A321, the plane is a workhorse

2024 Author: Harold Hamphrey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:06

The Airbus A321 is technically an improved copy of its progenitor A320. Released in the mid-90s of the last century, it has a large passenger and cargo capacity. According to the typical layout, it differs little from the founder of the series. If the A320 can carry 150 passengers, then the 321 models can carry up to 180 passengers at the same maintenance costs. This is the first of the 320 series, which began to be assembled outside of France (Toulouse). The assembly shop of this model was moved to Hamburg.

Owners, developers, shareholders

Toulouse was not chosen by chance for the final stage of aircraft assembly. The French government is one of the main shareholders of the holding that produces Airbus (air buses). The second major shareholder is Daimler, a German company that assembles Mercedes cars. Russia and Spain own a small number of shares.

Competition

The version of the founder, the A320, released in the early 80s, became a serious competitor for one of the most popular versions of the Boeing, the Boeing 737. This aircraft had an advanced (by those standards) cockpit, a completely redesigned instrument panel. Unlike the oldversions, most of it was occupied by several CRT tubes. With the advent of the on-board computer, the new versions of the A321 (aircraft) received LCD screens.

Inspired by the success of the 320, French engineers began to develop other versions based on it. This is how the 319, 321 appeared, differing in respectively reduced or increased carrying capacity, and several special modifications of the 320 - from business versions to military transport. In terms of its flight and running characteristics, 321 models competed with 727 Boeing. If we consider the Boeing lines, then the 747 is a model of a different class, so the 321 was originally supposed to be nearby without creating competition. But the fact that the Airbus was a European aircraft played a big role. Another reason for the high competition was that the 320 family was the first in the class of "digital" aircraft.

Joystick is an Airbus feature

Besides ray tubes, engines from "Daimler", A320 received one interesting feature that all "children" inherited, including A321. The aircraft does not have a steering wheel in the usual sense. Instead of a steering wheel, the pilots have sidesticks, in many ways reminiscent of ordinary computer joysticks. The first pilot (captain) has a sidestick to his left, the second one to his right.

The fact that these devices do not have a direct connection with the planes of the rudders, ailerons, etc. gives them a great resemblance to joysticks.he controls the planes, turning the rudder, extending the flaps, retracting the landing gear. ESDU was first developed in 1980 specifically for the 320 model. For those years, it was quite an innovative solution. ESDU is an electronic control system, which, along with the development of the 320 series, has undergone several modifications, and at the moment all aircraft of the family are equipped with various modifications of it.

320 family aircraft

The Airbus 320 family, despite the general class of use (medium-haul airlines), can be conditionally divided into several stages. The A319 aircraft, being the "little brother" of the 320 version, works for most carriers on domestic European flights. The A320 itself largely repeats the flights operated by the “younger brother”, but, having larger dimensions and more seats, is used for busier flights. The A321, an aircraft with a maximum payload and dimensions, capable of carrying up to 200 passengers on medium and long haul lines, is the senior model of the family.

At the same time, the A321 aircraft type, like the 320 or newer ones - 319, 318, is a narrow-body design, the basic configuration of which has one aisle and three seats on each side. 2 aisles and 9 seats in a row are the wide body version.

Unlike the A319, presented by the developers in three trim levels, the A321, released ten years earlier, has long been a simple replacement for the 320, moreroomy and newer. But after the successful launch of 319 and 318 models in 2003-2005, 321 aircraft were also changed. One of the 319 modifications received additional fuel tanks, which made it possible to cover distances that were a third greater than the maximum flight range of the base model. After the successful release of this model, the updated production created the Airbus A321-100 aircraft. 200 model received more powerful engines, additional fuel tanks in the stern and immediately moved to the category of a long-range class.

A characteristic feature of the A321-200, which has passed into newer models, is the bifurcated wingtips, which made it possible to significantly save fuel in the most difficult modes - takeoff and landing.

Passenger opinions

What do passengers say about the A321 (airplane)? Reviews in this case are very subjective, because for many companies this model has become a workhorse in the pursuit of miles, places and cargo capacity. Relative silence is noted in the front of the cabin, the most difficult parts of the flight have gone through an unusual softness, although in many respects the landing, as well as the take-off, depends on the technical condition of the airport. It is interesting that this aircraft, which is considered a direct competitor to the 727 "American" (manufacturer's opinion), is compared by many with the 737, while, apart from some tightness for tall people, the rest of the qualities are the same.

Conclusion

Finally, you can see that the A321, an aircraft that was originally considered a medium-range aircraft, has becomemany companies by aircraft number one. A321s fly frequently, and in the fleets of many companies they are actively crowding out their American rival - Boeing.