Which Airbus aircraft first flew on 22 February 1987?

The Airbus A320 first flew on 22 February 1987.

The A320 was Airbus’s first narrow-body aircraft and introduced important technologies to the commercial-airliner market. It was the first commercial aircraft to use a digital fly-by-wire flight-control system together with a side-stick controller in airline service.

The prototype flight took place at Toulouse-Blagnac Airport. The A320 received European certification in 1988 and entered airline service with Air France that same year. Its combination of fuel efficiency, commonality, and two-pilot operation helped establish the A320 family as a global competitor in the single-aisle market.

The A320 is sometimes confused with later family members. The A321 is a stretched derivative, while the A319 is shorter and the A318 is shorter still. The A320 designation specifically refers to the original-length model, not the entire A320 family.