Aircraft type A346 (IKAO) and 346 (IATA). The aircraft with the longest fuselage ever built by Airbus and the most capacious in the three hundred and forty family. As of December 2010, airlines ordered 97 aircraft, received 97, and have 96 aircraft in operation.
With an overall length of 75.3 meters, it accommodates 360 passengers in a three-class configuration, or 419 in a two-class configuration. This ultra-long aircraft provides operators with unrivaled standards of space, comfort and convenience in every class of service.
The wide-body four-engine Airbus A340-600 is also an ultra-long-range leader, with a range of almost fifteen thousand kilometers. Equipped for better economy on long-haul routes, it offers unrivaled operational flexibility for non-stop flights to more remote areas such as oceans or mountain ranges.
The Rolls-Royce Trent 500's four engines use only 56,000 pounds of their 60,000-pound thrust rating, resulting in them lasting longer. In addition, the use of four motors, as opposed to two large motors, reduces operating costs for operators by 13 percent.
In addition, the A340-600's four engines allow airlines to avoid being subject to Twin Engine Standards (ETOPS). This allows them to fly on more direct routes, longer distances over water or to points further away from the airport. This saves time and reduces fuel consumption.
Technical characteristics of A340-600
Airbus A340 interior
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| Business class cabin photo | Economy class cabin | A340 passengers are allowed to use their own mobile phones, laptops and any other communication devices. |
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Innovative developments in interior lighting help create the perfect ambience on board, with graceful contours softening the light. The LED lighting can be finely tuned through five zones to suit the mood of the day and night, like sunrise and sunset. Reading lights, also using LEDs, provide better light. |
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Air quality is a major factor in long-distance passenger transport. For the A340, Airbus has developed air conditioning systems controlled by one touch on a screen from the cockpit to ensure maximum passenger comfort.
In addition, highly efficient filters provide clean air, capturing 99.9% of particles and organic matter.
The temperature on board the aircraft can be adjusted separately for eight zones in the cabin. This means crew can more easily respond to individual passenger requests for temperature changes.
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The Airbus A340-600 is a wide-body, four-engine, long-haul passenger aircraft developed by the Western European consortium Airbus S.A.S. This is one of the modifications of the A340 airliners intended for intercontinental passenger flights.
The Airbus A340-600 is the longest aircraft of this family. Its length is 75.36 meters, which is eleven meters longer than the base model, the Airbus A340-300. Compared to the main, basic model, the six hundredth version, in addition to an elongated fuselage, has a larger span and a larger wing area, as well as more powerful and economical engines from the British company Rolls-Royce Group plc - Trent-556 with a thrust of 249 kN. The aircraft's cruising speed and fuel capacity were also increased. To cope with the increased weight, the aircraft received an additional central, four-wheeled landing gear.
Avionics, control and navigation devices, the EDSU (Fly-by-Wire) system on the Airbus A340-600 are unified, that is, they are used the same as in all A340 and A330 airliners, which allows pilots to easily switch from one model of this aircraft families to another.
The aircraft first took flight on April 23, 2001 and was demonstrated to the general public at the 44th International Aerospace Show in Le Bourget.
After 1,600 hours of the flight test program, on May 29, 2002, the airliner received a certificate of airworthiness. And in August 2002, at the Farnborough International Air Show, the aircraft entered commercial service with the British air carrier Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd, which began operating it on long-haul routes between Britain, the USA, Australia and African countries.
Production of the Airbus A340-600 airliner was suspended in 2011, but despite this, the aircraft still successfully transport passengers around the world. Today, the main operators of this model are the following airlines: Lufthansa, Iberia, South African Airways, Swiss, Air France.
Location and numbering of seats in the cabin, seating diagram on the Airbus A340-600 aircraft. The best and least comfortable seats on the plane
Explanation of the Airbus A cabin diagram symbols340-600
340-600
in a two-class configuration
Iberia airlines
In both Business Plus and Economy Class cabins, all seats are equipped with 110 VAC power outlets and USB ports. Passengers are invited to listen to Audio - there are 200 music channels to choose from. Separate TV screens with more than 50 films in different languages and about 80 versions of TV series and documentaries are built into the seats. There are transmission options via Wi-Fi and GSM. On long-haul flights, passengers in both classes are offered free meals.
