How much larger is A320 Fuselage to the B737?

[brucek 38]

Driving past KDEN the other day and noted what I first thought was a B76 (because of the larger fuselage, and had followed a number of 73's so I had a comparison). It didn't take long to realize that it wasn't big enough for a 76, then I recognized it as a Ted aircraft (A320's).I assume that the A320 fuselage is bigger, but with 3+3 seating (same as the 73), how much bigger can it be? Does a fatter fuselage have any efficiency penalty from drag?Thanks,Bruce.

[Guest]

I believe their is a 1 inch difference which is especially useful for the aisles, I dont know the exact numbers but you are right about it being bigger.

[Guest bjjones]

3.68m on the A320 compared to 3.54m on the 737 so theres 14cm (5.51 inches) difference

[brucek 38]

Thanks Doug and Ben,Interesting that about 5 inches becomes noticeable.Bruce.

[Guest cw1011]

Actually, having put many miles in on UAL's 320s, the extra room is noticable.

[BobK 0]

You get less than an inch of extra butt room. You also get less headroom, because Airbus feels that cargo deserves more headroom than you do, by making the cabin floor higher. :)The only difference I can really feel in my coach seat, is when the airline decides to leave more room between mine and the one in front of me. :)

[brucek 38]

Thanks guys. Interesting about the larger cargo area in the A-32x.Bruce.

[Guest Erick_Cantu]

So true. Plus, unless you can watch them target-type reversers and triple-slotted flaps do their thing, flying is boring. :)

[Roger Mazengarb 0]

G'day Bruce,I think you'll find the difference is a result of the different methods of construction.Boeing use a double bubble fuselage. The fuselage is in the shape of a figure 8 ie. a large dia. upper cylinder (pax cabin) on top of a smaller dia lower cylinder (cargo space). The floor beams joining accross the intersection of the two circles. This results in a Boeing fuselage being narrow and deep.This approach gives an upper fuselage wide enough for 3+3 seating AND a lower fuselage with enough volume for a decent cargo compartment.If a fuselage is constructed as a single tube then once the floor is lowered to accommodate 3+3 across seating then there is VERY MINIMAL space below floor level for cargo.This was a huge failing of the DH Comet. In order to achieve a reasonable cargo space (essential for an aircraft to be commercially successful) the diameter of the fuselage would have to be increased and this would then give more room also in the 3+3 cabin. I know nothing of the Airbus fuselage construction but suspect this may be the case. "There's no such thing as a free lunch". Yes there will be an increase in Profile drag but with reasonable streamlining this would not be very much. Any increase in structural weight would have far greater effect on performance.Cheers,Roger

[brucek 38]

Thanks Roger. A great explanation.Bruce.