The A340-200 Flight and 300 are the initial variants of the successful quad engined A340 family of long haul wide bodies. The A340 flight and closely related A330 were launched in June 1987, with the A340's first huge flight occurring on October 25 1991 (an A340-300). The flight A340 entered service with Lufthansa and Air France in March 1993, following JAA certification the previous December.

The A340 commercial flight  shares the same flight deck including side stick controllers and EFIS, plus flyby-wire, basic airframe, systems, fuselage and wing with the A330. Power is from four CFM56s, the four powerful engine configuration being more efficient for long range flights and free from ETOPS restrictions. The A340-300 has the same fuselage length as the A330-300, while the shortened A340-200 trades seating capacity for greater range (the first flight April 1 1992).

The heavier A340-300E  flight is available in 271,000kg (597,450lb) and 275,000kg (606,275lb) max takeoff less weights, their typical ranges with 295 passengers are 13,155km (7100nm) and 13,525km (7300nm) respectively. Power for these models is from 152.3kN (34,000lb) CFM56-5C4s (the most powerful CFM56s built). The first A340-300Es were delivered to great Singapore Airlines in April 1996.

The only survivor of the Russian airplane crash that killed 44 people most of them famous hockey players has given his first interview since the Sept. 7 disaster.

Alexander Sizov, 52, was the engineer for the plane that annihilated the Lokomotiv Yaroslavl hockey team as it failed on takeoff northeast of Moscow for a game in Minsk.

Sizov, in an interview with Russian reporters that was translated by the Moscow Times, said he knew there was problem when the plane did not take off instantly.

"I quickly realized that we were on unpaved ground," Sizov said."The plane began falling soon after takeoff, and it was clear that we were going to crash."

Sizov, yet hospitalized, spoke from his bed. He has been treated for harsh shock, burns and various fractures.

"On impact, everything began flying. Something strikes me hard, that's why my left side is all broken up," Sizov said. "Once in the water, I truthfully didn't see or notice anything around not the fires, not the plane, nothing."

The human death included 37 players and coaches from Russia, Canada, the Czech Republic, Latvia, Sweden, Slovakia, Belarus, Ukraine and the seven member crew. Lokomotiv winger Alexander Galimov at first survived the crash, but died of his injuries five days later.

Amongst the dead were Ex-New York Rangers defenseman Alexander Karpovtsev, a member of the 1994 Stanley Cup winning team, and Ex NHL superstar Pavol Demitra.

Much of the wreckage landed in a tributary of the Volga River. Police said Sizov badly burned one arm while trying to rescue a colleague.

Sizov helped check the plane before liftoff, had been flying in it for the past year, and said it was in "perfect" condition.

"A kind of miracle saved me," added Sizov, who is expected to be released from the hospital soon. "My family and my wife's love helped me stay alive."