Aircraft Factfile and Recognition Guide - Airbus A340

Background

During the 1980's Airbus had designed an experimental model called the TA11.  In January 1986 Airbus announced the development of the TA11, which was renamed the A340.  It would be a twin-aisle aircraft that would replace the older 707 and DC-8 at the distant routes which didn't need the big passenger capacity of the 747.  Its range would be up to 13,000 km.  At the beginning, the A340 was planned to use the new superfan engines of IAE (International Aero Engines).  A problem came up when IAE decided to stop the development of the superfan engines.  So, Airbus agreed with CFM International and the A340 would use the CFM56-5C4.

The assembly line of the A340 was decided to be in Toulouse, France.  Parts of the fuselage are manufactured in Germany and the wings in England.  The cockpit of the A340 is a completely digital one with six multi-function displays.  In addition, Airbus uses sidesticks instead of the classic yokes, similar to the A320. The avionics of the aircraft are very advanced.  It uses a FBW (Fly-by-wire) system, a system that permanently removes the mechanical control of the aircraft and replaces it by electric signals, and other electronics that make each flight very safe and reliable. Furthermore, it is constructed by the most advanced materials.

The A340 is offering comfort and economy at a very low cost.  A brand-new communications system was designed for the aircraft, which includes telephones, fax etc. Passengers also have more space and privacy than in other competitive aircraft because of the A340's dimensions.  New entertainment systems are also available.

Variants

Over the years, Airbus has produced four major variants of the A340 - the -200, -300, -500, and -600.

Airbus A340-200

One of two initial versions of the A340, the A340-200, with 261 passengers in a three-class cabin layout has a range of 7,450 nautical miles (13,800 km), or with 239 passengers also in a three-class cabin layout has a range of 8,000 nautical miles (14800 km). This is the shortest version of the type and the only version with wingspan measuring greater than the length of the plane. It is powered by four CFMI CFM56-5C4 engines. The plane was intended to open long and thin routes, especially over water.

One version of this type was ordered by the Sultan of Brunei requesting a non-stop range of 8,000 nautical miles (14820 km). This A340-8000 had an increased fuel capacity, a MTOW of 275 tonnes similar to the A340-300, and minor reinforcements to the undercarriage. Upon completion its final range was specified at 8,100 nautical miles (15,000 km). It is powered by the 34,000 lbf (151 kN) thrust CFMI CFM56-5C4s similar to the -300E. Other A340-200s were later given performance improvement packages (PIPs) which helped them achieve similar gains in capability as to the A340-8000. Those aircraft are labeled A340-213X. The range for this version is 8,000 NM (14,820 km).

Airbus A340-300

The A340-300 flies 295 passengers in a typical three-class cabin layout over 6,700 nautical miles (12,400 km). This is the initial version, having flown on 25 October 1991, and entered service with Lufthansa and Air France in March 1993. It is powered by four CFMI CFM56-5C engines, similar to the -200. Its two closest competitors are the Boeing 777-200ER and, formerly, the McDonnell-Douglas MD-11, which is no longer in production. The A340-300E, often mislabeled as A340-300X, has an increased MTOW of up to 275 tonnes and is powered by the more powerful 34,000 lbf (151 kN) thrust CFMI CFM56-5C4 engines. Typical range with 295 passengers is between 7,200 and 7,400 nautical miles (13,300 km and 13,700 km). The largest operator of this type is Lufthansa with 30 aircraft. It was first delivered to Singapore Airlines in April 1996, though Singapore Airlines no longer operates this model. The A340-300 Enhanced is the latest version of this type and was first delivered to South African Airways in 2003. It received newer CFM56-5C/P engines and improved Avionics and Fly-by-Wire systems developed for the A340-500/-600.

