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."
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
I'll be praying for the passengers. I think they really need it.
"I guess they fixed it."
It's only been a couple weeks since it failed, no way they have had time to redesign, build a new wing, and retest it.
Even if they did it would have been a big news release.
The wing in the last test snapped under load way before the designated load was reached.
There's a company in the UK that has figured out how to put 852 seats on these planes.
First thing a Democrat President will do is commission a new Air Force 1 using an AirBus A380.
Besides the operational center and Mobile White House modules, the luxury amenities will include a spa, massage parlor, and a shopping mall.
So when one of the 870 passenger liners augers in, any
local Emergency Medical teams will be overwhelmed....
Maybe not.
Why am I not surprised the Frogs and Germans are sucking up to Arab Muslims on their first test flights of the Airbust?
Even painted the crash vehicle to simulate the Arab air fleet colors --- Black and Blue with blood red stripes I assume..
Could the French Airbust success be so dependent on Arab sales that they would do or say anything earn their Arab butt buddies "approval"?
Fruck the Fench..
Semper fi
ROFLMAO!!!!
LOL! I heard it called BigBus the other day.
I'd love to fly on it!
I would have loved to have had the contract for 474 fully instrumented crash test dummies...
Dale - - as I recall from the Internet stories, the A380 wings ruptured just below the 1.5 x lower limit loading. I think that Airbus was calling it a success, while their stock began its descent (ahead of schedule).
While I suspect that this can be addressed, I would think that the flying public may be interested in taking a step back and looking at the wing strength "issues" in context with other purported weakness, such as (and if I recall correctly) being 5 tones overweight, miswiring, and most recently, some sort of weakness in the tail area.
In fairness, I doubt that there has ever been a production airplane that did not need some tweaking.
However, my hunch (and it's just a hunch) is that this airplane is not exactly over-engineered, if you know what I mean.
Also, I don't think that the A380s are selling especially well. If the A380 doesn't catch on with the flying public, airlines could be holding the most expensive white elephant in aviation history.
.
I hit really bad clear air turbulance one time and if my wife and I hadn't had out seat belts tight we would have been tossed all over the cabin.
It wrinkled the top wing skin, which was a little spooky.
It was a rental, glad it wasn't mine. Mine was down getting a new engine at the time.
Barbs,Kerry, Baldwin bros,Al,Jessie and many moore... :-))
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