Photos

Airbus A320

(wikipedia.org)
Updated: 2010-09-02 14:52
Large Medium Small

Airbus A320
A China Eastern Airlines Airbus A320-200.[File photo] 

The A320 series has two variants, the A320-100 and A320-200. Only 21 A320-100s were ever produced; these aircraft, the first to be manufactured, were delivered only to Air Inter (an airline later acquired by Air France) and British Airways (as a result of an order from British Caledonian Airways made prior to its acquisition by British Airways). The A320-200 features wingtip fences and increased fuel capacity over the A320-100 for increased range; other than that differences are minimal. Five of the last A320-100 aircraft, operated by British Airways, were disposed of at the end of 2007. The final A320-100, operated by Air France was retired in 2010. Typical range with 150 passengers for the A320-200 is about 2,900 nautical miles (5,400 km). It is powered by two CFMI CFM56-5 or IAE V2500 with thrust ratings between 25,500 to 27,000 pounds force (113 kN to 120 kN). The direct Boeing competitor is the 737-800.