Airbus A340-500

The A340-500 was introduced as the world's longest-range commercial airliner. It made its first flight on 11 February 2002, and was certified on 3 December 2002 with early deliveries to Emirates Airline. While the KC-10 Extender is the longest-ranged production aircraft, the A340-500 was the world's longest-range commercial airliner until the introduction of the Boeing 777-200LR in February 2006. The A340-500 can fly 313 passengers in a three-class cabin layout over 8,650 nautical miles (16,020 km), e.g. it is capable of traveling non-stop from London to Perth, Australia, though a return flight requires a fuel stop due to headwinds. Singapore Airlines, for example, initially used this model in a two-class, 181-passenger layout for its Newark-Singapore nonstop route: a 18-hour, 45-minute "westbound" (really northbound to 70 nmi (130 km) abeam the North Pole; then south from there across Russia, Mongolia and China), 18-hour, 30-minute eastbound, 15,345 km (8,285 NM) journey that remains the longest scheduled non-stop commercial flight in the world. By late June, 2008, Singapore Airlines completed conversion of its 5 A340-500's to an all-Business Class configuration, with 100 seats, due to high-end passenger demand. These aircraft are also used on the SQ Los Angeles-Singapore nonstop route. Thai Airways International flew this model on nonstop flights from Bangkok to Los Angeles and New York/JFK, but terminated its New York service on July 1, 2008 due to increased fuel costs.

Compared with the A340-300, the -500 features a 4.3 m fuselage stretch, an enlarged wing area, massive increase in fuel capacity (around 50% over -300), slightly higher cruising speed, larger horizontal stabilizer and smaller vertical tailplane. The A340-500/-600 has taxi cameras to help the pilots during ground maneuvers. The A340-500 is powered by four 53,000 lbf (236 kN) thrust Rolls-Royce Trent 553 turbofans.

The A340-500HGW (High Gross Weight) version has a range of 9,000 NM (16,700 km) and an MTOW of 380 tonnes and first flew on the 13th October 2006. It uses the strengthened structure and enlarged fuel capacity of the A340-600HGW. The certification aircraft became the first delivery, to Thai Airways International, on 11 April 2007. Kingfisher Airlines had planned to use this model to operate nonstop flights from India to North America. However, in October 2008, Kingfisher transferred three of its five delivery positions to Arik Air of Nigeria, due to the worldwide recession. Arik Air received these three A340-500's in November, 2008, and placed them in service on its new Lagos-London Heathrow route and Lagos-Johannesburg route, with a nonstop route to New York added in January, 2010. Atlanta, Miami and Houston are planned to be added later. The A340-500HGW is powered by four 56,000 lbf (249 kN) thrust Rolls-Royce Trent 556 turbofans. Emirates Airline is the largest operator, with ten aircraft.

Airbus A340-600

Designed as an early generation 747 replacement, the A340-600 flies 380 passengers in a three-class cabin layout (419 in 2 class) over 7,500 nautical miles (13,900 km). It provides similar passenger capacity to a 747 but with 25% more cargo volume, and at lower trip and seat costs. First flight of the A340-600 was made on 23 April 2001. Virgin Atlantic began commercial services in August 2002. The A340-600 is more than 10 m longer than a basic -300, making it the longest airliner currently in production; more than four meters longer than the Boeing 747-400 and 2.3m longer than the A380. The Airbus A340-600 will continue to hold the record for being the worlds longest commercial aircraft until the first Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental is rolled out in 2010. It is powered by four 56,000 lbf (249 kN) thrust Rolls-Royce Trent 556 turbofans. It also has an additional four-wheel undercarriage on the fuselage center-line to cope with the increased MTOW. Airbus has made provisions for freeing additional upper deck main cabin space, by providing optional arrangements for additional facilities such as crew rest areas, galleys, and lavatories upon the "stretched" A340 aircraft's lower decks.

The A340-600HGW (High Gross Weight) version first flew on 18 November 2005 and was certified on 14 April 2006.[ It has an MTOW of 380 tonnes and a range of up to 7,900 NM (14,600 km), made possible by strengthened structure, increased fuel, more powerful engines and new manufacturing techniques like laser beam welding. The A340-600HGW is powered by four 60,000 lbf (267 kN) thrust Rolls-Royce Trent 560 turbofans. Emirates Airline became the launch customer for the -600HGW when it ordered 18 at the 2003 Paris Air Show; but postponed their order indefinitely and later cancelled. Rival Qatar Airways, which placed its order at the same airshow, took delivery of the first aircraft on 11 September 2006. It has since let its purchase options expire.

Specifications
 

Sources: Aircraft Photos.net A340 Factfile, Aerospaceweb.org A340 Factfile, Wikipedia A340

© 2004-2010 Steven Holzinger