Airbus A310
The Airbus A310 is a wide-body aircraft, designed and manufactured by Airbus Industrie. Airbus had identified a demand for an aircraft smaller than the A300, the first twin-jet wide-body. On 7 July 1978, the A310 (initially the A300B10) was launched with orders from Swissair and Lufthansa. On 3 April 1982, the first prototype conducted its maiden flight. Keeping the same eight-abreast cross-section, the A310 is 6.95 m (22.8 ft) shorter than the initial A300 variants, and has a smaller wing, down from 260 to 219 m2 (2,800 to 2,360 sq ft). The A310 introduced a two-crew glass cockpit, later adopted for the A300-600 with a common type rating. It was powered by the same General Electric CF6-80 or Pratt & Whitney JT9D then PW4000 turbofan jet engines. It can seat 220 passengers in two classes, or 240 in all-economy, and has a flying range up to 5,150 nmi (9,540 km). In April 1983, the aircraft entered revenue service. Its longer range and ETOPS regulations allowed it to be operated on transatlantic flights. Until the last delivery in June 1998, 255 aircraft were produced, as it was succeeded by the larger Airbus A330-200. It was available as a cargo aircraft version.
Role: Wide-body aircraft
Manufacturer: Airbus Industrie
First flight: 3 April 1982
Introduction: April1983
Status: In limited service
Primary users: Mahan Air, ULS Airlines Cargo, Iran Air, Ariana Afghan Airlines
Produced: 1981–1998
Number built: 255
Number lost: 13
Percentage of planes lost: 5.1%
Unit cost: (2022 dollars)
A310-200 US$1.05-US$3.85 million
Variants
A310-200
The first A310 made its maiden flight on 3 April 1982 powered by the earlier Pratt & Whitney JT9D-7R4D1 engines. The −200 entered service a year later. Late series −200 also featured wing fences identical to those of the −300. The first three A310s were initially fitted with outboard ailerons; they were later removed once testing showed them to be unnecessary. Production of the A310-200 ended in 1988.
A310-200CA
Convertible version, the A310-200C entered service with on 29 November 1984.
A310-200F
The freighter version of the A310-200 was available as a new build, or as a conversion of existing wide-bodied aircraft. The A310-200F freighter can carry 39 t (86,000 lb) of freight for 5,950 km (3,210 nmi). It entered service with FedEx Express in 1994.
A310-300
First flown on 8 July 1985, the −300 is dimensionally identical to the −200, although it provide an increase in range, provided by additional centre and horizontal stabiliser fuel tanks. This model also introduced wingtip fencesto improve aerodynamic efficiency. The aircraft entered service in 1986.
A310-300CA
Convertible passenger/cargo version, the seats can be removed and cargo placed on the main deck.
A310-300F
The freight version of the A310-300F. Operators such as FedEx Express acquired modified ex-passenger A310s, usually starting with the −300 version. No production freighters of the A310-300F were produced.
