View Full Version : A380
Winkiepinkie
8th Jul 2002, 19:09
I'm terribly sorry to bug everyone with a seemingly menial question, and it is perhaps in the wrong topic/dept, but would anyone care to shed any light as to when Airbus will have the A380 prototype flying (or God forbid, is it already flying?)
Many thanks in advance and apologies again.
W
PS: This is a matter of life and death.
Techman
8th Jul 2002, 19:25
First flight is planned sometime in September 2004.
Brenoch
9th Jul 2002, 02:22
God forbid it will ever fly..
crewrest
9th Jul 2002, 18:34
Luddite
GreGoRy
9th Jul 2002, 18:39
That is so far away.
ETOPS773
17th Jul 2002, 14:39
Just reading about the JAL and ANA 747-400D
JA8957 is now all economy 594 seats!!!!!!
It was converted from a B747-400D,to a 747-400,then converted back.
converted to a -400 by adding 1 set of LE flaps and Winglets , cut off the wheel cooling etc etc.
Lets hope there is a A380D..how many people you think will squeeze into one of them!!
gofer
18th Jul 2002, 14:12
You can send questions to the Airbus moderator, and they really do reply and fast at that...
Airbus on the web (http://www.airbus.com/product/)
spudskier
18th Jul 2002, 18:48
I can only hope all test flights fail and the thing never goes into service... (I am a fututre airline pilot hopeful being in school right now) I'm sorry but that is too many people on one plane... all it takes is one crash g-d forbid.
Too many people...
plus how long would it take to board/unboard that thing!?
Oh pooh! the A380-800 is just the first little one with a one class load of 840.
Wait till they start launching the -900 and larger. Roll on the first model to get airborne with 1000 POB! :D
800 Turn-round Times:
2 Bridges - Main & Upper deck servicing: 90 minutes.
2 Bridges - Main deck only servicing; 123 minutes.
3 Bridges - Main & Upper deck servicing: 80 minutes.
800F freighter: 120 minutes +/- 20 depending on load configuration.
First flight: Autumn 2004. (So only 2 years away)
Service entry: March 2006 (Sinapore Airlines).
800F service entry: 2008
ETOPS773
19th Jul 2002, 10:32
840,thats more like it,thats awesome!!
spudskier..I see your point,but when things go wrong,its just not going to be your day whatever plane your on.
Remember how many people die in big ferry and ship accidents like Titanic / Estonia..1000s...don`t let it worry you and take the singapore airlines A380 job if ever offered ;)
I not sure about market in Japan,the reason they use 747-400Ds are that they skimp on fuel..as route is only 1-2 hours,and can make up the weight advantage with lots of passengers.
Big thing in Japan is airport charges for aircraft MTOW
->Domestic route doesn't need a long range.
-->No need of loading alots of fuel
--->Airport landing fare is based on MTOW.
--->Just use less fuel and make Maximum take off weight low at the paper
Also 747-400D take off like has a rocket booster,REALLY quick! So can get out of smaller airports with cheaper landing fees!!
http://www46.tok2.com/home/igami/image7474D/JA8903.JPG
Maybe easyjet / ryanair will get an A380-800/900 and offer a "cattle run" to the costa del sol or Ibiza for the p!ssheads aged 18-30???