Business plus- The business plus class cabin has 46 seats with fully reclining seats 180 degrees, forming a 2 meter long bed.
- The headrest is adjustable, and the settings of the lumbar and cervical pillows with massage function are also adjustable.
- All seats are bordered by walkways.
- Custom 15.4" touch screen and remote control.
- Noise canceling headphones.
- A cocktail table and a large rotating table that can be folded at any time.
Economy class
- The economy class cabin is designed for 300 passengers.
- The distance between rows is about 80 cm.
- Custom 9" touch screen.
- The back of the chair tilts 15 cm, the headrest is adjustable.
- Pocket on the back for storing personal items.
- Personalized reading light.
- 14 ACJL, 40 ACJL - there is additional legroom, proximity to toilets may cause inconvenience, it is prohibited to place bags on the floor during takeoff and landing. The tray table sits on the armrest, making it immovable and slightly reducing the width of the seat.
- 40 L is an inconvenient place, it would seem that there is an emergency exit ahead, which means more legroom. In fact, the emergency hatches protrude so much that they create inconvenience.
- 40 CJ - located next to the galley, there is constant movement of passengers and flight attendants carrying food back and forth.
- 25 L - there is no window, although for some this is not a problem, just tilt the back of the chair back and the window behind the seated neighbor will be accessible.
- 15 J - under the seat in front (14J) there is a large metal box, so it is difficult to stretch your legs; the entire flight will be in a crouched state.
- 15 DEJH, 41DEJH - there is enough space in front, it is convenient in these places with children there is a kitchen and toilets nearby, but they can also become a negative factor - extraneous smell and additional noise.
- 41 AL - window missing.
- 52 ACJL, 53 DEX - adjacent to toilets, seat backs have limited deflection.
- 52 D - there is additional legroom due to the missing seat in front, but the proximity to the toilets can be inconvenient.
in three-class configuration
Iberia airlines
In all aircraft cabins, all seats are equipped with sockets and USB connectors. Passengers are invited to listen to Audio - there are 200 music channels to choose from. Separate TV screens with more than 50 films in different languages and about 80 versions of TV series and documentaries are built into the seats. You can connect a flash drive via USB to view your information. There are transmission options via Wi-Fi and GSM. On long-haul flights, passengers in both classes are offered free meals.
Business plus
Business class has 36 seats with fully reclining backrests, resulting in a comfortable bed. Adjustable lumbar and cervical pillows with massage function, adjustable headrest. All seats are quite comfortable and located near the aisles, so you can calmly get up and walk around the cabin without disturbing your neighbors. Only the seats in the first row of CEGJ have a minus; in the nearby kitchen and toilet area, sounds, foreign smells, and the movement of personnel and passengers can cause inconvenience.
Premium Economy
Premium Economy Class has 23 seats. Distance between rows 94 cm, chair width 49 cm, backrest tilt 18 cm. Adjustable headrest and footrest. A place to store personal items. A blanket, pillow and travel kit are provided. Different lighting depending on flight time. Keeping personal items at arm's length.
- 11th row - The plus is that there is a lot of legroom in these seats. The downside is that the table is located on the armrest, which makes it immobile and slightly reduces the width of the seat. It is prohibited to place your belongings on the floor during takeoff and landing.
- 14CDEHJL are generally good places, the only thing is that the proximity of the toilet entails unnecessary fuss.
Economy class
Economy class has 296 standard seats. The distance between the rows is 79-81 cm. The internal width of the chair is 46 cm. The backrest is 15 cm. Adjustable headrest. Personalized reading light.
- 21 CDEHJ - a big plus is that there is extra legroom. The downside is that it's next to the toilets; the tray table is in the armrest, making it immovable; you can't take up the aisles and the space in front with bags.
- 21 AL - everything is the same, only there is much less legroom.
