Airbus A380

[JonRB]

Following on from this thread, I notice that the Telegraph is carrying a story on the launch of the Airbus A380, complete with gushing sound-bite quotes from His Blairness.

One bit had me in stitches though:

Telegraph said:

While noise and environmental groups have complained about the new plane, Airbus boasts that the A380 is, in fact, far less noisy than the Boeing 747 and requires less distance in which to take off and land.

Errr, really quite unremarkable.

(Full story here)

[jvaughan]

isnt the launch today ?

[leosayer]

jvaughan said:

isnt the launch today ?

Don't you mean the take-off?

[JonRB]

jvaughan said:

isnt the launch today?

Yes. Hence the news item, I would imagine.

[FourWheelDrift]

jvaughan said:

isnt the launch today ?

Yes, about 12pm. Hence the term launchtime.

[RobDickinson]

Have they actualy flown one yet tho?

From the other thread they've only just stapled the 3 other engines on this 1st airworthy airframe, so it technicaly isnt an airplane yet, just a large bus?

[john_p]

First test flights in April apparently.

[lotuslad]

I thought the reveal was yesterday in Toulouse

Don't know if the interior was fitted yet though...

[mrmaggit]

It's certainly going to make the conjestion around the loading gates intersting!

[Supersonic]

I think the first test flight will be on 31/03/05.

Well done Airbus!

[rev-erend]

Supersonic said:

I think the first test flight will be on 31/03/05. Well done Airbus!

That really is a Big Old Bus

[beano500]

rev-erend said:

That really is a Big Old Bus

Prefer the Routemaster myself - you could hop on and off just where you wanted too...

An open top would be nice, too - for sight seeing in....




Would Mr Blair like to go sight-seeing in the open top version?

[JonRB]

I'm sure it is enormous, but don't you think that because it looks so much more proportioned than a 747 that it looks smaller?

[Supersonic]

Gives an idea of the size of the A380 & B744.

[FourWheelDrift]

It does look shorter, too short really but I think that is down to the huge tailfin which is much large in comparison to the 747's, even accounting for a the size increase of the A380.

[Hardcore2000]

wheres the test flight going to be, i assume out of toulouse. anyone thinking of going to watch the first flight?

[RobDickinson]

It probably looks shorter/stumpier because they have to stick to the 80m max cube size that all airports are designed for.

[Ribol]

JonRB said:

complete with gushing sound-bite quotes from His Blairness.

In the part I heard on the news "His Blairness" (excellent) was talking as if he had comissioned it on behalf of the Labour party.

Has the UK got any money in this project?

[RobDickinson]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Nah, wont be stretched, just packed full of cheap seats, 840 max I hear.

[Hardcore2000]

which airport in toulouse is the final assembly undertaen and first test flight scheduled.Is it a passenger airport?