The Airbus A310 has always been an enigmatic aircraft. With a widebody seating configuration, but clocking in barely longer than the single-aisle A321, this European airliner became a welcome sight among avgeeks despite (or perhaps because of) its unusual proportions. It first took to the skies 42 years ago, on April 3rd, 1982, and entered commercial service one year later. How did the A310 come to be?