- 31 rows, 46 DEH - have a limitation in reclining the backrests due to partitions separating the emergency exits.
- Row 33, 47 ACJL, 48 DEH - comfortable seats, you can freely stretch your legs. The disadvantage of these places is that the armrests are not movable due to the tables and monitors attached to them. 33
- 57 DH - passengers passing to/from the toilet touch those sitting in these seats.
- 58 CDHJ, 59 DH - a minus, but for some it may be a plus of nearby toilets. 59 D - has more legroom.
- 59 ACJL, 60 DEH are the worst seats, they feel the most turbulence, the seat backs do not recline, and on a long flight this is extremely uncomfortable. Also, restrooms and kitchen add to the hassle.
Flight performance
- Top speed: 968 km/h
- Cruising speed: 937 km/h
- Flight range: 13890 km
- Aircraft capacity: economy class - 440 passengers, economy/business - 419 passengers, economy/business/first class - 380 passengers
The aircraft is a monoplane with a cantilever swept mid-wing with a span of 60.3 m. The aircraft fuselage is a pressurized semi-monocoque frame structure, round in cross section. The length for the "200" is 59.39 m, for the "300" - 63.65 m. The height of the aircraft is 16.8 m. Its design is made with extensive use of composite materials, which provides a significant reduction in weight. The power plant consists of four CFM 56-5S2 engines with a thrust of 4x146.3 km = 585.2 km. The A-340 is equipped with a laser gyroscopic system and a satellite orientation system. All navigation systems allow the crew to fly in automatic mode. A special device for determining the center of gravity gives the corresponding signal to set the rudder depth trimmer. The main difference from the A-320 and A-321 is the larger size of the cabin and instruments for 4 engines, and a slightly modified ceiling panel. To guarantee, an additional fuel tank of 28 tons was installed (the total amount of fuel before takeoff was 140 tons).
- Modification A340-200
- Wingspan, m 60.30
- Aircraft length, m 59.39
- Aircraft height, m 16.70
- Wing area, m2 361.60
- Weight, kg - empty equipped aircraft 129000
- Thrust, kgf 4 x 15422
- Maximum speed, km/h 988
- Cruising speed, km/h 938
- Practical range, km 14816
- Practical ceiling, m
- Crew, people 2
- Payload 261 passengers in three-class configuration or 239 passengers in two-class configuration.
A340-8000
Long-range passenger aircraft developed by the Western European consortium Airbus. In June 1995, during the next international aerospace exhibition in Paris, the Airbus Industry consortium announced plans to develop a new modification of the A340-200 aircraft, capable of non-stop flights on routes over 14,000 km. The new modification, designated A340-8000 (also designated A340-200HGW), differs from the A340-200 aircraft by the presence of three additional fuel tanks in the rear cargo compartment. The aircraft is equipped with an EFIS digital avionics system, similar to that of the A320 aircraft. The aircraft uses turbofans CFM International CFM56-5С2 (thrust 14160 kgf), CFM56-5С3 (14755 kgf) and CFM56-5С4 (15435 kgf)
Flight characteristics:
- Modification A340-8000
- Wingspan, m 60.30
- Aircraft length, m 59.39
- Aircraft height, m 16.74
- Wing area, m2 363.10
- Weight, kg - empty equipped aircraft 128300
- Weight, kg - maximum take-off 275000
- Engine type 4 Turbofan engine CFM International CFM56-5С4
- Thrust, kgf 4 x 15435
- Maximum speed, km/h 965
- Cruising speed, km/h 915
- Practical range, km 14800
- Practical ceiling, m 12000
- Crew, people 2
- Payload: 263 passengers in two cabin classes or 303 passengers in economy class.
A340-300
Long-range passenger aircraft developed by the Western European consortium Airbus. The aircraft belongs to the A330/340 family of long-haul aircraft. The A340-300 is a four-engine long-range passenger aircraft equipped with CFM International CFM56-5C turbofan engines. The aircraft is a further development of the A340-200, with increased passenger capacity. The aircraft can carry 295 people in a three-class configuration over a range of 7,300 nautical miles (13,520 kilometers).
