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weight and performance calculations for the Airbus A320-200 (CFM56 engines)
***** PRELIMINARY FILE ****
Lufthansa Airbus A320-211 D-AIQW c/n 1367 “Kleve” with CFM56-5A1 engines
Airbus A320-200
role : jet airliner
importance : ****
first flight : June 1988 operational : February 1989
country : EU-consortium
design :
production : 4752 aircraft, final assembly at Toulouse-Blagnac and Mobile (US), last
A320ceo was delivered from the assembly line at Airbus Mobile in Alabama December
2021.
general information :
The A320 was the first airliner equipped with fly-by-wire control. The control commands are no longer transmitted with cables but by means of electronic signals that are first assessed by the computer. The pilot also no longer has a steering column but a side-stick. The fuselage is wider than that of the 737, giving passengers more comfort in a 3+3 layout. In March 1984 it was decided to develop the A320.
A prestigious order came from Panam for the A320, to the shock of Boeing, but the airliner went bankrupt before the aircraft could be delivered.
Aerospatiale in France builds the front part of the fuselage and is responsible for the final assembly. The rear fuselage with tail and interior is built by Deutsche Airbus. British Airways is building the wing. Belairbus and CASA build smaller parts.
The A320-200 was also delivered with the V2500 engine, which entered service in May 1989 (see there)
As of December 2022, a staggering total of 16,785 A320s (including A320neo) had been ordered and 10,692 delivered , of which 10,029 aircraft were in service with more than 340 operators. The global A320 fleet had completed more than 158 million flights over 292 million block hours since its entry into service.
primary users : Lufthansa, Air France (first customer 1981), Air Canada, Northwest
Airlines, All Nippon, Ansett Australia, Austrian airlines, American Airlines, China
Eastern
Accommodation:
flight crew : 2 cabin crew : 5
passengers : seating for 150 in two class : 12 business class and 138 economy class seats
( 32 -in pitch) high density seating for 180 passengers
engine : 2 GE-Snecma CFM56-5A1 turbofan engines of 111.0 [KN] (24953.4 [lbf])
dimensions :
wingspan : 34.1 [m], length : 37.57 [m], height : 11.76 [m]
wing area : 122.4 [m^2] fuselage exterior width : 3.95 [m]
weights :
operating empty weight : 39750 [kg] max. structural payload : 20750 [kg]
Zero Fuel weight (ZFW) : 60500 [kg] max. landing weight (MLW) : 64500 [kg]
max.take-off weight : 73500 [kg] weight fuel : 19367 [kg] (24209 [liter])
performance :
Max. operating Mach number (Mmo) : 0.82 [Mach] (884 [km/hr]) at 10000 [m]
normal cruise speed : 870 [km/hr] (Mach 0.81 ) at 10000 [m] (29 [%] power)
economic cruise speed : 837 [km/hr] (Mach 0.78 ) at 10000 [m]
service ceiling : 11900 [m]
range with max fuel : 5600 [km] (ATA domestic fuel reserves - 370.0 [km] alternate)
description :
low-wing cantilever monoplane with retractable landing gear with nose wheel
two main spar fail-safe wing structure
with double slotted flaps with slotted LE flaps (slats) ,with spoilers airfoil : NACA with supercritical cross-section sweep angle 3/4 chord: 25.0 [°]
engines attached with pylons to the wing, main landing gear attached to the wings, fuel tanks in the wings and fuselage
fuselage shape : 0 construction : all-metal aluminium-alloy stressed-skin construction with pressurized fuselage
