The Airbus A321 technical equipment is 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 is not much different from the founder of the series. If the A320 can carry 150 passengers, then the 321 model with the same maintenance costs takes on board up to 180 passengers. This is the first of a series of 320, which began to be collected not in France (Toulouse). The assembly shop of this model was moved to Hamburg.
Owners, developers, shareholders
It was no coincidence that Toulouse was chosen for the final stage of aircraft assembly. The French government is one of the main shareholders of the holding company that produces Airbus (air buses). The second major shareholder is Daimler, a German company that collects Mercedes cars. A small number of shares are owned by Russia and Spain.
Competition
Released in the early 80's version of the founder - A320, has become a serious competitor for one of the most popular versions of the Boeing - Boeing 737. This aircraft had an advanced (by that standards) cockpit, a completely redesigned instrument panel. Unlike older versions, most of it was occupied by several CRT tubes. With the advent of the on-board computer in the new versions of the A321 (airplane), it received LCD screens.
Encouraged by the success of the 320 model, French engineers began to develop other versions based on it. So there appeared 319, 321, characterized by correspondingly reduced or increased carrying capacity, and several special modifications of 320 - from business versions to military vehicles. According to its flight and driving characteristics, 321 models competed with 727 Boeings. If we consider the Boeing line, then the 747 is a model of a different class, so initially 321 was supposed to be nearby, without creating competition. But the big role was played by the fact that the airbus was a European airplane. Another reason for the high competition was that the 320 family became the first in the class of "digital" aircraft.
Joystick - Airbus Feature
In addition to radiation tubes, engines from the Daimler, the A320 received one interesting feature that was inherited by all the "children", including the A321. The plane does not have a helm in the usual sense. Instead of the helm, pilots have side sticks, much like ordinary computer joysticks. The first pilot (captain) has a side stick to his left, the second to his right.
They are very similar to the joysticks because these devices do not have a direct connection with the planes of the rudders, ailerons, etc. Thanks to the new ESD, all the actions of the pilots are transmitted to the on -board computer, which hydraulically controls the planes, the steering wheel, the extension of the flaps, and the landing gear . The ESDU was first developed in 1980 specifically for the 320 model. For those years, this was a fairly innovative solution. ESDU is an electronic control system that, 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.
320 family aircraft
The family of 320 airbuses, despite the general class of use (medium-haul airlines), can be conditionally divided into several steps. The A319, being the "younger brother" of version 320, works with most carriers on domestic European flights. The A320 itself largely repeats flights operated by the “younger brother”, but, having larger dimensions and more seats, it is used for more busy flights. A321 - the aircraft with maximum carrying capacity and dimensions, capable of carrying up to 200 passengers on medium and long lines, is the oldest model of the family.
At the same time, the type of aircraft A321, like 320 or newer ones - 319, 318, refers to a design with a narrow fuselage, the basic equipment of which has one passage and three seats on each side. 2 aisles and 9 seats in a row are wide-body modifications.
Unlike the A319, presented by developers in three trim levels, the A321, released ten years earlier, has long been a simple replacement for the 320th, more spacious and newer. But after the successful launch of 319 and 318 models in 2003-2005, 321 aircraft were affected. One of the modifications 319 received additional fuel tanks, which made it possible to cover distances one 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 aft and immediately went into the category of distant class.
A characteristic feature of the A321-200, which has switched to newer models, is the bifurcated wingtips, which allowed to significantly save fuel on 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 carrying capacity. There is a relative silence in the front of the cabin, the most difficult parts of the flight have found unusual softness, although in many ways the landing, as, in fact, take-off, depends on the technical condition of the airport. Interestingly, this aircraft, considered a direct competitor of 727 to the "American" (manufacturer's opinion), is very much compared with 737, while, in addition to some cramped space for tall people, the rest are the same.
Conclusion
In the end, you can see that the A321, an aircraft that was initially considered an intermediate-range aircraft, has become number one for many companies. A321 fly often, and in the parks of many companies they are actively crowding out their American rival, Boeing.