Flight characteristics:
- Modification A340-300
- Wingspan, m 60.30
- Aircraft length, m 63.60
- Aircraft height, m 16.70
- Wing area, m2 361.60
- Weight, kg - empty equipped aircraft 130200
- Weight, kg - maximum take-off 275000
- Engine type 4 General Electric turbofan CFM56-5C4
- Thrust, kgf 4 x 15422
- Maximum speed, km/h 976
- Practical range, km 12520
- Practical ceiling, m 11800
- Crew, people 2
- Payload 295 passengers in three-class configuration.
A340-300E
Long-range passenger aircraft developed by the Western European consortium Airbus. The aircraft is a modification of the A340-300 aircraft with an increased take-off weight and a longer flight range. The first flight took place on August 25, 1995. Certification of the aircraft was completed in the spring of 1996. The first customer of the aircraft is Singapore Airlines, which has been receiving aircraft since April 1996. The aircraft is equipped with an EFIS digital avionics system, similar to that of the A320 aircraft. The aircraft uses turbofan engines CFM International CFM56-5С3 (thrust 14755 kgf) or CFM56-5С4 (15435 kgf). Serially produced since 1995.
Flight characteristics:
- Modification A340-300E
- Wingspan, m 60.30
- Aircraft length, m 63.65
- Aircraft height, m 16.74
- Wing area, m2 363.10
- Weight, kg - empty equipped aircraft 129400
- Weight, kg - maximum take-off 275000
- Engine type 4 General Electric turbofan CFM56-5C4 (CFM56-5C3)
- Thrust, kgf 4 x 15435 (14755)
- Cruising speed, km/h 925
- Practical range, km 13150
- Practical ceiling, m 12000
- Crew, people 2
- Payload 295 passengers in three-class configuration or 335 passengers in two-class configuration.
Long-range passenger aircraft developed by the Western European consortium Airbus. The aircraft belongs to the A330/340 family of long-haul aircraft. The A340-500 is a four-engine long-range passenger aircraft equipped with Rolls-Royce Trent 553 turbofan engines. The A340-500 has one of the largest fuselages in the A330/340 family, allowing it to accommodate fuel tanks with a total capacity of 214,810 liters. The plane is the farthest of its class of airliners. The aircraft can carry 313 people in a three-class configuration over a range of 8,500 nautical miles (15,742 kilometers).
Flight characteristics:
- Modification A340-500
- Wingspan, m 63.45
- Aircraft length, m 67.90
- Aircraft height, m 17.10
- Wing area, m2 439.40
- Weight, kg - empty equipped aircraft 170400
- Engine type 4 Rolls-Royce Trent 553 turbofan
- Thrust, kgf 4 x 24040
- Maximum speed, km/h 970
- Cruising speed, km/h 936
- Practical range, km 15742
- Practical ceiling, m
- Crew, people 2
- Payload 313 passengers in three-class configuration.
Long-range passenger aircraft developed by the Western European consortium Airbus. The aircraft belongs to the A330/340 family of long-haul aircraft and is a further development of the A340-500 model. The A340-600 is the largest aircraft in terms of passenger capacity from the A330/340 family. The aircraft is equipped with fuel tanks with a total capacity of 194,880 liters, which allows it to transport 380 people in a three-class configuration over a distance of 7,500 nautical miles (13,900 kilometers). The airliner is equipped with Trent-500 engines with a high bypass ratio. They are specially developed by Rolls-Royce to provide consistently high fuel efficiency, so necessary for flights over long distances. The A340-600 first took to the skies in April 2001.
Flight characteristics:
- Modification A340-600
- Wingspan, m 63.45
- Aircraft length, m 75.30
- Aircraft altitude, m 17.30
- Wing area, m2 439.40
- Weight, kg - empty equipped aircraft 177000
- Weight, kg - maximum take-off 365000
- Engine type 4 Rolls-Royce Trent 556 turbofan
- Thrust, kgf 4 x 25401
- Maximum speed, km/h 968
- Cruising speed, km/h 937
- Practical range, km 13890
- Crew, people 2
- Payload 380 passengers in three-class configuration.