calculation : *1* (dimensions)
wing chord at root : 6.07 [m]
mean wing chord : 3.59 [m]
calculated average wing chord tapered wing with rounded tips: 3.61 [m]
wing aspect ratio : 9.50 []
seize (span*length*height) : 15066 [m^3]
calculation : *2* (fuel consumption)
oil consumption : 6.7 [kg/hr]
fuel consumption (econ. cruise speed) : 2715.3 [kg/hr] (3394.1 [litre/hr]) at 20 [%] power
distance flown for 1 kg fuel : 0.31 [km/kg] at 10000 [m] height, sfc : 60.8 [kg/KN/h]
total fuel capacity : 24209 [litre] (19367 [kg])
calculation : *3* (weight)
weight engine(s) dry : 4540.0 [kg] = 20.45 [kg/KN]
weight 68 litre oil tank : 5.79 [kg]
oil tank filled with 1.4 litre oil : 1.3 [kg]
oil in engine 2.7 litre oil : 2.4 [kg]
fuel in engine 12.1 litre fuel : 8.88 [kg]
weight fuel lines 48.6 [kg]
weight engine cowling 577.2 [kg]
weight thrust reversers 88.8 [kg]
total weight propulsion system : 5273 [kg](7.2 [%])
***************************************************************
Accommodation cabin facilities:
typical 2-class cabin layout for 150 passengers : economy : pitch : 81.3 [cm] 32.0 [-in] ( 3+3 ) seating in 25.4 rows
weight seats : 785.0 [kg]
high density seating passengers : 176 [pax] at 6 -abreast seating in 29.3 rows, pitch 73.7
[cm] 29.0 [-in]
pax density, normal seating : 0.65 [m2/pax], high density seating : 0.56 [m2/pax]
weight 3 lavatories : 51.4 [kg]
weight 2 galleys : 122.0 [kg]
weight overhead stowage for hand luggage : 52.5 [kg]
weight 3 wardrobe closets : 30.0 [kg]
Air France A320-211 F-GFKZ interior
weight 53 windows : 47.5 [kg]
weight 4 1.83x0.86 [m] entrance/exit doors : 178.6 [kg]
weight 2 (130x122 cm) freight doors (belly) : 90.0 [kg]
belly baggage/cargo hold volume front : 18.25 [m3]
belly baggage/cargo hold volume rear : 23.70 [m3]
passenger compartment volume : 139 [m3]
passenger cabin max.width : 3.70 [m] cabin length : 27.51 [m] cabin height : 2.18 [m]
floor area : 97.7 [m2]
weight cabin facilities : 1356.9 [kg]
safety facilities:
weight 4 over wing emergency exits (91x51 cm): 85.1 [kg]
weight 8 hand fire extinguisher : 23 [kg]
weight cockpit voice recorder (CVR) and flight data recorder (FDR): 20.0 [kg]
weight oxygen masks & oxygen generators : 97.5 [kg]
weight emergency flare installation : 10 [kg]
weight 4 emergency evacuation slides : 134.7 [kg]
weight safety equipment & facilities : 370 [kg]
fuselage construction:
fuselage aluminium frame : 10039 [kg]
floor loading (payload/m2): 212 [kg/m2]
weight rear pressure bulkhead : 154.2 [kg]
fuselage covering ( 353.9 [m2] duraluminium 2.41 [mm]) : 2248.1 [kg]
weight floor beams : 615.8 [kg]
weight cabin furbishing : 882.7 [kg]
weight cabin floor : 1257.7 [kg]
Easyjet is a large operator of the A320 with 331 aircraft, here is A320-214 G-EZTB taking off from Schiphol airport, Amsterdam
fuselage (sound proof) isolation : 256.3 [kg]
weight 8250 [litre] main central fuel tanks empty : 462.0 [kg]
weight empty 184 [litre] potable water tank : 16.3 [kg]
weight empty waste tank : 15.0 [kg]
weight fuselage structure : 15947.2 [kg]
Avionics:
weight HF and UHF radio : 7.0 [kg]
weight dual cloud-collision radar : 25.0 [kg]
weight VOR/ILS,RMI,Doppler,radio altimeter : 12.0 [kg]
weight Integrated Flight System / auto-pilot : 23.0 [kg]
weight EFIS (CRT PFD+ND) : 7 [kg]
weight engine monitoring system ECAM : 6 [kg]
weight avionics : 80.0 [kg]
China Southern A320-214 B-6702. China Southern has 312 A320’s in its fleet.
