You know you’re getting old when aircraft types you remember being launched brand new start to become the target of freighter conversion companies.
Has the Airbus A321 reached that age? More importantly, am I *gasp* that old?
Because of the fact that the Airbus A321(P2F) exists, yes. It has. And I am.
Side view templates of the Airbus A321(P2F)
If it wasn’t obvious by now, “P2F” stands for Passenger to Freighter. At first glance, it looks like a standard A321 with plugged windows and a huge cargo door carved out of the side of the fuselage. It’s a little more complicated than that though.
The development process
The P2F was developed by Precision Conversions (in partnership with Airbus). Airbus never developed their own version of an A321 freighter. At least not yet anyway.
It also worth noting that Precision Conversions wasn’t even the first company that attempted doing freighter modifications to the A321.
Airbus Freighter Conversion GmbH gave it a go in the late 2000s. That program was scrapped in 2011 before any prototypes were built.
Design details
Structurally, the P2F is nearly identical to the passenger A321. You’ll see no differences in overall length or height compared to my existing A321 templates.
The wings are exactly the same, as are the engines and landing gear. Even the vertical stabilizer is a complete carryover. However:
- All doors (and emergency exits) were plugged.
- All windows except one were plugged.
- The main cargo door was placed approximately between where window number 8 and 9 were. It extended to approximately where the middle of door 2 used to be.
- As far as I can tell, at the time of this writing, only aircraft with V2500 engines (and no sharklets on the wings) have been converted. Perhaps there’s a plan to convert other engine and wing types, but I’m not aware of it.
- An all new small boarding door was cut out of the fuselage near the cockpit windows.
It’s the addition of that all new boarding door which fascinates me the most. I mean, it couldn’t have been easy considering the curvature of the fuselage in that area. It’s probably a fairly dense area for wiring and electronics as well.
The engineering involved for the addition of that little door must’ve been bonkers. Maybe that’s why Airbus never wanted to develop their own freighter version of the A321?
I’d believe it.
Thank you very much, this is what I need.
I’m still waiting for the 747-200 cargo plane.
By the way, the A321P2F exists with CFM-56 engines. I saw them on Lufthansa Cargo and IndiGo.
You’re very welcome Konstantin!
The only reason why I haven’t done the 747-200F yet is because of the multiple engine types. If I’m being honest, creating a set of templates with multiple engine types is mind-numbingly dull work. I’m still trying to recover from updating my entire Airbus A320/A321 series recently (which included multiple engine *and* winglet types). I’ll get to it eventually, but it’s one of those things I have to be in the mood for lol.
And thanks for letting me know about the CFM A321(P2F)! I had no idea. I guess I’ll need to add that one as well…
https://www.jetphotos.com/photo/10549849
CFM-56 A321P2Fs do exist
Thanks Karl! Looks like I’ve got some work to do lol.
The boarding door move is particularly interesting given that (1) there’s presumably still a toilet and some kind of small galley behind the cockpit (so why the need to put the door so close to the cockpit?), and (2) presumably the retained window was so pilots can visually check the wing and engine while in flight (but that means there has to be an accessway thru the freight, from the cockpit to the window, so … why not leave the door where it was anyway)?
Totally agree – I’d love to watch a video explaining the rationale (and engineering) behind that door move.
The small door allows one extra ULD or pallet in the A321P2F. Could you do the B2707 please? What’s your next drawing and when do you think its coming out? Keep it up!
Aha! I knew there had to be a good reason for it. Makes sense. Thanks!
I’m not sure how fast I can get to the 2707, but I’ll think about it.
I’m currently working on the Learjet 60. I don’t have that much more to do on it, but the problem is that the next few weeks are going to be very busy for me so it’ll be tough to squeeze it in. My hope is that I can get it released within two weeks, but we’ll see…
I want to see the Nord 262, the F-27 Friendship, the NAMC YS-11, Hanker Siddeley HS748, Shorts 360, Metroliner, Canadair CL-44 and Embraer’s first aircraft, the EMB-110 Bandeirante.
