European Air Charter
European Air Transport
European Aviation
Express.net Airlines
Farn air
Faucatt Peru
FedEx
Finn air
Garuda Indonesia Airways
Grand Air
Heavy lift Cargo Airlines
Iberia
ICC - Air Cargo Canada
Indian Airlines
Iran Air
Istanbul Airlines
Japan Air Systems
Jet Link Holland
JHM Cargo Express
Khalifa Airways
Korean Air Lines
Kuwait Airways
L'Aeropostale
Lufthansa
Lux air
Mahan Air
Malaysia Airlines
MNG Cargo Airlines
Monarch Airlines
Novespace
Olympic Airways
ONUR Air
Pace Air Cargo
Pakistan International
Pan Air
Pan American World Airways (Pan Am)
Pan American World Airways (Pan Am II)
Philippine Air Lines
Premiair
Pyramid
Qantas
Qatar Airways
Regionair
Saudia
Schreiner Airways
Sempati Air
Singapore Airlines
South African Airways
Sudan Airways
TACA
Thai Airways International
TNT Airways
Toa Domestic Airlines (TDA)
Tradewinds International
Trans Aer
Trans Australia Airlines (TAA)
Tristar Air
Tulip Air Charter
Tunis Air
United Parcel Service (UPS)
VASP
ZAS Airline of Egypt

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