The A340-300 is the first member of the Airbus A340 Family. Unlike the A330 Family aircraft, which are medium-haul aircraft, the A340 family is a long-haul aircraft. The A340, like the A330, is a wide-body aircraft, which means that the aircraft has two longitudinal aisles. The main distinguishing feature of the A330 Family is the presence of four engines, which gives the aircraft many new capabilities. The route of twin-engine aircraft lies close to an alternate airport in order to be able to make an emergency landing in the event of a malfunction of one of the engines. For four-engine aircraft this restriction is removed.
The A340-300 is 63.69m long, the same length as the A330-300. Their wingspan is also the same.
Like other modern Airbus representatives, the A340-300 uses many innovations: excellent aerodynamics, which is designed to minimize fuel consumption, composite materials, a fully digital control system, etc.
The A340-300 is also designed to cause minimal harm to the environment, namely low fuel consumption, reduced emissions, and low noise. Despite the fact that the aircraft has 4 engines, the cabin of the A340-300 is one of the quietest cabins in the sky, which is very important for long flights.
In a standard configuration, the aircraft cabin accommodates 275-300 passenger seats, but in a high-capacity configuration, the number of seats can reach 440. Under the passenger cabin there is a large cargo compartment that can accommodate extra-sized cargo.
The main operators of the A340-300 are Lufthansa, Iberia, South African Airways, Swiss International Air Lines and AirFrance.
A340-300 in the "A340 Family"
Length of Airbus A340-300 - 63.69 meters
Height of Airbus A340-300 - 16.91 meters
Wingspan of the Airbus A340-300 - 60.3 meters
Salon A340-300
First grade. 27" seats, 4 abreast, 1-2-1 layout 
Business Class. 22" seats, 6 abreast, 2-2-2 layout 
Economy class, premium layout. 20" seats, 7 abreast, 2-3-2 layout 
Economy class, standard layout. 18.1-inch seats, 8-abreast, 2-4-2 layout 
Economy class, economical layout. 16.7-inch seats, 9-abreast, 3-3-3 layout 
Seats in the Airbus A340-300 of Lufthansa airlines
Lufthansa operates the largest number of A340-300 aircraft in the world. The airline operates the A340-300 in different configurations, with different ratios of first, business and economy class seats. We present on our website all versions of Lufthansa's A340-300 layouts.
Layout 1. 241 seats. 8F/36B/197E – 8 first class seats, 36 business class seats and the remaining 197 economy class seats.
First grade.
As you can see, the aircraft cabin is divided into three compartments. First class is located at the front of the plane. Only two rows, 4 seats in each row, are reserved for first class. The places here are, naturally, very comfortable, and the service is at a very high level.
Business Class.
Behind first class is business class, which is separated from first class and economy class by partitions. Business class is divided into two parts. One part is located before the emergency hatches, and the rest is located after. Between the two parts of business class, near the emergency hatches, a large space is allocated to the bar-buffet and toilets. There is also a wall telephone there. The business class seats are very comfortable. However, there are also some nuances that should be taken into account. For example, judging by the diagram, the first row of business class is a little close to the toilet. Of course, in business class the proximity to the toilet may not cause as much inconvenience as in economy class, but it is worth choosing seats further away. The last row of business class is adjacent to the noisy economy class, which can also cause inconvenience.
Economy class.