Also do the Lockheed Jetstar; it’s the first business jet in commercial service. Plus the mainly military but also civilian CASA 212 and CN235.
As a extra bonus; Boeing 307 Stratoliner and the Guppies (Mini, Pregnant and Super)
I’m surprised how many requests I continue to get for the Shorts 360. Out of all of the aircraft you listed, that’s the one I want to do the most. I just don’t know if it’ll be worth my time considering how niche it is.
BTW, I had no idea there was a “pregnant” version of the Guppie. That may be all the justification I need for doing that one!
Back in the day, there were a great diversity of aircraft designs flying around the skies. Nowadays mostly twins jets.
I would like to see an 929 Jetfoil though; Boeing used to design and build hydrofoil boats.
I agree! Everything looks pretty much the same now, and the only way that I can see that changing is if/when supersonic aircraft ever make a return. But if I had to guess, all supersonic aircraft are probably going to look the same as well. Haha…
Hello, please do cathay pacific next
Also if you want keep the current liveries and do a evolution! I would love to see that
Doing a full breakdown of the evolution of the Cathay Pacific livery has been on my to do list for way too long. The only one that I have in the works at the moment is for Spirit Airlines – maybe I can do Cathay Pacific after that.
Wait I thought you did spirit already…?
https://www.norebbo.com/spirit-airlines-livery/
I did! The problem is that the lustrations need to be updated, and I’ve got a *lot* more to say about each livery haha. Basically I want to make a lot more comprehensive than it already is – especially considering that they may not be around all that much longer.
Speaking of the Guppy, It is one of the only aircraft Nasa uses to transport parts of rockets and or planes etc. It’s like a prop powered beluga. Oh and Im a huge fan of your work,its inspired me to create my own variants of aircraft as well as getting better at drawing them with a side view perspective. I also have a few requests and a few of them are the CL-415 and CL-515 and the Grumman S-2 Tracker along with the Supertanker because of the recent California fires I have decided that I would like to become an air tanker and join these amazing men and women who fight these fires while doing somethings they love.
Whew that was a lot sorry. 😉
I was thinking the same thing as I was watching footage of the fires. I’m too old (and lazy lol) to become a pilot, but I was thinking how fun and rewarding it would be to be a tanker pilot. Looks really dangerous though.
Had no idea that NASA uses the Guppy. That’s pretty cool.
Thankyou!! (Im only in middle school almost high school and I already have a career planned and I’m only 15?)
Lazy is not a good word for you… I couldn’t do this type of thing and make it look as good as you do!
And thanks for the encouragement…all I know rn is that I want to help people and do something I Love..FLYING!!
(Oh yeah I’ve already flown a Pa-28……last year)
Thank you and good luck!
Can you do the SpaceX Falcon 9 please?
I don’t do rockets and spacecraft unfortunately. I will admit that it’s pretty neat though!
Oh ok that’s a shame. It would be cool if you did. Can’t wait to see more of your work! When do you think you will post next?
Fantastic work as always! As others pointed out, the CFM version does exist in real life already; that said, the conversion programs do encompass a variant that doesn’t adjust the forward L1 door from the pax variant and sacrifices that ability the smaller door offers to load an additional loading position.
Can you do the F27 fellowship
I was just about to reply to you with “I already did!” – but it turns out I haven’t done it yet lol.
I’m starting to lose track of what I have and haven’t done…
You will be able to draw a lot of Russian aircraft such as Tu-134 and il-96
It’s fine when you finish making other aircraft, so please do your best
Russian aircraft are somewhat difficult to find really good reference material for – which is the primary reason why I haven’t done that many yet.
I will though!
Can you also draw a Boeing 720?
An entire series of 707s probably needs to happen at some point. There’s just so dang many variants (which makes keeping everything organized/synced/up to date challenging).
It’s on my list!
great. I would also like to see a DC-9-10
Sorry, I meant 737-300 (with winglets)
It already exists
Norebbo, please make more Fokker F27 and F28