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On 22 November 2012, the 2006-built TMA Cargo' Airbus A300F4-622R OD-TMA was
seen at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol in the Netherlands. Airbus
A300F4-622R c/n 872 flew first with testregistration F-WWAL on 19 July
2006 and was delivered to Galaxy Airlines JA02GX on 29 November 2006. On
28 December 2009, the aircraft was registered N140MN in the USA. On 15
June 2010, registration N140MN was cancelled as exported to Lebanon. In
July 2010, the freighter entered service with Trans Merditerraean
Airlines as OD-TMA. |
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The Airbus A300B is a short- to medium-range widebody transport aircraft
with twin winged-mounted turbofan engines. The A300B is manufactured by
the Airbus consortium of European aerospace companies, wholly owned
today by EADS. In July 1967, the first steps in creating this consortium
was done when French, German and British governments announced plans to
build an European aircraft. In September 1967, French, German and
British governments signed a Memorandum of Understanding to launch the
opening phase of the development of a 300-seat widebody passenger jet to
be called the European Airbus. In April 1969, the British government
withdrew support but Hawker Siddeley, since merged into BAe, was
allowed to continue as supplier of the aircraft's wings due to the
advanced stages of design and the reluctance of other nations to take
over the wing design. On 29 May 1969, the A300 was launched at the Paris
Airshow as world's first widebody jet, designed to carry up to 250
passengers. On 18 December 1970, Airbus Industrie GIE was officially
formed between Aérospatiale (France) and the antecedents to Deutsche
Aerospace (Germany). On 23 December 1971, they were joined by the
Spanish CASA. Each company would deliver its sections as fully equipped,
ready-to-fly items. Air France became the launch customer for the A300 by ordering six
aircraft in 1971. The prototype A300B1 c/n 1 F-WUAB made its first flight
on 28 October 1972. The first production model A300 (A300B2-1A c/n 5) made its maiden flight on 15 April
1974 and was handed over to launch customer Air France as F-BVGA on 10 May 1974. A300B2-1A F-BVGA entered revenue service on
the Paris-London route on 23 May 1974. The A300 was expected to sell around 300 jets, and it
struggled in the market until the second half of the 70s, when large orders began to roll in
from US operators Eastern Airlines and Pan Am. In 1979, BAe rejoined the Airbus consortium
and Airbus Industrie became Airbus S.A.S., the Airbus Integrated
Company, in 2001. In March 2006 Airbus announced the closure of the
A300/A310 line making them the first Airbus aircraft to be discontinued.
The final production A300 made its initial flight on 18 April 2007 and
was delivered on 12 July 2007. According to the Type Certificate Data
Sheets the certificated variants of the A300 model are:
A300B1 - only two were built: prototype c/n 1 and c/n 2 that flew first as F-WUAC on 5 February 1973.
The A300B1 had a flightcrew of two pilots and a flight engeneer and basic accommodation for 300 passengers
and with a maximum
weight of 132,000 kg. Powered by two General Electric CF6-50A turbofans of 220 kN
thrust.
A300B2-1A - the first production version, stretched by 2.6 metres and powered by two General Electric CF6-50A engines
of 220 kN thrust. It was certificated by the French and German authorities on 15 March 1974 and FAA approval followed on 30 May 1974.
A300B2-1C - 137 Metric Ton MTOW; powered by two General Electric CF6-50C engines of between 227 and 236 kN thrust. FAA approval on 19 June 1975.
A300B2-202 - 142 Metric Ton MTOW, with Krüger leading edge flaps
and different wheels and brakes; powered by two General Electric CF6-50C1
turbofans of 233 kN thrust.
A300B2-203 - powered by two General Electric CF6-50C2 turbofans
of 233kN thrust. FAA approval on 1 October 1980.
A300B2-320 - increased Maximum Landing Weight/Maximum Zero Fuel Weight, powered by two Pratt & Whitney JT9D-59A engines.
A300B2K-3C - hot & high version of A300B2 with leading-edge
Krüger flaps; powered by two General Electric CF6-50C turbofans. FAA approval on 30 June 1976.
A300B4-102 - features a centre fuel
tank for increased fuel capacity (47,500 kg). Powered by two General
Electric CF6-50C1 turbofans of 233 kN thrust. The first A300B4 ( c/n 9 ) flew
first as F-WLGA on 25 December 1974 and was certificated on 26 March 1975. Production of the B2 and B4 totaled 248.
A300B4-103 - medium range A300B; powered by two General Electric CF6-50C2
turbofans.
FAA approval on 4 October 1979.
A300B4-120 - medium range A300B; powered by two Pratt & Whitney JT9D-59A engines.
A300B4-203 - extended range A300B; powered by two General Electric CF6-50C2 engines.
FAA approval on 2 October 1981.
A300B4-220 - extended range A300B; powered by two Pratt & Whitney JT9D-59A
turbofans.
A300B4-2C - extended range A300B; powered by two General Electric CF6-50C
turbofans. FAA approval on 30 June 1976.
A300B4-601 - advanced version using A310 technology, design and
components like rear fuselage and tail; fuselage cabin stretched by 1.59
metres; has a similar cockpit to the A310, eliminating the need for a
flight engineer. Powered by two General Electric CF6-80C2A turbofans;
uses the Honeywell 331-250 auxiliary power unit (APU).
FAA approval on 28 March 1988. Better known as the baseline modelof the
A300-600 series. The FAA issues a single type rating which allows
operation of both the A310 and A300-600.
A30B4-603 - A300-600 powered by two General Electric CF6-80C2A3
turbofans.
FAA approval on 19 September 1988.
A300B4-605R - longe range A300-600; powered by two General Electric CF6-80C2A
turbofans.
A300B4-620 - standard A300-600; powered by two Pratt & Whitney
JT9D-7R4H1 turbofans. FAA approval on 19 September 1988.
A300B4-622 - standard A300-600; powered by two Pratt & Whitney PW 4158
turbofans. FAA approval on 21 January 2003.
A300B4-622R - longe range A300-600; powered by two Pratt &
Whitney PW 4158 turbofans.
A300C4-203 - a convertible passenger/freight variant;
A300C4-605 R variant F - powered by two General Electric
CF6-80C2A5 engines. FAA approval on 21 June 2002. The freighter
version of the A300-600R. All A300s delivered between November 2002 and 12
July 2007 (last ever A300 delivery) were A300-600RFs.
A300C4-620 - convertible freighter version. First
delivery December 1985
A300F4-203 - freighter version of the A300B4-200. First delivery occurred in 1986, was soon replaced by the more capable A300F4-600.
A300F4-605 - freighter version of the A300-600; powered by two
General Electric CF6-80C2A5 engines.
A300F4-622 R - freighter version of the A300B4-622R; powered by
two Pratt & Whitney PW 4158 turbofans.
During the long and successful production run, Airbus produced a total
of 566 A300s until the A300 ceased production in July 2007. The final
version was the A300-600R and is rated for 180-minute ETOPS. The A300
has enjoyed renewed interest in the secondhand market for conversion to
freighters. The freighter versions – either new-build A300-600s or
converted ex-passenger A300-600s, A300B2s and B4s – account for most of
the world freighter fleet after the Boeing 747 freighter. |
Luchtvaart déjà vu
