The A300 is an aircraft that was produced between 1972 and 2007 by European aircraft manufacturer Airbus. It is a medium-range, twin-engine, widebody jet that was produced in several different configurations. In all, 561 Airbus A300 planes were produced, with many remaining in service as part of passenger and cargo fleets around the world.
All versions of the A300 were powered by a pair of turbofan jet engines. Most A300 engines were produced by General Electric, including the CF6 engines that were installed on the original A300 models. The GE CF6 engines were also used on Boeing's widebody 767 and the 747 jumbojet. In certain years, the A300 used Pratt & Whitney's PW series engines. The A300's engines produced upwards of 60,000 lbs. of thrust while its fuel tanks could hold more than 18,000 gallons of jet fuel.
The A300 could be built with several different seating arrangements when outfitted for commercial airlines. Most commonly, the seats were made from composite materials, making them stronger, lightweight and more comfortable than previous airline seat designs. Seats were often arranged in two classes, with first class consisting of three rows of two seats each, and economy class featuring three rows with four seats in the center row, and two seats on each side of the aisles. This results in a seating capacity of up to 345.
The A300 fuselage uses a 222-inch cross section, which was designed to maximize passenger and cargo space. These dimensions place it in the wide-body classification. The fuselage was also long, giving the A300 an overall length of more than 175 feet. Like other parts of the aircraft, the A300's fuselage made use of lightweight composite materials for increased strength. The fuselage contained grouped, wide windows in the passenger seating areas and up to four emergency doors on each side of the aircraft.
The A300's wings served not only to produce lift, but also as mounting points for its engines. The aircraft used an oversized rudder and smaller horizontal stabilizer at the rear for greater stability and maneuverability. The A300's wingspan was slightly over 147 feet. Overall wing area measured 2,798.7 square feet. The A300's wing design was very advanced for its time and resulted in smooth flight even at high altitudes.
Throughout its production run, the A300 benefited greatly from new advances in aviation technology. Airbus routinely updated the A300 to incorporate new controls. From the very first models, the A300 used an electronic braking system. Later, an automated flight engineer program was installed, reducing the flight crew from three to two individuals. A fuel delivery system that could move fuel within the storage system helped give the A300 exceptional balance while in flight.
