Airbus A300 (Airbus A300). A photo. Video. Interior layout. Characteristics. Reviews.

The Airbus A300 is the world's first twin-engine, wide-body aircraft designed for medium to long-haul flights. The A300 is also the first aircraft built by the joint European consortium Airbus Industrie, now part of the European Aerospace and Defense Corporation (EADS).

Design A300 began at the request of the French, German and British governments to replace the US Boenga 727... The main requirements for the construction of the liner were the presence of two engines and a wide fuselage capable of accommodating from 250 to 300 passengers.

In September 1969, French companies, together with West Germany, began designing a common European liner. The aircraft was assembled in the French city of Toulouse.

Airbus a330 300 photo

Airbus a330 300 photo

By December 1970, the aircraft project was ready. The aircraft received engines CF6-80-C2A1 from General Electric. Later, the aircraft was also equipped with PW-4000 engines from Pratt Whitney.

Wing aircraft with all the mechanization was designed by the British company «Hawker Siddeley Group Limited».

After construction, the first model aircraft received the designation Airbus A300 B1.

The first flight of the prototype took place on October 28, 1972. In March 1974, test models were certified. The aircraft was put into operation on May 30, 1974. The operational modification was the B4 model, which has a larger fuel reserve and a longer flight range than the base B1. The first airline to start operating the aircraft was “Air France».

The plane became at that time the most comfortable aircraft with low noise. The aircraft usually has 266 passenger seats in a two-class configuration with a maximum range to fly 7540 kilometers.

Salon Airbus A300

Airbus A300 Salon

The plane with the first release of its constantly evolving. On this basis it has been released Utility option A300 C4 and transportnogruzovoy option A300 F4.

In December 1980, the consortium began to develop an improved model of the aircraft - the Airbus A300-600. The A300-600 modification with Pratt & Whitney JT9D engines made its first flight on July 8, 1983. After passing all the certifications in 1985, the aircraft began to enter the airlines. The first air carrier to receive the A300-600 was the Thai “Thai Airways».

Later, the A300-600R model was released, which had a larger fuel reserve and, thanks to this, an increased flight range. The first user of the A300-600R, in April 1988, was the American airline "American Airlines».