In this arrangement, 197 seats are allocated to economy class. They are divided into two parts - before and after the escape hatches. Between the two parts there is a “block” of toilets. This means that you should not take seats in the 27th row, which are adjacent to the toilets. During the flight, there may be a crowd of people near you, and there may also be sounds of flushing water, doors, odors, etc. from the toilets. Economy class wall phones are located here and also in the rear of the aircraft. The so-called luxury seats are located after the toilets. In the diagram they are indicated by yellow arrows. They are located near the emergency hatches, and their increased comfort lies in the fact that in these places there is a lot of free legroom. You can easily stretch your legs, which is very important during long flights. Plus, no one will lean back their chair on you. There are some disadvantages to consider when choosing these places. Firstly, it is close to toilets. Of course, the distance to the toilets is quite long, but still there may be some bustle due to the queue of people wanting to get into the toilet. The next disadvantage is that there is a wall in front of you. Despite the fact that the distance to the wall is large, for some passengers this can still create psychological discomfort and a feeling of enclosed space. On these walls there are large monitors for all passengers in the compartment. This proximity to monitors can also be annoying. If these shortcomings do not scare you, then you can safely take these seats, as they are considered the best in economy class.
As can be seen in the diagram, the fuselage narrows at the rear of the aircraft. We recommend taking seats in this area last, as due to the narrowing of the fuselage, some seats may be skewed or have some restrictions.
Overall, the cabin of the A340-300 is very comfortable. All seats are equipped with movable monitors, which are located in the back of the seat in front of the passenger sitting in front. Since the aircraft is designed for long-distance and therefore long flights, Airbus and the air carriers have done everything to make the comfort as convenient as possible.
Layout 2. 221 seats. 8F/48B/165E – 8 first class seats, 48 business class seats and the remaining 165 economy class seats.
Layout 3. 279 seats. 30B/28P/221E – 30 business class seats, 28 premium economy class seats and the remaining 221 regular economy class seats.
Layout 4. 251 seats. 42B/28P/181E – 42 business class seats, 28 premium economy class seats and 281 regular economy class seats.
Layout 5. 266 seats. 44B/222E – 44 business class seats, 222 economy class seats.
Layout 6. 267 seats. 42B/225E – 42 business class seats, 225 economy class seats.
Seats in an Airbus A340-300 of Swiss airlines
Swiss A340-300 aircraft have 8 first class seats (red in the diagram), 47 business class seats (blue), 164 economy class seats (green). As you can see, Swiss airline has allocated quite a lot of seats for business class.
Places colored yellow on the diagram have some restrictions. There are two such seats in business class; they do not have windows. There are several such seats in economy class. The inconvenience is that there are metal boxes under the seat in front of the passenger, and because of them there is little legroom.
Economy class seats, painted light green, are premium seats. We are talking about seats in rows 23 and 30. The 23rd row is the first row of economy class, and the 30th row is located directly after the escape hatches, so there is a lot of free space in front of these rows, passengers can freely stretch their legs during the flight.
In the diagram, the airline indicated that seats in rows 23-27 are preferable to other economy class seats.
Seats in Airbus A340-300 airline Airfrance
The Airfrance A340-300 aircraft has 275 passenger seats, of which 30 are business class, 21 are premium economy class and 224 are economy class. All of the above recommendations for choosing a location apply here too. Let's just add the following: business class seats are equipped with telephones, and the seats marked on the diagram as seat 14D are equipped with bassinets for infants.
The long-haul airliner Airbus A340 first took to the air in 1991. Just two years later, in 1993, the aircraft entered mass production and began flying on transatlantic and continental routes.
According to the designers of the Airbus concern, the new aircraft should, on the one hand, become a brother to the previously released A320, and on the other hand, displace the position of the American giant Boeing 747.
Airplane A340-300
In response to a frequently asked question from journalists - why should airlines, having an A320 in their fleet, buy an A340, the developers noted that the new aircraft:
- widebody;
- has several layout options for first class passengers;
- more economical;
- modern.
Strictly speaking, one could argue with the last statement - the a320, released five years earlier, had the same filling. But the rest of the advantages of the new car came to fruition and some European carriers switched their attention to the “local” aircraft.
A340 - versions and modifications
The liner was produced in 4 different modifications. They differed in carrying capacity and passenger capacity. Non-standard models were produced for special orders.
A340-200. Despite its index, this version became the second development of the line. It takes 265 people on board. It has become an intermediate solution - it is undemanding in terms of resources, but it is far from capable of flying.
One of the first customers of this aircraft was the Sultan of Brunei. True, he never had time to fly - he died.
