35 Years Ago, Airbus Launched One of Its Most Beautiful Planes

On October 25, 1991, the Airbus A340 made its first flight in Toulouse. Thirty-five years later, this long-haul aircraft retains an intact power of seduction.

There are airplanes that we love to keep in miniature in our childhood rooms. With its four engines, swept wings, and slender fuselage, the Airbus A340 belongs to this category. When it takes to the skies for the first time, the European manufacturer has a clear ambition: to take its place on the major international routes. The aircraft will enter service in 1993 with Lufthansa and Air France.

Developed alongside the A330, the A340 relies on four engines to cover long distances without facing the constraints that were then imposed on twin-engine aircraft on certain oceanic routes. A coherent choice at the time, which would gradually become its main handicap against the advancements of its two-engine competitors.

The beautiful bird

But before the profitability calculations, there is the pleasure of the eyes. Some enthusiasts see the A340 as one of the most beautiful aircraft ever built. The compliments particularly focus on the A340-600, whose silhouette Aeronews praises as possibly the most beautiful ever designed by Airbus. However, caution is advised: this elongated version only makes its first flight in April 2001, almost ten years after the A340-300 celebrated today.

This elegance will not be enough to preserve its commercial career. Faced with modern twin-engine aircraft, the consumption and maintenance of four engines weigh heavily. Airbus ultimately announces the termination of the program in November 2011, with 377 units sold. A modest spread, but a lasting imprint in the history of the European manufacturer.

Thirty-five years after its first takeoff, the A340 thus reminds us of a truth that car enthusiasts know well: a machine can lose the battle of numbers and win the battle of emotions. Its four engines eventually became too costly. Its silhouette, on the other hand, has lost none of its splendor.

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