Airbus A320

The Airbus A320 made its first flight in 1987 and entered service the following year. A single-aisle, twin-engine airliner, it was designed to compete in the high-volume short- and medium-haul market against established types such as the Boeing 737, and it quickly became one of the best-selling airliners in the world.

The A320 was a technological landmark as the first airliner to enter service with a digital fly-by-wire flight control system, in which the pilots' commands are transmitted electronically to the control surfaces and managed through computers. In place of a traditional control yoke, the cockpit used a side-stick, and flight envelope protections helped guard against unsafe maneuvers.

These innovations were carried across an entire family of related aircraft sharing a common cockpit and handling, allowing airlines to train crews and operate the type efficiently. The A320 family went on to enormous commercial success and cemented Airbus as a leading manufacturer of airliners.