This is the only version with a wingspan greater than the length of the fuselage.
A340-300. Initially, this model was supposed to be the only development.
There were 295 people on board. This version has become a workhorse for many airlines. Lufthansa has 30 aircraft in its fleet that fly long distances.
How does the number of seats depend on the interior layout?
The A340-500 has become a real “long-hauler”. It took off on its first flight in 2002 with 313 passengers on board, the maximum number available to the ship. In 2006, the appearance of the Boeing 777-200 supplanted the airbus 340 as a long-hauler, however, the aircraft is capable of long-term non-stop flights from Heathrow (London, UK) to Perth (Australia).
A340-600. This model was a response to the appearance of the American Boeing 747. It carries 380 passengers. It is one of the longest aircraft in the world (second only to the 747-8).
Selected developments
Taking one of the listed versions as a basis, the designers produced several additional serial and individual machines
Based on the 300th, two more versions were released
- A340-313X. The vehicle received an increased take-off weight, which had a positive effect on its load capacity.
- A340-313E. By replacing the engines with more powerful ones, constrictors were able to increase their flight range by 1 thousand km.
A340-500HGW and A340-600HGW. These versions received more powerful engines, reinforced structures, new developments in aircraft construction and additional fuel reserves. The modifications resulted in aircraft capable of making non-stop flights over longer distances, such as London - New York, London - Sydney and others. They were produced on the basis of cars of the same name.
"Burkhan"
Alisher Usmanov's plane is a modified version of the Airbus 340-300. According to Forbes, the billionaire even surpassed Abramovich. The latter has the same liner, but in a budget version. The difference in the price of both aircraft is kept silent, but it is known that the Buhan costs $200 million more.
Usmanov is not the first owner. Initially, the airbus 340 m iabu aircraft belonged to Global Jet Concept, a Swiss airline specializing in business transportation. At the same time, the car had its own color and the inscription BOURKHAN along the side from its first flight.
The vehicle's tail number is easy to decipher. The last three letters are the initials of the oligarch, the first “m” stands for the Isle of Man. This is where the vehicle is registered.
Aircraft No. 1
The index from the title denotes aircraft carrying top officials of states. Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany, uses the A340-313X VIP on her trips. Purchased by Lufthansa in 1999. In 2009, he changed his place of service.
On board there are apartments, a conference room, and a room for confidential meetings. The aircraft is equipped with missile defense. Has a twin brother with the same filling. In addition to the onboard “number”, each one has proper names.
The Italians also liked the Airbus A340. Aircraft No. 1 is served by a pair of Airbus A340-541 aircraft. Modified developments of the 500th version. The filling is almost the same as the German versions. The Pope prefers helicopters.
Salon layout
The A340 has become not only a new airliner. The development of transforming salons began with him. Now the carrier company had the opportunity, using its own means in the hangar, to change the number of seats on the plane. This was achieved by replacing the layout, three classes with two, two with three and other intermediate solutions.
The most common use case is three classes: economy, business, first. For a wide-body airliner, the economy class layout meant 8 seats in a row, two aisles. Places A and C, then a passage, 4 places D, E, F, G, another passage, H and K. There were also truncated blocks, usually they were placed either in front of bulkheads or in front of emergency exits. There could be different solutions here. Only 4 middle seats - in front are the second doors to the plane. Or instead of 8 - 7 seats. Such a row was placed in front of a partition separating business from economy. One chair was missing in the middle block.
In business class, the layout was the same with the exception of one - 6 seats in a row. Places E and F are removed from the central block. Also two passages.
First class also has two aisles. A and K are window seats. D and G are places in the middle. Sometimes another solution was used. The central block was completely removed. Two chairs were placed at the porthole in a “face-to-face” position. This block is separated from the main passage by a sliding door, creating a “compartment” for two. A second “compartment” was built on the opposite side. Subsequently, the same layout began to be used for the A380.
Since this layout was repeated in all airliners, the passenger could choose a suitable seat in advance, even if he had never flown on this plane before. But the question remained: where would the partition be, whether it would interfere with the legs, whether it was possible to recline the backrest and other issues of personal convenience during the flight. Let's consider them.
