Airbus A320

Aircraft Information
> Aircraft Make: Airbus. Model: 320. Nickname: None
> Aircraft Mil Civ Description: Large Jet
> FAA Category and Class: Airplane multi-engine land
> Engine Description: twin jet

Aircraft Experience
> As of: 9/2/2021
> Number of Hours Flown: 2
> Number of Times Flown: 1
> Other Aircraft Models Associated: None

First Flown Information
> Sequence First Flown: 162
> Date First Flown: 12/3/2008
> Location First Flown: Toulouse, France
> Who and/or What Organization First Flown With: Airbus Flight Test

Recollections: My first flight ever in an Airbus (flown in an A320-232).  I was still a bit jet-lagged from traveling to France and I didn’t know much about the Airbus design, so it’s all a bit of a blur.  I do remember that it was a chance to fly with a famous Airbus Test Pilot, Ed Strongman and that alone made the flight memorable.  The airplane we flew was F-WWDB, performing some kind of fuels research if I recall.

The cockpit was a bit confusing…somewhat like a Boeing, but not really (ECAM for EICAS?) and, at the time, I don’t think I appreciated the simplicity of the design.  That said, I didn’t understand or enjoy the fact that the throttles didn’t move when autothrottle was engaged…something that–now more than a decade later and two Airbus type ratings under my belt–I’m still not used to.

Two days later, a bit more rested, I got to fly the A380 and this was where my understanding of and appreciation for the Airbus design began it’s journey.  Read about my comparison between the A320 and 380 in the 380 entry.