Airbus A380

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UNVEILING THE FLAGSHIP – THE A380 REVEAL
JANUARY 17, 2005

One of the key milestones in the Airbus A380 programme will take place tomorrow, 18th January. The world’s first full-length twin-deck aircraft will be officially revealed to the world for the first time at a ceremony to be held in the Jean-Luc Lagardere Final Assembly Line hall at Toulouse, France.

The President of the French Republic, Jacques Chirac, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Tony Blair, the Federal Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, Gerhard Schroeder, and the Prime Minister of the Spanish Kingdom, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero will preside over the reveal ceremony. More than 4,500 guests will attend, including the CEOs of the 14 A380 customers, as well as eminent representatives from the airline community, the Airbus shareholders, suppliers and other stakeholders, as well as the media.

Tomorrow’s reveal will underpin the successful progress of the A380 programme. It is also a reflection of Airbus’ position as the market leader of the civil aviation industry. As part of the official unveiling, a live show will feature Airbus’ vision, philosophy and global values which, over 35 years, have made its success as well as this new challenge possible. At the heart of this is Airbus' dedication to listening to its customers and turn their wishes into reality through a continuous flow of innovations and a ceaseless quest for quality, efficiency and maturity of its products.

The A380 reveal will also mark the launch of Airbus’ new livery. The change in livery, the first since the A310, further materialises the entry of Airbus into a new era. The A380 is the first aircraft to display the company’s new colours that reflect not only Airbus’ current market position but also its ambitions to pursue aviation excellence long into the future. The new design embodies beautifully the Airbus brand values of creative flair, technological prowess, relationship building and team spirit.

The 555-seat A380 passenger aircraft has a range of up to 8,000nm/15,000km, allowing it to fly non-stop between Europe and Asia, while the three-deck long-range freighter version, the A380F, will be able to carry up to 152 tonnes/ 335,000 lbs of cargo on standard pallets over distances of up to 5,600nm/10,400km. Incorporating the most advanced technologies available in this decade, it will be the most fuel efficient and environmentally friendly airliner ever built, while offering unequalled levels of passenger comfort and cargo carrying capability. First passenger operations are scheduled to begin in 2006 when the A380 is due to enter service. In addition, the first A380F, the freighter version of the aircraft, is expected to begin operations in 2008.

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A380 #2

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A380 #13 - last pic...

[henk4]

Interesting, it should be noted that although the plane is assembled in Toulouse, many parts are produced elsewhere, a.o. in the UK, in Ireland and Hamburg. These parts are so large that the normal "Flying Guppy's" are not big enough to carry them. Airbus had to set up a complicated logistical system to get the parts to Toulouse. Two specialised ships were built in Korea to carry the wings from Hamburg to Bordeaux and from there a heavy trailer is needed to bring these to Toulouse. It really is a European co-production.

[Mustang]

ive got a speeded up video somewhere of them making one of those its quite impressive :)

[fa22_raptor]

I've been following (well, kinnda) the A380's development since its conception oh so many years ago when it was still called the A3XX (Yes, that's right, I like planes as well as cars as can be seen by my username). It'll be awesome to see in real life when it actually goes into service in Melbourne (which should be in October 2006) and I'm really looking forward to flying on one one day!
What's interesting to note is that despite its significantly longer wingspan than the 747-400, it's only very slightly longer. It also has a slightly slower crusing speed and shorter range. Of course, this is all balanced by its lower operating costs and higher capacity. Also interesting is how the cockpit is on the first storey, rather than on the second as is seen on the 747. This makes its "forehead" fairly large and to some, that makes it look weird.
Anyway, looking forward to seeing the A380 in all its glory at Melbourne Airport in 2006!

[BjD]

They make the wings for this in the Broughton factory, which is just down the road from me back home (when im not 'studying' in uni) You can see the runway from my bedroom! There was a feature about the A380 on the local news, which i cant get here, they were interviewing a guy from my school whos on the production line there. The old wings they made were flown to Toulouse on a transport plane, flew right over the house depending on which runway it was using.
As henk said the A380 wings are too big for that, so theyve had to build a private road so they can transport the wings on a purpose built trailer to the river. Goes over a couple of roads and a rail line IIRC, kinda messes up the traffic every couple of weeks :) Then its by barge down the Dee to Mostyn docks then to France. Logistics of it are quite imense.

[Matra et Alpine]

I thought the wings were UK and some of the avionics ?

[henk4]

I thought the wings were UK and some of the avionics ?

