Airbus A300-600
Airbus · France · first flew 1983 · airliner
The A300-600 is the definitive production variant of Airbus's original wide-body twin, combining a stretched fuselage with a modern two-crew glass cockpit.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, swept |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × turbofan, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Stretched fuselage of 54.1m distinguishes it from the shorter original A300B2/B4 variants |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Stretched fuselage of 54.1m distinguishes it from the shorter original A300B2/B4 variants
- Two-crew EFIS glass cockpit visible through forward windows — original A300B required a flight engineer (3-crew)
- Wingtip fences on later production aircraft; wider cabin cross-section than any narrowbody contemporary
Longer than the original A300B4 (54.1m vs 53.6m) and distinguished by its two-crew cockpit windows; shares the same basic fuselage diameter and wing planform as the A310 but is considerably longer.
Specifications
- The Airbus A300-600 has a length of 54.1 m (177 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 44.8 m (147 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 875 km/h (544 mph).
- Typical crew: 2 flight crew.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
First flown in July 1983, the A300-600 introduced an advanced EFIS flight deck derived from the A310, eliminating the need for a flight engineer and cutting crew costs significantly. It incorporated an A310-style rear fuselage that added two extra seat rows over the earlier B4. Production totalled around 313 aircraft before the line closed.
Variants
The -600R added centre-section fuel for extended range, becoming the dominant sub-variant; the -600F freighter version remains in wide use with cargo carriers.
Where you'll see it
Operated globally by airlines including FedEx, UPS, and numerous Asian and Middle Eastern carriers; significant numbers remain active as freighters long after passenger retirement.
Related aircraft
- Airbus A310
- Airbus A320
- Airbus A340-300
- Airbus A330-300
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- Hawker 800XP
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