Just seen this on the Global about the evolution of the Airbus A300:

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2007/07/19/215599/video.html

Listening to the Doug Carlile (A300 programme director interview), do you think it is still likely that we will still see A300/A310s in the air in 2050 like he suggested there could be. It seems a very long time to me, some the fleet would have to be in action for about 40 years...

Depends when they deliver the five A310s that Iraqi Airways still has on firm order.

Droning Spudfreak:

Depends when they deliver the five A310s that Iraqi Airways still has on firm order.

Not going to happen.

The last I heard, they were looking at leasing up to six secondhand A320's instead, but I won't be holding my breath on that one....

Titch

As much as I respect nearly all manufacturers and the A300 design, it seems to me very unlikely that a significant number of A300/310s will be operational in 2050.

Airbus aircraft are - in my opinion - not built like tanks and structural robustness is not a ace of Airbus but other important factors. Many early A300s are no longer operated and currently Turkey seems to be a heaven for such early aircraft but these aircraft will surely be replaced by younger aircraft soon.

There is also the factor that aircraft manufacturers are not really keen to take care of existing aircraft fleets but keen so sell replacement aircraft.

Kindest regards, IB M87