Thursday, March 22, 2007



Two A380s make history with near-simultaneous arrivals in New York and Los Angeles 19 March 2007The A380 made its United States debut as two aircraft landed within minutes of each other at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York and Los Angeles International Airport. The New York stopover is part of a 12-day route proving trip, while the Los Angeles visit will be used for airport compatibility and functional checks.
more
The new Airbus 380 "superjumbo" jet, unveiled today in Toulouse, France, will carry 555 passengers (when configured for three classes of seating). Its wingspan stretches nearly the length of a football field—50 feet (15 meters) wider than any commercial plane in the air today. (See pictures of the A380.)
Airbus claims greater size equals greater environmental benefits. The new plane, the company boasts, will help ease the increasingly congested airspace. By transporting more people, the plane's fuel-burn per passenger will make it more environmentally friendly than most cars, Airbus says.

Formerly known as the A3XX, Airbus' double-decker passenger jet, the A380, will be the largest airliner ever built. Lengthwise, it would nearly stretch from goal line to goal line of a football field while its wing tips would hang well beyond the sidelines. Three full decks will run along the entire length of the plane. Upper and main decks will serve as passenger areas, and will be connected by a grand staircase near the front of the plane and by another smaller staircase at the back. Although the lower deck will be reserved primarily for cargo, it could be outfitted for special passenger uses such as sleeper cabins, business centers or even child care service. In a one-class configuration, the A380 could accommodate as many as 840 passengers. The more likely three-class configuration will still offer an unprecedented 555 passenger seats. Either way, the A380 would offer 30% - 50% more seating than its direct competition, the Boeing 747-400.
Although the A380 will be able to fly a distance of over 10,000 miles, the plane's usefulness will not be limited to long-haul flights. For instance, many flights within Japan are among the highest in passenger capacity and would be well suited for A380 service, despite their short distances. Whatever the flight distance, a new breed of engines will be required to lift the plane's 1.2 million pounds into the air. Rolls Royce and GE/Pratt & Whitney are both working on engines to provide thrust that will max out at 75,000 pounds. By comparison, the first American jet airliner in service, the Boeing 707, was powered by only 10,000 pounds of thrust.
As amazing as it will be for this behemoth to take off into the air, the A380 faces significant challenges on the ground as well. To integrate into existing airports, the A380 must fit the standard airport-docking plan. The plane's nearly 262-foot wingspan meets this requirement by about 18 inches. Its outer-most engines, however, would hang just beyond the standard 150-foot runway width, requiring upgrades at many airports. The plane's weight will be distributed to 20 landing gear wheels, actually producing less weight per wheel than the 747. The cockpit location, between the main and upper decks, is designed to give pilots a vantage point on the runway similar to that of current airliners.
Due to recent technological advances, Airbus claims the A380 will be a more efficient plane than its rival, the 747. Airbus states the A380 will use 20% less fuel and will fly quieter, cheaper and more environmentally friendly than the 747. Airlines seem to be impressed. So far, ten carriers have declared their interest in the plane, placing options to order a total of 66 planes.
Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)