Airbus A320

The A320 is a short to medium range, narrow-bodied, twin-engine jet airliner. The first member of the A320 family, including the A318, A319, A320, A321, and the ACJ business jet. The first flight occurred on February 22, 1987, entering service in April 1988 with Air France. The A320 introduced digital fly-by-wire flight control systems, side-stick controls and an entire glass cockpit to commercial aircraft.

Manufactured in two variants: the A320-100, with only 21 built and the A320-200, with increased fuel capacity and wingtip fences. December 2010 saw the launch of the A320neo (new engine option) with more efficient engines, airframe improvements and winglets.

The airframe uses composite materials of aramid fibre, glass fibre and carbon fibre reinforced plastics, and aluminium alloys — the first subsonic aircraft to use composite primary structures. The fuselage is a semi-monocoque design, with a glass cockpit and a broader cabin than competitors; 3.95 metres (156 in) outside diameter, compared to 3.8 m (148 in) of the Boeing 737 or 757. Wings are low mount cantilever swept-back designs with a conventional single-fin tail. The undercarriage is a retractable tricycle type with the primary units mounted in the wing roots retracting inward into the fuselage. The flight crew consists of two pilots, and the passenger cabin typical seats 150 four abreast in two classes.

Powered by two CFM International CFM56 or International Aero Engines (IAE) V2500 high bypass turbofan engines. In addition, the A320neo uses the Pratt & Whitney PW1100G or CFM International LEAP-1A, which offers lower maintenance costs and about 15% better fuel economy—giving the A320 a cruise speed of 828 km/h (511 mph), a range of 6,100 km (3,790 mi) and a service ceiling: 12,500 m (41,000 ft).