Systems:
Air-conditioning and pressurisation system maintains sea level conditions up to 5625 [m]
and gives equivalent of 2440 [m] at 10700 [m]. pressure differential : 0.53 [bars] (kg/cm2)
pressurized fuselage volume : 333 [m3]
weight air-conditioning and pressurisation system : 184 [kg]
weight APU / engine starter: 55.5 [kg]
weight lighting : 49.5 [kg]
weight engine-driven 40kVA electricity generators : 37.5 [kg]
weight controls (sidestick FBW) : 12.4 [kg]
weight systems : 342.6 [kg]
total weight fuselage : 18097 [kg](24.6 [%])
***************************************************************
total weight aluminium ribs (1046 ribs) : 2621 [kg]
weight engine mounts : 111 [kg]
N360NW
Northwest airlines A320-212 N360NW c/n 903 with CFM56-5A3 engines at Detroit airport, October 2007
weight 6 fuel tanks empty for total 15959 [litre] fuel : 894 [kg]
weight wing covering (painted aluminium 4.06 [mm]) : 2685 [kg]
total weight aluminium spars (multi-cellular wing structure) : 2315 [kg]
weight wings : 7621 [kg]
weight wing/square meter : 62.26 [kg]
weight thermal leading-edge anti-icing : 37.5 [kg]
weight ailerons (3.7 [m2]) : 114.4 [kg]
weight fin (13.9 [m2]) : 651.2 [kg]
weight rudder (10.4 [m2]) : 311.0 [kg]
weight tailplane (stabilizer) (31.8 [m2]): 1390.3 [kg]
Air France A320-211 F-GJVB c/n 145 at Nantes April 2009
weight elevators (10.7 [m2]): 179.6 [kg]
weight flight control hydraulic servo actuators: 43.4 [kg]
weight trailing-edge double slotted flaps (21.3 [m2]) : 568.6 [kg]
weight leading edge slats (6.6 [m2]) : 117.1 [kg]
weight spoilers (3.5 [m2]) : 58.9 [kg]
total weight wing surfaces & bracing : 12097 [kg] (16.5 [%])
*******************************************************************
tyre pressure main wheels : 11.80 [Bar] (nitrogen), ply rating : 23 PR
tyre speed limit : 364 [km/hr]
Aircraft Classification Number, MTOW on rigid runway and medium
subgrade strength : 47 [ ]
Can only operate from paved runways
wheel pressure : 16170.0 [kg]
weight 4 Dunlop main wheels (1240 [mm] by 455 [mm]) : 631.2 [kg]
weight 2 nose wheels : 157.8 [kg]
weight multi-disc wheel-brakes : 60.5 [kg]
weight flywheel detector type anti-skid units : 5.4 [kg]
weight oleo-pneumatic shock absorbers : 80.7 [kg]
weight wheel hydraulic operated retraction system : 611.5 [kg]
weight undercarriage struts with axle 1479.7 [kg]
total weight landing gear : 3026.8 [kg] (4.1 [%]
*******************************************************************
********************************************************************
calculated empty weight : 38494 [kg](52.4 [%])
weight oil for 7.7 hours flying : 57.0 [kg]
weight lifejackets : 67.5 [kg]
weight 3 life rafts : 93.8 [kg]
weight catering : 203.3 [kg]
weight water : 162.6 [kg]
weight crew : 567 [kg]
weight crew lugage,nav.chards,flight doc.,miscell.items : 105 [kg]
operational weight empty : 39750 [kg] (54.1 [%])
********************************************************************
weight 150 passengers : 11550 [kg]
weight luggage : 2400 [kg]
weight cargo : 6800 [kg] (cargo+luggage/m3 belly : 205 [kg/m3])
zero fuel weight (ZFW): 60500 [kg](82.3 [%])
weight fuel for landing (1.5 hours flying) : 4000 [kg]
max. landing weight (MLW): 64500 [kg](87.8 [%])
max. fuel weight : 59117 [kg] (80.4 [%])
payload with max fuel : 155 passengers+luggage 14383 [kg]
published maximum take-off weight : 73500 [kg] (100.0 [%])
Air Canada A320-214 with test registration F-WWDI and CFM56-5B4 engines