Right, Hamburg makes the body sections that don't fit in the Guppies.

[Sweeney921]

HUGE superjumbojet. Its wingspan is so huge that Dulles airport is gonna have to rebuild some of its terminals to accomodate it. The newspaper says its tail wing is 7 stories tall.

[UCR]

I hope this wont be part of another terrorist attack.

Flying one of them into old trafford, would be some serious tradedgy.

Anyone know about anti terrorist technology in it?

[gregvl52]

What type of engine does this use? GE? Rolls Royce? Either, depending on client?

[illusionest]

i did a technology research project thing few years ago
i still remember searching for A380 info in a book.
its finally out :)
wutta big plane.... lots of stuff too... :D

[silverhawk]

i saw a documentary on this plane. it was called the A3XX. its longer & larger then the Boeing 747 & can easily fit in some hangars that can accomadate a 747. Emirates Airlines was the first to buy the A3XX & bought 5 planes.

Boeing on the other hand (or wing) are rumoured to be building a longer version of the 747. i never thought id see an airplane limousine.

[henk4]

i saw a documentary on this plane. it was called the A3XX. its longer & larger then the Boeing 747 & can easily fit in some hangars that can accomadate a 747. Emirates Airlines was the first to buy the A3XX & bought 5 planes.

Boeing on the other hand (or wing) are rumoured to be building a longer version of the 747. i never thought id see an airplane limousine.

Boeing is developing a long distance (15000 km) plane for maximum 300 passengers, named 7E7. They are trying to play down the market chances of the A380, by stating that passengers want direct connections than being carried around via a hub and spoke system, with at least one transfer. When they launched the 747 similar arguments could have been brought forward and yet the success of the Jumbo was overwhelming. Grapes are slightly sour in Seattle.

[Matra et Alpine]

What type of engine does this use? GE? Rolls Royce? Either, depending on client?
At the test of the RR engine the report said "The Trent 900 will be used on 48% of Airbus A380s so far ordered. The other planes will use US Pratt & Whitney engines." It's actually by "Engine Alliance" which is GE, Pratt&Whitneey, SNECMA of France and a German engine supplier.

Up to the client.

What ratio it's at now I don't know.

[ScionDriver]

That thing is massive! However when its a picture of the plane itself it looks like any othr plane. But anyway, any specs? Like horsepower :D or anything? Is it like a replacement for the concorde? I doubt its that fast, but you know, I mean just like in the way of fleets and such?

[Matra et Alpine]

It's a big efficient transport. The next-gen 747 :)
See http://www.airbus.com/events/a380_reveal/event/index.asp

[Quiggs]

I saw a show about this plane on the cruise ship I was on 2 weeks ago. It dwarfs the C5 Galaxy. Truly awesome.

[Rebirth of Xar]

I read in the paper a couple of weeks ago that a big shipping company (dunno if it was fedex/ups/something like that) had recently completed a deal to purchase 10 Airbuses for well over 1Billion dollars.. probably 1.2 or 2.2Billion...
________
no2 vaporizer (http://no2vaporizers.com)

[Matra et Alpine]

Well the worlds largest airliner has landed at the world busiest international airport !!!

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41659000/jpg/_41659704_airbus-landing203afp.jpg

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/help/3681938.stm << vid

article >> http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4990780.stm

Prior to landing at Heathrow it had flown low passes over the plants at Broughton and Filton. Nice touch -- shame as I thought it had been scheduled to land at Filton. Maybe on it's exit from Heathrow, we'll see.

Pretty impressive looking. Especially when you see it taxiing at the end, puts thoses wings into perspective :D

Not TOO impressed at the glide slope :(
Either it was gusty today at Heathrow OR the pilot needs to spend more time in the flight simulator OR they need to get SP1 released for the flight control software :D You'd be vomitting in 1st class with that amount of bobbing !!!!



Comparison with the largest 747 ....
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/40728000/gif/_40728825_airbus_a380416.gif

[P3RG4R3C]

Isn't Chicago's airport O'Hare the busiest?

[derekthetree]

Isn't Chicago's airport O'Hare the busiest?

i thought atlanta or schipol?

