Airbus A310 Medium-Range Passenger Transport

Specifications

Year: 1983
Status: Active, In-Service
Manufacturer(s): Airbus Industrie - France
Production: 255
Roles: Commercial Market;

Crew: 8
Length: 153.08 ft (46.66 m)
Width: 144.03 ft (43.9 m)
Height: 51.84 ft (15.8 m)
Weight (Empty): 178,111 lb (80,790 kg)
Weight (MTOW): 361,556 lb (163,999 kg)

Power: 2 x Pratt & Whitney PW4152 turbojet engines developing 52,000 lb of thrust OR General Electric CF6-80C2A2 turbojet engines developing 52,000 lb of thrust.

Speed: 560 mph (902 kph; 487 kts)
Ceiling: 42,651 feet (13,000 m; 8.08 miles)
Range: 5,965 miles (9,600 km; 5,184 nm)

Operators: France; United Kingdom; Spain; Germany

The Airbus A310-300 was produced as a budgeted alternative to the based A300-series (detailed elsewhere on this web site) at a time when Airbus was still awaiting official order placement from potential customers. This interim design featured a shortened fuselage and a few cost-saving features in terms of both maintenance and repair - not to mention the lighter weight improving distance and capacity statistics.

The A310 series went into production in 1982 and saw official use in 1983 in a variety of forms. As with the A300 series, the A310 also came in conversion cargo and full-featured freight variants for added market appeal.

The A310-300 model is a longer-range variant with wing-tip fences that reduce drag. Other aerodynamic features are incorporated as well, allowing for the system to enjoy a tremendous operating range overall. The A310 is used in all capacities by many companies operating from multiple nations around the globe, adding yet another in the line of successful Airbus exports.

Armament

None.

Variants / Models

• A310 - Base Series Designation
• A310-100 - Proposed Short-Range Model
• A310-200 - Proposed Medium-Range Model
• A310-300 - Base Passenger Transit Model Designation; Based on the A310-200 model; equipped with integrated drag-reducing wing-tip fences; increased range; tailplane trim tank.
• A310-300C - Conversion model of base A300 series marked by "C" in designation.
• A310-300F - Full freighter model of the base A300 series marked by "F" in designation.