calculation : * 4 * (engine power)
power loading (Take-off) : 331 [kg/KN]
power loading (Take-off) 1 PUF: 662 [kg/KN]
max. total take-off power : 222.0 [KN]
calculation : *5* (loads)
manoeuvre load : 6.3 [g] at 1000 [m]
limit load : 3.0 [g] ultimate load : 4.5 [g] load factor : 1.2 [g]
design flight time : 2.71 [hours]
design cycles : 27943 sorties, design hours : 75737 [hours]
max. wing loading (MTOW & flaps retracted) : 600 [kg/m2]
wing stress (2 g) during operation : 177 [N/kg] at 2g emergency manoeuvre
calculation : *6* (angles of attack)
angle of attack zero lift : -1.69 ["]
max. angle of attack (stalling angle, clean) : 13.63 ["]
max. angle of attack (full flaps) : 17.83 ["]
angle of attack at max. speed : 3.31 ["]
calculation : *7* (lift & drag ratios
lift coefficient at angle of attack 0° : 0.15 [ ]
lift coefficient at max. speed : 0.44 [ ]
lift coefficient at max. angle of attack : 1.36 [ ]
max. lift coefficient full flaps : 2.39 [ ]
drag coefficient at max. speed : 0.0321 [ ]
drag coefficient at econ. cruise speed : 0.0327 [ ]
induced drag coefficient at econ. cruise speed : 0.0094 [ ]
drag coefficient (zero lift) : 0.0233 [ ]
lift/drag ratio at max. speed : 13.83 [ ]
Lufthansa Airbus A320-211 D-AIPA c/n 069 “Buxtehude” in flight, it was Lufthansa’s first A320.
Lufthansa retired D-AIPA in 2019 after 30 years of service
calculation : *8* (speeds
take-off safety speed (V2) : 266 [km/u]
take-off (initial climb) speed (Vto) : 316 [km/u]
stalling speed clean at sea-level (OW loaded : 70785 [kg]): 297 [km/u]
max. rate of climb speed : 616 [km/hr] at sea-level
max. endurance speed (Vbe): 645 [km/u] min. fuel/hr : 2457 [kg/hr] at height : 9449 [m]
max. range speed (Vbr): 883 [km/u] min. fuel consumption : 3.008 [kg/km] at cruise
height : 11278 [m]
cruising speed : 870 [km/hr] at 10000 [m] (power:21 [%])
max. operational speed (Mmo) : 884.00 [km/hr] (Mach 0.82 ) at 10000 [m]
(power:21.2 [%])
airflow at cruise speed per engine : 234.4 [kg/s]
speed of thrust jet : 1225 [km/hr]
initial descent speed 10000 - 7315 [m]: Mach 0.75
descent speed 7315 - 3048 [m]: 537 [km/u]
approach speed 3048 - 500 [m] (clean): 463 [km/u]
stalling speed clean at 500 [m] height at Max.Landing Weight : 64500 [kg]): 290 [km/u]
final approach speed at sea-level with full flaps (normal land. weight) (Vapp): 251 [km/u]
ICAO Aircraft Approach Category (APC) : C
landing speed at sea-level (normal landing weight(Vtd): 64317 [kg]): 222 [km/hr]
stalling speed at sea-level with full flaps (normal landing weight): 193 [km/u]
rate of climb at sea-level ROC (loaded) : 1272 [m/min]
rate of climb at 1000 [m] with 1 engine out (PUF / MTOW) : 690 [m/min]
rate of descent: 457 [m/min]
calculation : *9* (regarding various performances)
high wheel pressure, can only take off from paved runways
take-off distance at sea-level concrete runway : 2350 [m]
ICAO Aerodrome Reference Code : 3C
take-off distance at sea-level over 15 [m] height : 2471 [m]
landing run : 1041 [m]
landing run (C.A.R.) from 15 [m] at SL, dry runway : 1549 [m]
landing run (C.A.R.) from 15 [m] at SL, wet runway : 1849 [m]
lift/drag ratio : 15.50 [ ]
climb to 5000 [m] with max payload : 3.64 [min]
climb to 10000 [m] with max payload : 11.19 [min]
descent time from 10000 [m] to 250 [m] : 24.33 [min]
ceiling limited by max. pressure differential 12250 [m]
theoretical ceiling fully loaded (mtow- 60 min.fuel: 70785 [kg] ) : 15500 [m]
calculation *10* (action radius & endurance)
