A380 flies

[GaryKelly]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4488361.stm


"The world's largest passenger plane, the Airbus A380, has landed safely, completing its maiden flight."

"The A380 - designed to carry as many as 840 people between major airports - took off from its production site in southern France just after 0830 GMT."

840 people. Why does part of me wince at the size of that number?

[IRTradRU?]

840 people. Why does part of me wince at the size of that number?

Same here.

[OutOfBreath]

Yep, if one of those augers in it will easily eclipse the carnage from the collision of two 747s a couple of decades ago...

I wonder if it has the anti-missile defense? It sure would be a nice fat target for a terrorist...

[IRTradRU?]

The other thing about this behemoth is the current cost of fuel to run it.

FOUR engines - two on each wing... 840 bodies... luggage.... cargo...

that's a lot of fuel so that a whole bunch of folks that don't know each other can all go to the same place at the same time.

It should be dubbed, 'the Hummer* of the skies'.





* - Hummer: for the uninitiated, the Hummer is a monster-sized truck/car/passenger vehicle designed for the military, but later made into civilian versions, with all the creature comforts. Priced between $50,000 and $60,000 US$, their gas mileage is usually referenced in 'gallons per mile' rather than 'miles per gallon'.

[RonKiley]

My son in law works for Airbus. He says that they have not been selling in the US. The US airlines are opting for the new Boeing plane that is smaller and more fuel efficient. It is designed to fly direct between both major and smaller cities. I hope to get a chance to fly the simulator for the Airbus one day soon. My son in law is a simulation engineer. I have flown the A 340 simulator. It is so realistic the FAA will certify a pilot in the simulator alone.

Ron

[BillChin]

The big plane certainly fits certain needs. If full, the fuel economy per passenger mile is the best in the industry, or so Airbus claims. Of course, operational results are not in yet. There are many airports where flight time slots are extremely valuable. Having more passengers for one flight slot is a blessing for them.

One significant downside in that airports have to rebuild runways and terminals to accommodate the behemoth.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/ar ... c18_2.html

http://www.yeald.com/Yeald/a/33941/both ... tures.html

[IRTradRU?]

One significant downside in that airports have to rebuild runways and terminals to accommodate the behemoth.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/ar ... c18_2.html

http://www.yeald.com/Yeald/a/33941/both ... tures.html

Excellent point. It isn't exactly cheap to build a new runway.

[Bloomfield]

One significant downside in that airports have to rebuild runways and terminals to accommodate the behemoth.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/ar ... c18_2.html

http://www.yeald.com/Yeald/a/33941/both ... tures.html

Excellent point. It isn't exactly cheap to build a new runway.

Nothing is too dear if it means poking Boeing in the eye.

:roll:

[Henke]

I acctually sat and watched the maiden flight live on the tv for a few minutes before I left home today. Impressive plane is all I can say. It was quite interesting.

[Flyingcursor]

It's maiden voyage? Good thing it didn't hit an iceburg.


IRTradRU - Glad you defined hummer. The perverts here were giggling like schoolboys.

[Martin Milner]

I thought this thread was going to be about the number of windscreen splats you collect driving on the A380, Gary.

Now I'm really disappointed.