Airbus Industrie A321...... ....... .....................................................................Specifications
The Airbus A321 came to Turkish Airlines (Turkish Hava Yollari) in 2004 when the first aircraft were delivered on lease. This example, a series 111 is an ex Swissair (HB-IOD) aircraft which was in storage from the 15th of October 2002 onwards being leased to Turkish on the 27th of August 2004. She is illustrated here as she was seen at Istanbul on the 5th of September 2005. Turkish Airlines has the distinction of operating both CFM56-5-B powered aircraft, as the above and IAE V2530-A5 powered aircraft which have totally differing engine pods, through the lease of series 200 aircraft from an International leasing corporation during 2005. This aircraft flies for Swiss since 2007 as HB-IOD.
Like the shortened A319, the A321 is a minimum change, in this case stretched, development of the successful A320.The A321 program was launched in November 1989 and the first development aircraft first flew on March 11 1993. European certification was awarded in December that year.Compared with the A320 the A321's major change is the stretched fuselage, with forward and rear fuselage plugs totalling 6.93m (22ft 9in) (front plug immediately forward of wing 4.27m/14ft, rear plug directly behind the wing 2.67m/8ft 9in).Other changes include strengthening of the undercarriage to cope with the higher weights, more powerful engines, a simplified and refined fuel system and larger tyres for better braking. A slightly modified wing with double slotted flaps and modifications to the flight controls allows the A321's handling characteristics to closely resemble the A320's. The A321 features an identical flightdeck to that on the A319 and A320, and shares the same type rating as the smaller two aircraft.The basic A321-100 features a reduction in range compared to the A320 as extra fuel tankage was not added to the initial design to compensate for the extra weight. To overcome this Airbus launched the longer range, heavier A321-200 development in 1995 which has a full pax transcontinental US range. This is achieved through higher thrust V2533-A5 or CFM56-5B3 engines and minor structural strengthening and 2900 litres (766US gal/638Imp gal) greater fuel capacity with the installation of an ACT (additional centre tank).The A321-200 first flew from Daimler Benz (now DaimlerChrysler) Aerospace's Hamburg facilities in December 1996.
The Airbus A321 entered service with Austrian Airlines in 1995. This aircraft, OE-LBB "Prinzgau", a series 111 was delivered on the 13th February 1996. She was repainted in this unusual Milenium livery in June 1996. It depicts twenty famous Austrians as a tribute to the countries culture in the wake of Milenium celebrations. The livery how ever did not last into the next year thousand as the aircraft received a special "Strauss" livery in 1999. This aircraft is still active today (2015) with Austrian in their latest livery !
British Airways received aircraft from the A320 family at first in 1988 with the merger of British Caledonian into the BA fleet and subsequent delivery of A320 aircraft destined for BCAL. Now BA has a large fleet of A319, A320 and A321 aircraft. This example, a series 231, appears in the latest company livery introduced in 1997. The aircraft was delivered new from the production line in Hamburg Finkenwerder on the 17th December 2004 and is seen as she appeared at Amsterdam Schipol on the 2nd of January 2005. Note the application of the "Royal Mail" sticker next to the registration number to the aft of the fuselage. The aircraft was still active with BA in 2015.
One of the most attractive liveries to be worn by any A321 was that of Air Jamaica. The Carribean airline first took delivery of an A321 in 2001, leased from ILFC. This particular aircraft registered 6Y-JMW and named "Spirit of Spanish Town" was delivered on lease on the 18th of June 2003 and is depicted here as she appeared at Fort Lauderdale on the 14th of January 2004. Air Jamaica was sold off to Carribean Airlines in 2010. From 2011 onwards the new owners, using the name "Air Jamaica" operating two Boeing 737-800 aircraft in a new adoption of the Air Jamaica livery. This aircraft went to Air Berlin in 2009, leased from ILFC.
Spirit Airlines is an American low-cost carrier, flying an all A320 family fleet which includes the A321. All the aircraft are fitted with leather seats and larger than usal over head storage bins. This very attractive livery is seen on A321-231 N586NK which was delivered on lease in 2005. This aircraft now flies for Monarch Airlines on lease from AerCap since April 2008. She is seen here as she appeared at New York La Guardia airport in November 2004.