The Airbus A340-200 is the shorter of the two original passenger airliners in the Airbus A340 family. It combines a twin-aisle cabin with four CFM56-5C engines and was designed for long-distance routes. Lufthansa introduced the model in 1993.[1]Lufthansa Group chronicleLufthansa Group · lufthansagroup.comOpen source details[2]EADS reference document 2002Airbus · airbus.comOpen source details
Introduction and design
Lufthansa's corporate chronology records the arrival of its first A340-200 at the airline's Frankfurt maintenance base. The aircraft formed part of a long-haul renewal programme in which the A340 replaced older DC-10 and Boeing 747-200 aircraft. The shorter -200 and longer -300 gave airlines different passenger capacities within the original A340 design.[1]Lufthansa Group chronicleLufthansa Group · lufthansagroup.comOpen source details
Airbus's historical technical table describes the -200 as approximately 59.4 metres long, with a 60.3-metre wingspan and 239 seats in its illustrative three-class cabin. The four engines sit beneath a swept wing. The type belongs to the CFM-powered A340 generation, distinct from the later Trent-powered -500 and -600.[2]EADS reference document 2002Airbus · airbus.comOpen source details[3]CFM56-5C Enhanced developmentCFM International · cfmaeroengines.comOpen source details
The World Ranger flight
In June 1993 an A340-200 named World Ranger flew around the world from Paris, stopping only at Auckland. Airbus's tribute to test pilot and engineering executive Bernard Ziegler records that he participated in the flight, which took just over 48 hours including the stop. The demonstration connected Europe and New Zealand without an intermediate refuelling stop on either leg.[4]Tribute to Bernard ZieglerAirbus · safetyfirst.airbus.comOpen source details
The demonstration took place shortly after the aircraft entered airline service.[4]Tribute to Bernard ZieglerAirbus · safetyfirst.airbus.comOpen source details
Engines and family development
CFM International supplied the sole engine family for the A340-200 and -300.[3]CFM56-5C Enhanced developmentCFM International · cfmaeroengines.comOpen source details
In 2000 CFM announced an improved -5C engine programme for the A340-300 Enhanced, incorporating compressor and turbine changes. It also planned a hardware upgrade for existing A340 operators. The A340-200 remained the short-fuselage member of the original family, while later A340 development pursued larger cabins and greater long-range payload.[2]EADS reference document 2002Airbus · airbus.comOpen source details[3]CFM56-5C Enhanced developmentCFM International · cfmaeroengines.comOpen source details