The A300... or the beginning of the Airbus Legend

The Airbus A300 is a short to medium range widebody aircraft. Launched in 1972, it was the first twin-engined widebody in the world, and the first aircraft created by the Airbus consortium of European aerospace companies, which is now fully owned by EADS.

Airbus partners employed the latest technology, some derived from the Concorde. On entry into service, in 1974, the A300 was very advanced and influenced later subsonic airliner designs. The technological highlights include:

* Advanced wings by de Havilland (later BAE Systems) with: o supercritical airfoil section for economical performance o advanced aerodynamically efficient flight controls
* 222-inch diameter circular fuselage section for 8-abreast passenger seating and wide enough for 2 LD3 cargo containers side-by-side
* Structures made from metal billets, reducing weight
* First airliner to be fitted with wind shear protection
* Advanced autopilots capable of flying the aircraft from climb-out to landing
* Electrically controlled braking system

Later A300s incorporate other advanced features such as

* 2-man crew by automating the flight engineer's functions, an industry first
* Glass cockpit flight instruments
* Extensive use of composites for an aircraft of its era
* Center-of-gravity control by shifting around fuel
* The first airliner to use wingtip fences for better aerodynamics

The last A300 has been delivered at 12.7.2007 in a ceremony to Fedex.

Last A300 has a special sticker "I'm the youngest of the Eldest Airbus Family".

The Frame(cn878)will be as N692FE registred.

The A300B and its follower, the A310, had a rather slow start, but as their reputation for economy and reliability spread among airlines, they went on to become market leaders in short to medium haul passenger operations, and the family also became the best selling freight aircraft ever. With more than 820 aircraft sold, the A300/A310 family included different variants, both newly built and converted freighters, combis, air tankers, military and VIP transport, and of course Airbus' fleet of 5 A300-600ST Belugas.

The A300 allowed the world to see that European engineering, production was world-class.

The A300 was the first airliner to use just-in-time manufacturing techniques.
Originally devised as a way to share the work among Airbus's partners without the expense of two assembly lines, it turned out to be a more efficient way of building airplanes (more flexible and reduced costs) as opposed to building the whole airplane at one site.

This fact was not lost on Boeing, which, over thirty years later, decided to manufacture the Boeing 787 in this manner, using outsized 747s to ferry wings and other parts from Japan.

The A300 cemented European cooperation in aviation. Its first flight was commemorated on a French three-franc stamp.

Category:

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Tags:

• A300
• last
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• Official
• Footage
• first
• twin
• widebody
• A300B

[bleuarctique]

Thank you A300 for your 21 years of dedicated service to American Airlines! You serviced AA proudly! You will be missed. Enjoy your retirement from AA and your new life wherever it may take you!

[techdefined]

The A300 though unliked at AA did a awesome job. Since its introduction there is no plane which could fullfill the task the A300 did for so long. That fact alone speaks volumes about the quality's of the A300! The A300 such an revolutionary bird, will be deeply missed.

[raider77mad]

Wonderful video for a wonderful aircraft! I´ve had the pleasure of flying in one of the Iberia´s last trip aboard A300-B4 after been retired, and is more confortable than 767 by far!

[techdefined]

Congratulations, would have loved too to fly the last Iberia's A300. I would take every chance to get on the last A300's still in service today. The A300 was a huge step forward.

[dopplermike]

Is the music at the end part of a song, or is it just filler?

[techdefined]

At the end part but somehow while uploading the music went cut by youtube.

[lightnings4life]

... a300 the one that made airbus what it is today

[KPAracing]

I was lucky few times I got the chance to fly the Airbus A300B4-605R (SX-BEK) named "MACEDONIA" operated by Olympic Airways in Greece.

Best flights ever...

[FlightSimmer948]

a300 was revolutionary, the first wide body jet, and the beginning of the Airbus success story!

[fs10inator]

A<300

[Ay2har]

This aircraft is just phenomenal!

[SAMCAMJAIK1]

@techdefined The 737 has been in many crashes because it has many in service! It's not because it isn't safe!

[The11independence]

@SAMCAMJAIK1 of course is old plane and many lives were lost by a300 because engineer don't know how to plan a safer plane in these old years but know there already know to manage a safer plane by technologies....you that's why many planes crashes in these old times...but no crashes in present time...

[The11independence]

if you compare airbus a300 and Boeing 777 airbus is the first aircraft of airbus while Boeing 777 is much large engine but not wonderful complex design

[fs10inator]

Sad to see the first A300B1 got scrapped :(

[SAMCAMJAIK1]

@FSJZ97 Your right!

[techdefined]

@SAMCAMJAIK1

You can't compare the 777 to a 30 year old design. This is nonsense. Look how many fatal crash has the 737 on its account. Compare it to the 737NG. And you are wrong the 777 had one crash at LHR.