While developing and designing the Airbus A320, the Eurobus SAS consortium sought to supplant the American Boeing company , whose aircraft had dominated small and medium-sized airlines by that time. It was not possible to conquer the entire market, but considerable success has been achieved; this aircraft, in terms of popularity, is in second place in the world after the Boeing 737.
The A-320 became the first airliner in the construction of which an electro-remote control system was used. There are no familiar steering wheels in the cockpit; they are replaced by small handles like joysticks used for computer games. At the same time, the signal from the manipulator, dubbed the “ side stick”, is processed by the on-board computer, evaluating the correctness of the pilot’s actions, which also gives a signal to the service engines deflecting the slats, flaps and steering wheel.
The dashboard has also become different, instead of the usual scales, most of it is occupied by electron beam monitors, which display flight parameters and sensor readings.
A technological solution new in the world aircraft industry has also been applied - all horizontal planes and wing mechanization elements are made of composite materials. In general, plastic is used unprecedentedly in construction; it makes up one fifth of the weight of an empty airplane.
The design feature was the wide hatches of the luggage compartments, facilitating loading and unloading.
Airbus A320 refers to narrow-body aircraft, but this does not mean that it has low capacity. The number of passengers is 150-180 people. The internal volume of the fuselage is divided into two cabins - business class and economy. Since the purpose of this airliner does not provide for hours-long flights, it is the economy class that is most popular, so the seat layout here is simple - six seats alongside the aisle in the center, in contrast to the more prestigious and expensive “business” salon, where there are four of them.
In the field of safety, aircraft designers from the Euroconsortium also tried - four emergency exits, which the Airbus A320 is equipped with, a cabin with lining made of fireproof plastic, and a maximally simplified exit scheme through the main doors.
The classic Airbus SAS scheme is also used in this case: a monoplane with a low swept wing and engine nacelles suspended under it. Getting to know the Airbus A320 on the ground is easy - the strut of its front chassis is tilted forward.
About four thousand aircraft of this type were produced, and most of them (3,945) are now in the air, they rarely cost. Orders for the Airbus A320 are another two thousand copies. The first cars were assembled in the French city of Toulouse, but then, due to an increase in production, it was moved to Hamburg-Finkenverder, to Germany. In recent years, Airbus began to be installed in China.
This type of aircraft has been sold since 1987, the first of which was acquired by Air France, then deliveries began around the world. The A320 is also operated in Russia. A photo of the board of the Aeroflot company with a tricolor on the tail shows one of the twenty-six airbuses of this series owned by it.