Best places
You can immediately note the not very pleasant rows - this is the tail of the plane, Numbers starting from 40 and above. Here the narrowing of the fuselage begins, so the seats are 6 in a row. Each next one is tighter. In addition, a person sitting in row 46 will not be able to recline his back - there is a toilet partition behind him. Possible odor may also cause discomfort
The most comfortable seats will be rows 29 and 30. Here is the second exit from the plane and at the same time the passage is large - there is room to stretch your legs. There is a partition behind the backs of the front row, so no one will recline. But the passenger himself can recline the backrest, since there should be nothing in the way from behind.
Passengers in the 21st row have the same amenities - plenty of space and no one will recline. But a person sitting by the window will be contemplating the wing of the plane the entire flight, while the 30th row is already behind the wings.
It will be a little uncomfortable for people sitting in the first row of business class - rows 3 and 10. Since there are toilets and kitchens in front, they may be bothered by odors. Moreover, in front of row 10 there are doors to the plane. The same problems can plague the first four seats on the plane. Most often, the doors located exactly in front of this row are used for boarding.
Main characteristics
In the line of passenger airliners of the concern, the Airbus 340 became the first attempt to produce 4-engine modifications. However, despite the company’s own developments, improvements and innovations, the new aircraft was still inferior to the American versions. Therefore, management decided to further develop the machines with only two engines.
No trucks were planned in the line. Designed to pair with the A320 as a long-distance car. In comparison, I received most of the digital devices. Unlike American cars, the pilot's hand controls the on-board computer. The one, reading readings from several hundred sensors scattered on the outer surface of the fuselage, decides to raise or lower the flaps, turn the steering wheel - and guides the airliner along the course.
Single-fin tail, like most passenger airliners. The cross section of the cabin is a circle. The wings are attached at the bottom - a standard solution for Airbus. The characteristic wings at their ends provide good lifting force, but at the same time make it look like a Boeing.
A key feature of the development was the larger internal volume of the wing. Thanks to this, the designers were able to install large fuel tanks, which increased the flight range by 2 - 5 thousand km.
Technical specifications
Several tables combine the main technical parameters of all basic modifications of the Airbus A340 aircraft/
Comparison of 4 main modifications by size
Comparison of 4 main modifications by flight parameters
History of creation
Information about the new aircraft was first published in 1981. 6 years later, in 1987, the development program began. The a320, released a year later, lagged behind the American Boeing 747 in terms of performance, so the designers decided to take a bold step - the projected TA11 will have 4 engines. The aircraft line lacked modern medium- and long-range aircraft. The letters in the name were simply deciphered - an airplane with two aisles. From this it followed that the version should be wide-body.
In 1995, after the aircraft demonstrated its capabilities, companies began asking for a model that required less maintenance, could accommodate fewer people, and was not designed for long-haul flights. Thus the 200 was born - a prime example of the saying “demand creates supply.” At the same time, market analysis showed that a radically new model is required to carry large amounts of cargo over long distances. And the factories are building two models - Airbus a340-313, a transitional model, and a340-500.
Fuel prices rose and orders for new aircraft began to fall. At the same time, it was discovered that the wing taken from the 320 version began to sag under the double weight of the engines.
In 2011, the completion of the development of the Airbus 340 model was officially announced.
Where is Airbus made?
Airbus is a concern uniting several European countries with their own aircraft factories. Therefore, the parts of the future airliner have different countries of origin. The final appearance and painting of the new A340 in the company's livery took place in France - in Toulouse. After successfully passing the tests, the aircraft was sent to the hangars of the new owner, where it was already equipped with branded covers and other paraphernalia of a particular airline.
News
At the moment, production of new models has been discontinued. Airbus representatives do not rule out that the model may return to production lines. Externally, it will be the 200th - a shortened machine, but it will receive all the new solutions that are equipped with the giant of the concern - the A380, becoming, in fact, its younger brother. The new development should be called a340-800.