range with max. payload: 3893 [km] with 20750.0 [kg] max. useful load (67.1 [%] fuel)
range with high density pax: 5317 [km] with 176 passengers (89.9 [%] fuel)
range with typical two-class pax: 5993 [km] with 150 passengers (100.0 [%] fuel)
range with max.fuel : 5970 [km] with 7 crew and 155 passengers and 100.0 [%] fuel
ferry range : 6785 [km] with 2 crew and zero payload (100.0 [%] fuel)
max range theoretically with additional fuel tanks total 43151.1 [litre] fuel : 11370 [km]
Available Seat Kilometres (ASK) : 898989 [paskm]
useful load with range 1000km : 20750 [kg]
useful load with range 1000km : 176 passengers
production (theor.max load): 18052 [tonkm/hour]
production (useful load): 18052 [tonkm/hour]
production (passengers): 130500 [paskm/hour]
oil and fuel consumption per tonkm : 0.151 [kg]
fuel cost per paskm : 0.021 [eur]
crew cost per paskm : 0.007 [eur]
list price : 79 [mln USD]
In 1988, the value of a new A320 was $30 million, reaching $40 million by the end of the 1990s, a 30% increase lower than the inflation , it dipped to $37 million after 2001, then peaked to $47 million in 2008, and stabilised at $40–42 million until the transition to the A320neo. In 2018, its list price was US$101.0 million.
All Nippon A320-211 JA203A c/n 2061 at Osaka, March 2005. In the background a wall is being built to block high waves from the sea, but this was not enough as Osaka Kansai (KIX) airport was flooded in 2018 by typhoon Jebi closing the airport for 10 days.
economic hours : 65000 [hours] is 14 [%] less then design hours
time between engine failure : 865 [hr]
can continue fly on 1 engine, low risk for emergency landing for PUF
China Eastern A320-214 B-6262 c/n 2627 March 2009 at Shanghai. China Eastern is a large operator of the A320 with 370 aircraft in its fleet.
writing off per paskm : 0.008 [eur]
insurance per paskm : 0.0023 [eur]
maintenance cost per paskm : 0.013 [eur]
direct operating cost per paskm : 0.051 [eur]
direct operating cost per tonkm (max. load): 0.368 [eur]
direct operating cost per tonkm (normal useful load): 0.368 [eur]
Austrian Airlines A320-214 OE-LBU c/n 1478 with CFM56-5B4 engines at Salzburg, April 2019.
American airlines is the largest A320 operator with 467 aircraft in its inventory. Here is Airbus A320-214 N125UW landing with spoilers and thrust reversers deployed. It has CFM56-5B4 engines
accidents with fatalities > see the accident file
Literature :
Airbus A320 family - Wikipedia
https://contentzone.eurocontrol.int/aircraftperformance/default.aspx?
https://www.airbus.com/en/airport-operations-and-technical-data/aircraft-characteristics
Air International feb’98 page 124
Luchtvaart mei’87 page 140
Luchtvaart sep’90 page 257
Jane’s all the world aircraft 1990
Ansett A320-211 VH-HYI c/n 140 at Melbourne apt. (MEL), August 1990
DISCLAIMER Above calculations are based on published data, they must be
regarded as indication not as facts.
Calculated performance and weight may not correspond with actual weights
and performances and are assumptions for which no responsibility can be taken.
Calculations are as accurate as possible, they can be fine-tuned when more data
is available, you are welcome to give suggestions and additional information
so we can improve our program. For copyright on drawings/photographs/
content please mail to below mail address
(c) B van der Zalm 22 October 2022 contact : info.aircraftinvestigation@gmail.com python 3.7.4