[Matra et Alpine]

Heathrow is the busiest INTERNATIONAL airport.
( Come on guys you shoudl know me by now :) )

Atlanta and O'Hare are first and second in terms of passegners and freight carried with Heathrow third. BUT most of that isn't INTERNATIONAL traffic :D

[nota]

Great pics of the 380 @ Sydney last November :cool:

http://www.airliners.net/open.file?id=0959577&size=L&width=1000&height=678&sok=JURER%20%20%28nvepensg_trarevp%20%3D%20%27Nveo hf%20N380%27%29%20NAQ%20%28nveyvar%20YVXR%20%27Dna gnf%25%27%20BE%20nveyvar%20YVXR%20%27Wncna%20Nveyv arf%20-%20WNY%20%28Dnagnf%29%25%27%29%20%20BEQRE%20OL%20c ubgb_vq%20QRFP&photo_nr=2&prev_id=0960350&next_id=0959076

http://www.airliners.net/open.file?id=0978169&size=L&width=1024&height=749&sok=JURER%20%20%28nvepensg_trarevp%20%3D%20%27Nveo hf%20N380%27%29%20NAQ%20%28nveyvar%20YVXR%20%27Dna gnf%25%27%20BE%20nveyvar%20YVXR%20%27Wncna%20Nveyv arf%20-%20WNY%20%28Dnagnf%29%25%27%29%20%20BEQRE%20OL%20c ubgb_vq%20QRFP&photo_nr=5&prev_id=0981419&next_id=0974732

http://www.airliners.net/open.file?id=0961074&size=L&width=1600&height=1079&sok=JURER%20%20%28nvepensg_trarevp%20%3D%20%27Nveo hf%20N380%27%29%20NAQ%20%28nveyvar%20YVXR%20%27Dna gnf%25%27%20BE%20nveyvar%20YVXR%20%27Wncna%20Nveyv arf%20-%20WNY%20%28Dnagnf%29%25%27%29%20%20beqre%20ol%20c ubgb_vq%20QRFP&photo_nr=22&prev_id=0961694&next_id=0960351

[matek]

Rank
City (Airport)
Total
Passengers
% Change

1
ATLANTA, GA (ATL)
85 907 423
2.8

2
CHICAGO, IL (ORD)
76 510 003
1.3

3
LONDON, GB (LHR)
67 915 389
0.8

4
TOKYO, JP (HND)
63 282 219
1.6

5
LOS ANGELES, CA (LAX)
61 485 269
1.3

6
DALLAS/FT WORTH AIRPORT, TX (DFW)
59 064 360
(0.6)

7
PARIS, FR (CDG)
53 756 200
4.9

8
FRANKFURT, DE (FRA)
52 219 412
2.2

9
LAS VEGAS, NV (LAS)
44 280 190
6.8

10
AMSTERDAM, NL (AMS)
44 163 098
3.8

11
DENVER, CO (DEN)
43 307 335
2.2

12
MADRID, ES (MAD)
41 939 904
8.4

13
PHOENIX, AZ (PHX)
41 204 071
4.3

14
BEIJING, CN (PEK)
40 989 651
17.5

15
NEW YORK, NY (JFK)
40 584 001
8.2

16
HONG KONG, CN (HKG)
40 282 000
9.7

17
HOUSTON, TX (IAH)
39 713 920
8.8

18
BANGKOK, TH (BKK)
38 985 043
2.7

19
MINNEAPOLIS/ST PAUL, MN (MSP)
37 563 664
2.3

20
DETROIT, MI (DTW)
36 374 906
3.4

21
ORLANDO, FL (MCO)
33 907 396
8.4

22
SAN FRANCISCO, CA (SFO)
33 580 662
2.6

23
NEWARK, NJ (EWR)
33 033 569
3.6

24
LONDON, GB (LGW)
32 784 177
4.2

25
SINGAPORE, SG (SIN)
32 430 856
6.8

26
TOKYO, JP (NRT)
31 525 275
1.5

27
PHILADELPHIA, PA (PHL)
31 502 855
10.5

28
MIAMI, FL (MIA)
31 008 453
2.8

29
TORONTO, ON, CA (YYZ)
29 914 925
4.6

30
SEATTLE/TACOMA, WA (SEA)
29 289 009
1.7

[matek]

Sorry about the layout^^^^

[carbrochuretom]

I saw a show about this plane on the cruise ship I was on 2 weeks ago. It dwarfs the C5 Galaxy. Truly awesome.
What cruise ship?:D

[KonaGreen]

Looks like a heavy cross-wind landing to me. You could try this site for lots of A380 vids:
http://www.flightlevel350.com/aviation_videos.php?detail=search

[Matra et Alpine]

AS Mateks posts see column descrptions .. "TOTAL PASSENGERS".
So includes all those domestic travellers hubbed out of ATL and ORD.