Technology pays off On the morning of 28 October 1972 a gleaming new jet aircraft lifted off the runway at Toulouse-Blagnac for a trouble- free first flight, signifying the culmination of a groundbreaking European collabor- ation between the industries of France, Germany, United Kingdom and Spain The Airbus consortium was created to meet the needs of the emerging mass travel market with a high-capacity, short-range aircraft, made possible by the availability of new and more powerful high bypass ratio turbofan engines, and counter the almost total domination of global air transport by US manufacturers. ‘The resulting Airbus A300 was the world’s first widebody twin-jet aircraft and the precursor of what was to grow into the most extensive aircraft family yet seen, providing capacity from 100 to 600 passengers and capable of flying all routes from the very short to the ultra long-range. The Airbus concept of creating a family of aircraft with a degree of commonality for differing requirements and a single-minded determination to succeed, in spite of early difficulties, were two of the most important ingredients in the ultimate success of the European venture. It all began with the A300B2, which entered service with Air France on the busy Paris-London route on 23 May 1974. The A300B2 typically carried 251 passengers in a two-class configuration a distance of 1,750 nautical miles (3,240km). The Ginter Endres looks at the milestones in airliner design pioneered by Airbus - and how technological innovation has been converted to sales success. A300B2K was ordered by South African Airways; this version featured Kruger flaps for improved hot-and-high performance. Additional range was provided in the ‘A300B4, All early models were powered by the General Electric CF6-50 turbofan engine, with the Pratt & Whitney IT9D power plant being available from 1977 Convertible passenger/cargo A300C4 and all-cargo A300F4 variants were also produced. In the early 1980s, a few A300s were built with a new cockpit concept, referred to as the A300FFCC (forward- facing crew cockpit) allowing crews of two or three. The new two-crew cockpit — made possible by automation through digital avionics and the unique electronic centralised aircraft monitor (ECAM) and flight management system — was one of the central features of the new A310 model, which was built to meet the demand for a smaller 200-seat aircraft, but with a high degree of commonality with the A300. Other major innovations were an advanced technology wing, the use of a considerable amount of composites and the introduction of delta-shaped wingtip fences on the increased range A310-300. The A310-300 was the first production aircraft to be certified with a composite primary structure. The A310 made its maiden flight on 3 April 1982 and went into service with Lufthansa and Swissair in itsasic A310-200 version on 12 April 1983. Range with a typical payload of 220 passengers was 3,500 nm (6,47Skm). The aircraft was offered with a choice of two engines, the CF6-80 or P&W JT9D, and Airbus’ reputation as a technical innovator was consolidated with its first single aisle design later the improved PW4000, ‘The ECAM, providing extensive systems information to the crew, and mote advanced design features, such as @ computerised fuel transfer system, were also incorporated in the A300-600 and extended-range A300- 600R models, which entered airline service in June 1984 and May 1988 respectively Airbus was beginning to establish itself as technical innovator and this growing reputation was consolidated with its first single-aisle design, the 150-seat A320, which flew on 22 February 1987 ‘The A320 became the first subsonic commercial aircraft to be equipped with a fly-by-wire (FBW) control system and side- stick controllers forthe two pilots, and also features an advanced-technology wing, electronic flight information system (EFIS) and ECAM. The A320 was an instant success and continues to sellin large numbers, but has since been joined by other family members with the same cabin cross-section with a ‘maximum six-abreast arrangement, but varying fuselage lengths to offer 4 range of seating for 100 to 200 passengers. The first family addition was the A32L_ Its 693m (22ft 9in) longer fuselage provides 35. more seats ‘The A321 first flew on 11 March 1993. It is now available with extended range as the A321-200. Next came the A319, 3.73m (12f3in) shorter than the A320 and which typically seats 124 passengers ‘The A319 made its maiden flight on 29 August 1995 and was joined by the ACH (Airbus Corporate Jetlines) on 12 November 1998. The smallest aircraft in the family is the 100-seat A318, which took to the air on 15 January 2002 and is due to enter service in July 2003. All A320 Family aircraft offer choice of engines. EveryExtensive studies into stretched ASOO derivatives eventually evolved into two types NN ‘model is available with the CFMS6-S, with the A319, A320 and A321 also flown with the IAE V2500 turbofan, ‘The alternative engine for the A318 is the ew Pratt & Whitney PW6000. A single crew qualification across all variants provides this Airbus model with @ significant advantage over competing types. Extensive studies into stretched A300 derivatives eventually evolved into two types, the twin-engine A330-300, and the ee four-engine A340, initially built in =200 and -300 variants. Apart from the different engine configurations, both types are almost {identical and retain the proven Airbus widebody fuselage cross-section. Both types incorporated the most advantageous features of the A300- 600, A310 and A320 Families including « vietally identical Might deck to that of the A320, which means that pilots can be cross-qualified on the A320/A330 and A340. leading to valuable savings for operators of more than one type [A 30 per cent more efficient all-new wing generates valuable fuel savings for operators. For the first time, Rolls-Royce engines became an option on an Airbus sirerat The A340 flew for the first time on 25 tober 1991, flowed by the A330-300 on The A320 Family lonosred the use of ligt fy-by-vire conto systems2 November 1992. The A330-200, a 4.2m (ISR Sin) shorter version of the A330-300. ‘as first flown in September 1997, The higher capacity A340-600 took to the air in April 2001 and was followed by the ultra-long-range 340-500 in astounding 8,700am (16,100km) non-stop Range with 313 passengers. Cross-crew: qualification is, of course, a big selling point, ‘and a high degree of commonality extends not February 2002, 1 ‘The A330 and A340 aireraft are Part of a unique manuféeturing and operating concept, whereby two different but complementary types benefit from substantially common structures, systems and assembly, but serving divergent market sectors. The A330-300 has been optimised for high-density regional and xtended-range intercontinental routes, typically carrying 335 passengers over distances of up to 5,600 nautical miles (10.400km), while the A330-200 can carry 293 passengers up to 6650nm (12,300km) The 340-300 serves medium-density long-range routes of up to 7,400 am (13,700km) with 295 passengers. The A340- 600 can carry 380 passengers at similar comfort standards, with a range of 7,630nm (14,200km) while the ULR A340-500 has an The next move is a leap into the ultra high-capacity market ne only across these two types, but also to other sircraft inthe Airbus range The next move for Arbus is leap into the ula high-capacity market. With the double- decker A380 due to fly in early 2008, the European manufacturer's portfolio will include airerat offering. customers capacity options fiom 100 to 600 seas, capable of lying non- Stop distances up to 8,000 nautical mile (more than 14,000km). The Airbus family will be ‘complete ~ forthe moment.