Airbus

A320 History brief

The first member of the Airbus family of FBW aircraft (the A320) was launched in March 1984, and made its maiden flight on 22 February 1987. First deliveries started in 1988. The aircraft series went on to include the A321 (delivered 1994), the A319 (1996), and the A318 (2003). The A320 aircraft pioneered the use of digital fly-by-wire flight control system, as well as side-stick controls, in commercial aircraft. There has been a continuous improvement process since introduction.

Good to know Weights & Speeds

Before your airbus simulator preparation session we include useful information in this section of our website.

A320 typical training weights & flap speeds

ZFW 57.4 T
FUEL 6 T
GW 62.4 T
Take-Off Config 1 or 2
FLEX 50
Landing Flaps FULL
- V1 128KT
- Vr 138KT
- V2 141KT
- vApp 138KT

Typical Pitch & Power Settings A320

TOGA 15 to 18UP (86% to 98% N1)
- FLEX 50 => 86%N1
- CLB => 84% N1
CLB / ACCELERATION 7.5 to 10UP
Descent 1500fpm 250KTS 2.5UP
Descent 1500fpm 210KTS 1UP

A320 Simulator Flap Speeds (sim training ref only)

Green Dot (clean) 210KTS
S speed (Config 1) – 190KTS
F Speed Flap 2 – 150KTS
F Speed Flap 3 – 145KTS
Full Flap – vApp 138KTS

PF / PNF speed and flap call examples:

TO PHASE (CONFIG 1 TO)

Passing Flap S on speed tape. PF: “Flaps Zero” PNF: “Speed checked Flaps Zero”

APPROACH PHASE

10KTS above (example) Green Dot (210kts) on speed tape. PF: “Flaps 1, select S speed” PNF: “Speed checked, Flaps 1”

Limiting speeds for first stage of flap (config 1) 230KTS.

Dimensions

Overall length	123 ft 3 in 37.57 m
Cabin length	90 ft 3 in 27.51 m
Fuselage width	13 ft 0 in 3.95 m
Max cabin width	12 ft 1 in 3.70 m
Wing span (geometric)	117 ft 5 in with Sharklets 35.80 m with Sharklets
Height	38 ft 7 in 11.76 m
Track	24 ft 11 in 7.59 m
Wheelbase	41 ft 5 in 12.64 m

Capacity

Pax

Typical seating	150 (2-class)
Max	180

Freight

LD3 capacity underfloor	7 LD3-45W 7 LD3-45W
Max pallet number underfloor	7 7
Bulk hold volume	208 ft³ 5.90 m³
Total volume (Bulk loading)	1322 ft³ 37.40 m³

Performance

Range	3 300 nm with Sharklets 6 100 km with Sharklets
Mmo	M0.82
Max ramp weight	162.9 (172.8) lb x 1000 73.9 (78.4) tonnes
Max take-off weight	162.0 (172.0) lb x 1000 73.5 (78.0) tonnes
Max landing weight	142.2 (145.5) lb x 1000 64.5 (66.0) tonnes
Max zero fuel weight	134.5 (137.8) lb x 1000 61.0 (62.5) tonnes
Max fuel capacity	up to 6 400 (7 190) USG up to 24 210 (27 200) litres