The story
The A340-300 first flew in October 1991 and entered service with Lufthansa and Air France in 1993, built for long routes when four engines still had the edge over oceans. It shares its wing with the twin-engine A330, and the twin won the argument: 218 A340-300s were delivered, the last in 2008, and Airbus closed the A340 programme in 2011. Lufthansa still flies the largest fleet, but newer twins are replacing them.
The A340-300 and the twin-engine A330-300 share the same wing and are within a few centimetres of the same 63.7 m length. The A340 flew first, about a year before the A330.
Quick answers
How do you identify a A340-300?
Four engines on a medium-length widebody. The -300 has slim CFM56 engines and a small two-wheel leg between the main bogies. The much longer -600 has bigger Rolls-Royce engines and a four-wheel center bogie. Same length as an A330-300, so count engines.
What does a A340-300 sound like?
Four CFM56s blend into a layered, humming chord, softer than you would expect from four engines.
How many people does the A340-300 carry?
Typical configuration: 295 (3-class).
How far can the A340-300 fly?
Range is about 6,700 nmi.
How big is the A340-300?
It is 208 ft 11 in long and 197 ft 10 in across the wings.
When did the A340-300 first fly?
Its first flight was in 1991.
How many A340-300s have been built?
218 built.
How rare is a A340-300 in Bogey?
RARE. A good day. Most spotters go weeks between sightings of something this rare. Your first A340-300 catch is worth 250 points.
