A380 performance

[roadie]

Hi all!

Just wondering... how is the A380's high altitude performance? Is it a high flyer, like the old Ansett 762s often heard at FL390/FL410? Is it a slug- like a heavily laden 744 struggling to FL290? Just wonderin...

Any info would be appreciated....

Thanks!

[FullySickBro]

You should get a good answer a couple of days from now :ok:

[Transition Layer]

Hey Bro,

When's your first proper ride in the big girl?

[Givelda]

Certified limit is 43100ft and MTOW is 569t.
From SIN to LHR (FTI 13:10) the other night at around TOW of 550t (if I remember correctly), we went straight to FL340 which, by the time we got there, was a few hundred feet below REC MAX. The plan had us initially at FL320 with a climb to 340 about 1:15 into the flight.
With the climb derate taken out, the climb rate was near 800 fpm for the last bit.
Got to FL400 in about the last three or so hours before LHR.

[fire wall]

That is impressive Givelda.
Can I assume about 14T for the climb?
If so, at say 530 odd T what was your crz Mno at 340?
Ta

[Givelda]

Macn No at CRZ starts out at around .84 at TOC, drops back to around .835 when it's time for the next step climb.
However, somewhat dependant on the CI. The fleet started out at 130 but back a bit now. Supposed to be going to individual flight CI's soon, I believe.
As I recall, the FP gave 13t for the climb to FL320 plus 1.5t for taxi.
Overall, for the same sector, it seems to be easily capable of about 2 - 3000 ft higher than the 747 can do. At least that's the impression I have at the moment - only been on the thing for three months so I still have my "P" plates on at this stage!!!
Have another LHR in a few days, so will see what the numbers are then.

[neville_nobody]

Yeah but what's the fuel burn compared to the 747-400 though?

[Givelda]

Don't know if this helps Neville, but some raw numbers from a couple of old plans I have for SIN - SYD - without any numbers for the actual payload carried;
A380 burn-off = 85t (max possible pax load 470)
B744 burn-off = 73t (max possible pax load 375)

FTI for both flights was 6:45