GEMINI AMERICAN A321 1/400 FLAGSHIP VALOR MEDAL OF HONOR **

GeminiJets 1/400 scale American Airlines Airbus A321 diecast model is As Real as it Gets and measures approximately 4-3/8-inches long with a 3-1/2-inch wingspan. Manufactured as an officially licensed product by GeminiJets as a limited edition, highly collectible model, this American Airlines Airbus A321 - Registration N167AM - has been meticulously recreated from Airbus' blueprints and features realistic landing gear and detailed graphics, assuring the utmost accuracy and superior quality. A Display Stand is not included and is sold separately - Gemini GJSTD777.

For many years, the U.S. aircraft industry dominated the world's airways while European aircraft manufacturers saw limited success with their BAC-111 and Caravelle jetliners during the 1960s. Recognizing an opportunity to compete against Boeing's 737 line and McDonnell Douglas' MD-80 family in the European market, Airbus developed a short to medium range airliner coined the A320.

With an official launch of the program in early 1981, Air France placed the initial orders for the aircraft at the June 1981 Paris Air Show. The A320 first flew on February 22, 1984 and was the first airliner to feature a computer fly-by-wire system. This feature essentially eliminated the need for internal flight control cables, substantially reducing aircraft weight. As with any new design, the A320 suffered from pilot familiarity problems associated with the fly-by-wire and computer-controlled flight system equipment.

Initial sales of the A320 were hampered because many pilots from the world's airlines were reluctant to move into more technologically advanced aircraft. However, as the A320 proved itself in the coming years, sales of the aircraft soared even above Airbus' expectations.

The A319, with a shorter fuselage, has improved range over the A320 while the A321 has a stretched fuselage for higher passenger capacity.

The A320 family now shares an even portion of the world's short to medium range market with Boeing's 737.