Airbus Industrie (AI) will retake the world distance record from Boeing when the A340-500/600 fly early in the next century, the European company said yesterday.
"We will definitely fly further than them (Boeing)," says John Leahy, AI senior vice-president, commercial, referring to the recent record flight by a Boeing 777.
"We set the record four years ago and Boeing beat our time on an equivalent basis, by 12min. In a couple of years we will come with a new record."
But it will be a sideshow, he says in a presentation on the higher capacity and extended-range versions of the A340-300 whose commercial launch was announced the day before.
He says that the production launch - expected in September - will cover both aircraft, expected to be priced at around $150million a copy. He declines to say how many orders will be needed to underwrite the launch.
"The number is an industry secret, but we don't believe we will have any problem at all in getting there."
The $2.5billion programme, with the Rolls-Royce Trent 500 as the chosen launch engine, will see first flight in 2000 with certification and delivery in late 2001 or very early 2002.
Additional
The -600 version will have an additional 80 seats (up to 378) with the insertion of 20 frames, but still have the range of the -300 which is 7,300nm.
AI claims 15% lower trip costs than the Boeing 747-400, as well as 60% more cargo.
The -500 version will offer ultra-long distance journeys 15,300km(8,300nm) and carry 313 passengers.
"There are very few places on earth that you will not be able to reach (in one hop), apart from Australia, from New York, using this aircraft," says Leahy.
Changes to the A340-300 include a larger wing and new, larger horizontal stabiliser. "Excellent" aerodynamics of the new wing are confirmed in wind tunnel testing, says Leahy.
Source: Flight Daily News
