A380 wheels down all the time??
 

Hi,

Just wondering why the A380 seems to perform all it's displays wheels down? Is it some kind of precautionary measure? In which case did they ferry it from Toulouse like that or was the gear up?

Questions questions questions eh?

Cheers,
DVR6K

On it's first flight it did take it's gear up, but it was a good while after she lifted off.

Don't know if she went to the show with gear up or down though.

As you can see here, the gear has already been retracted directly after takeoff during a TLS based testflight, so obviously it is working.

If they leave it extended during display, maybe they think it looks more impressive this way.

A380 wheels down.

Possibly to do with configuration required for low speed displays.

Good thinking all, thanks.

Also was wondering when does it get tested at MTOW for the first time and how do they do it? Jerry cans full of water like in a PA34??

So that it can fly slowly enough to impersonate a Zeppelin?

As I understand it, the very first flight was at or very close to MTOW. Also that they carried water ballast.

I found that strange. If I had built an airplane myself, I'd take off as light as possible on the first flight !

They dont bother retracting because the they still are running all the in-flight checks during the retract sequence. ie there would be a minute of checks before and a couple of minutes of checks afterwards.
Therefore it doesnt make sense to retract during what is a fairly short display.

As for ballast, the first flight was not that close to MTOW, but the aircraft does carry a large number of drums of water. The water can actually be pumped around between drums (probably to explore CG variations and ranges).

I believe that the gear has not been yet fully tested being retracted whilst at extreme angles of attack. I.e. at the moment they prefer nice straight and steady climbouts to do it.

If you look at the A340-600 display, they rotate to maxiumum pitch attitude and then very quickly roll on a lot of left bank, whilst retracting the gear. You'd only do that if you have 100% confidence in the operation of the gear.