Does the A340 need 4 engines?
Some airlines preferred two engines which reduced operational costs, while others preferred four engines with increased reliability at an additional cost. Airbus decided to split the development into distinct aircraft having the same wing and airframe – A330 with two engines and A340 with four engines.
Why did Airbus A340 fail?
Why it failed The upgrading of ETOPS for 180 minutes meant the A340 was competing against the behemoth that was the Boeing 777 for market share. Two engines cost less to run than four, so for many airlines, it was a no-brainer to switch out the quadjet for a more efficient twin.
What is the range of an Airbus A340 500?
10,358 mi
Airbus A340-500/Range
What engines does the Airbus A340 use?
The Airbus A340 is a twin-aisle passenger airliner, the first long-range Airbus, powered by four turbofan jet engines. It was developed upon earlier Airbus aircraft and their features like the A320 glass cockpit; it shares many components with the A330, notably identical fly-by-wire control systems and similar wings.
Are Airbus A340 still in production?
Production of the Airbus A340 stopped in 2011 when Airbus realized that the A340 could no longer compete with Boeing’s 777 and 787 Dreamliner. Not to be left behind, Airbus built the A330, A350, and now the A330neo for its long-haul offerings.
What kind of engine does Airbus A340 500 have?
The A340-500 is powered by four 236kN (53,000lb) thrust Rolls-Royce Trent 556 turbofans, and the A340-600 by the 249kN (56,000lb) thrust Trent 556. The commercial launch for the A340-500/600 was at the 1997 Paris Airshow, the program’s industrial launch was in December that year when Virgin Atlantic ordered eight A340-600s and optioned eight.
Which is the longest range Airbus A340 aircraft?
The most common A340-300 reached 63.7 m (209 ft) to accommodate 250-290 passengers and had a 13,500 km / 7,300 nmi range. The A340-500 was 67.9 m (223 ft) long to seat 270–310 over 16,670 km / 9,000 nmi, the longest-range airliner at the time.
How many nautical miles does an A340-200 fly?
Carrying 261 passengers in a three-class cabin layout and in a super-high comfort configuration of 239 seats, the A340-200 has a range of 8000 nautical miles. Powered by CFM56-5C engines, the A340 is designed to do what four-engined aircraft do best: Offer greater range at lower cost than any other long-range widebody.
When did the Airbus A340 go out of service?
The A340 was a significant development at the time of its launch. It marked Airbus’ entry into the quad jet market and offered healthy competition for other manufacturers. Production of the A340 ended in 2011, but it remains in service with several airlines. It has been a big casualty of the slowdown in 2020, though, with retirements increasing.