Pretty impressive sight!

A380

A380(2)

It will never fly. It has no engines, and lots of holes in it!



L337

Isn't that 747FOCAL standing under the wing?

What happened to MSN001, MSN002, MSN003. If built does anybody know what bits are connected - even better any photographs?

Hope it's just the perspective (or maybe the lack of paint), but that thing's got the curb appeal of a Shorts mated with a Beluga.

It's big isn't it!

A380 MSNs in order of construction: 001, 004, 002, 007, 003, 005, 006. The aircraft with MSNs 001 and 004 will be the first and the second to fly. They will be used for airframe and systems certification. 002 and 007 will be used for cabin and route trials. 003 will be the first aircraft delivered to Singapore Airlines.

From:

http://www.flightdailynews.com/farnb...port/mega.shtm

http://www.luftfahrtstandort-hamburg...ero380_1.shtml

Airframes intended for ground testing only are numbered 5000 and 5001.

Hopefully if they have a roll out ceremony the weather is good. In the case of the A-310 they had a roll in ceremony. There were two problems. First the aircraft was sitting outside of the production hangar and everyone coming to the ceremony could see the aircraft. Secondly it was raining. When the roll in started all of the executives from the airlines and major subcontractors were sitting down in the area that would be covered by the right wing when the aircraft was in place for the ceremony. The aircraft was towed in and when it stopped several hundred gallons of rainwater came spilling down on the dignitaries. Just imagine if the same thing happened with the A-380?

It´s an ugly, fat beast, or - given the electrical load on the ground - a "stubby power pig"!

Been to TLS two weeks ago, had a look at MSN004:
- Impressive cockpit (windows like DC-10/MD-11)
- HUGE stabilizer compartment (like a cathedral!)
- who´s going to repair the aft pressure bulkhead (composite!) if damaged?!

My head says it´ll fly - my stomach says it won´t... ;-)

Cheers,
J.V.

Does it retract the towtruck?

Most amused by the copyright French Frogs Airslides logo on the pic.

Aeroplane? But ugly

Good luck to Airbus with it - its a big beast, wouldn't want to be in charge of the cabin myself though

You should see the b1tchin going on about it from users in the US about it on ,dare i say it, !!!!!!!!!!!!!! - frankly quite amusing !
They can't bear to think that for one moment someone else may have a good idea and do something about it.

Perhaps Boeing could learn a lesson here, they maybe took it for granted for too long that they were the worlds biggest airliner producer - and did a good job too - but 777 aside,, have come up with nothing really new for 20 years now.
737NG is a rehash, 757 production recently halted, 767 sales very minimal and 777 a success but slowing too.
Hope the 7E7 launch is as impressive as it is made out to be, and will there be a 747 derivative soon ?

How did you guess rotornut?

In fact it was an American idea first - ever seen the drawings for the MD-12? Virtually identical.

The 747 was originally double decker all the way to the back as well.

'don't like the look of that bit of old 2 bi 4 supporting the fin in the first link.

I guess I must be showing my age a bit but the idea isn't new. If my memory serves me correct the old Boeing 'Stratocruiser' was a double decker

vB

Don't recall anyone saying the idea was new.

747Focal....

Yes I can see the double decker all the way to the back as well ....

When Pigs Fly!! LOL Ooops....


Its all very well building these Huge Planes! But, how many airports world wide can handle them ???

I know Sydney is spending Huge money to straighten and widen taxiways / installing Guard lights etc etc and now appears to be running behind schedule! with the Major airlines argueing the Toss! over cost recovery etc etc...expected to be about 100 million dollars.

Singapore airlines being the first to Operate this Aircraft. umm Jan 2005 i believe.