A340 - 25 years old today

[Eric Janson]

First A340 flight was 25 years ago today.

I make my living flying this type and I really like the aircraft. It flies very nicely.

I've operated it all over the world including Greenland, The Falklands, Nigeria, Australia and New York JFK.

Always enjoyed using all of an 11000' runway to get airborne on a hot day at maximum take-off weight (radio altimeter indicated 70' crossing the runway end with an initial rate of climb of 1200'/min).

Personal record is 49 minutes to get to FL300 (1-200'/min rate of climb in the last 2000').

I've also seen 9900'/min rate of descent during line operations. I wasn't flying or I would have momentarily got it over 10000'/min.

Whenever ATC wants a climb restriction the answer is always "unable".

Passengers love the quiet cabin. The 2-4-2 seating layout is much better than 3-4-3.

Nothing beats 4 engines when operating across the ocean at night miles from anywhere.

Unlike a twin you don't have to land at the nearest airport if you have a engine failure.

With the low fuel prices the A340 is still competitive. My company has no trouble finding work for the aircraft. Lease costs are lower than an A320 or B737.

The aircraft has always been extremely reliable - I can only recall 1 AOG event in the 8 years I've been flying the aircraft.

[David MacRay]

Those things are fly by wire. It's just a fad.

[ScudRunner-d95]

Read this a few years ago somewhere.

Question: How does a A340 climb?

Answer: The curvature of the earth.

Fun Fact:
Canada 3000 (remember them) just before they went tits up they received a A340 with plans to serve India.