Posted on 07/31/2006 5:54:07 PM PDT by Paleo Conservative
Airbus is aiming to undertake the first flight of an A380 with a full load of passengers at the beginning of next month, when it launches the early long flights (ELF) test programme for the ultra-large aircraft.
Speaking in Abu Dhabi, where the A380 was last week undertaking a hot-weather test campaign, Airbus flight-test engineer Jacky Joye told Flight International that Airbus has set a target date for the first flight with a full load of passengers: "The first ELF flight is due to take place on 4 September," he said.
The ELF programme will be flown by the third A380 flight-test aircraft (MSN002), which is equipped with a fully furnished, 474-seat three-class test cabin. This aircraft was recently used to complete the external noise trials in Tarbes, France. A second cabin-equipped A380 (MSN007) will undertake the 300h of route-proving required for type certification towards the end of the year, in conjunction with Lufthansa and Singapore Airlines.
The ELF test programme will comprise four flights to test the cabin in airline operating conditions, said Joye. "We had issues with the cabin on the A340-300 after it entered service, so we introduced the ELF tests with the A340-600," he added. The programme enables early feedback on any potential problems with the cabin ahead of the route-proving programme.
Four ELF flights will be performed from Toulouse - 7h, 10h, 12h and 15h - one a night flight to cover all types of conditions. Around 300 of the passengers will be Airbus staff, and the remainder will be "other guests", says Airbus.
Meanwhile, the Rolls-Royce Trent 900-powered A380 MSN004 spent last week in the emirate of Abu Dhabi undergoing hot-weather tests in temperatures of around 40°C (104°F). The aircraft was adorned in partial Etihad Airways colours for a public relations event at the airline's base at Abu Dhabi international airport, ahead of the seven-day test programme that was flown from Al Ain airfield, north of the city of Abu Dhabi.
"We are testing all the aircraft systems in hot conditions and focusing on evaluating the performance of the engines. We're making sure they deliver the required thrust and measuring exhaust gas temperatures," said Joye. "Tests involve simulating an engine failure to keep the aircraft at lower, warmer altitudes for a longer period while we take measurements."
I hope the wings don't break off!
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Oh! The Hugh Manatee!
Who would want to fly with 500 people?? There are soooooo many nuts in the world the chances of running into one on a plane this size is astronomical!!
Day-ham, and I thought the Mercury 7 had the 'right stuff'!
Aluminum Goose sighting!!
Plus, it's a European plane. If somebody stormed the cockpit of an Air France it would play out like this:
Le pilot: We surrender!
Le hijaquer: Wait...I'm not even armed.
They're building that plane for an economic model that was obsolete before the plane was even on the drawing boards.
what kind of nut wants to screw with 499 people? The days of a nut with a bomb taking over a plane are long gone. Richard Reid looked like he took a royal arse kicking before he landed. The radical Islamist that starts up next to me on a plane will say "I have a ...." before he finds a ball point pen in his voicebox
There are soooooo many nuts in the world the chances of running into one on a plane this size is astronomical!!
Headline AFP.
119 Saudi terrorists today commandeered a French A380 jet liner......more to follow.
1st class stretched seat (flat bed seat style). Offering about a third more seating and far more available floor space than its closest competitor, the A380 will have wider seats and aisles, open spaces for passengers to stretch their legs and access to lower-deck amenities.
A380 will be the most spacious passenger plane. There will be room on the lower deck for shops, bars, restaurants and casinos.
Luxury sleeping compartments. The A380 will typically seat 555 passengers in three classes, although only a fortunate few will enjoy the sort of luxury shown in this mock-up.
What happened with the failed wing test, why are they allowed to keep doing flight tests until the wing problem is resolved?
'The programme enables early feedback'
Duh-Was that a SAM Jethro?
Who are the passengers? Condemned criminals?
I guess they fixed it. I'm a pretty big fan of aviation, but I guess I just haven't been keeping up with the A380. I just think that it's kind of big and overpriced.
"Around 300 of the passengers will be Airbus staff, and the remainder will be "other guests", says Airbus."
Wondering if those people are employees they would like to terminate but government rules won't let them?
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