Chronology of the airliners industry (4) 1981-1985

In the early 1980s airport platforms became more and more dominated by widebody airliners, like here at London Gatwick.

Chronology of the airliners industry (4)

1981-1985

1981

:: March 17, 1981 ::

McDonnell Douglas delivers the first KC-10A to the US Air Force.

:: August 4, 1981 ::

The first Boeing 767 is rolled out from the final assembly bay in the 747/767 plant in Everett, Washington.

:: September 26, 1981 ::

The Boeing 767 completes its initial flight, lasting 2 hours and 4 minutes.

:: December 7, 1981 ::

Lockheed announces officially to end the production of the TriStar in 1984.

1982

:: February 16, 1982 ::

Airbus rolls out the first A310 from the factory.

:: April 3, 1982 ::

The Airbus A310 makes its first flight. The aircraft is back in Toulouse after 3 hours and 15 minutes.

:: May 27, 1982 ::

The first Boeing 767 with a two-crew-member flight deck made its initial flight.

:: July 30, 1982 ::

Type certificate awarded 767 by FAA.

Boeing 767 at Farnborough 1982

:: August 19, 1982 ::

Boeing delivers the first 767 to United Airlines.

:: September 8, 1982 ::

United Airlines begins commercial service with the Boeing 767 on the Chicago to Denver route.

:: September 21, 1982 ::

Boeing rolls out the first 747-300.

:: October 5, 1982 ::

The Boeing 747-300 makes its first flight.

1983

:: January 1983 ::

Boeing announces the 767ER (extended range).

:: March 11, 1983 ::

The Airbus A310 receives the certificate of airworthiness from the German and French aviation authorities.

Airbus A310 during route proving at Amsterdam Schiphol

:: March 29, 1983 ::

Airbus delivers the first A310-200 aircraft to Lufthansa and Swissair.

:: March 23, 1983 ::

The Boeing 747-300 enters commercial service with Swissair.

:: April 10, 1983 ::

Lufthansa introduces the Airbus A310 in revenue service.

:: April 21, 1983 ::

The Airbus A310 begins commercial service with Swissair.

:: June 10, 1983 ::

KLM receives its first Airbus A310. The airline cannot operate the aircraft yet, because of a conflict with its pilots and flight engineers about operating the aircraft with a two-man cockpit. The airliners are introduced in service later in 1983.

:: July 8, 1983 ::

The Airbus A300-600 makes its first flight.

:: July 22, 1983 ::

The FAA clears the way for pilots to fly both of the 757 and 767, after passing a type-rating test for either of the airliners.

:: September 29, 1983 ::

Japan Airlines becomes launch customer for the 767-300.

1984

:: January 27, 1984 ::

End of the production of the Lockheed TriStar after 250 aircraft have been built.

:: August 1, 1984 ::

Lockheed delivers the last Lockheed TriStar built, a L1011-500, to the Algerian Government.

1985

:: May 29, 1985 ::

The Boeing 767 receives approval from the Federal Aviation Administration for 120-minute ETOPS flights. ETOPS stands for extended-range two-engine operations.

:: July 8, 1985 ::

The long-distance version of the Airbus A310, the A310-300, flies for the first time.

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