Airbus unveils its superjumbo, European leaders hail lead over US

AFP ^

[Lazamataz]

They have a few paltry amenities like a gym and a bedroom?

We've had flying houses for a lot longer than that.

[aspiring.hillbilly]

This might be the next technological advance equivalent to the Boeing 707 in its era...

[Question_Assumptions]

The huge A380 superjumbo, which can carry up to 840 people on its two full decks, supersedes the ageing 747 by US rival Boeing as the biggest civilian aircraft ever made.

I like to consider the 747 "well tested and proven" rather than "aging". Some of us like the idea of having four engines and a solid overdesigned airframe.

[CasearianDaoist]

Very interesting link. Do keep us informed, pls.

[Ed Thomas]

I guess not then, I'm Gloucestershire (Stroud way), about 30mins from Filton on the M5. I take it you're closer to Bristol?

[Happy2BMe]

Flying house . .

Post a pic of the 'Spruce Goose' why dontcha?

[JesseJane]

But do the Euros know something about future fuel (abundant) fuel availability that we don't?

IMO, they seek to control the oil in the Gulf-States, no matter the humanitarian cost. France, Germany, Russia turned their eyes from the genocide in Iraq for oil deals just to name one place. (Doing the same in the Sudan I believe) Buying, selling, building, undercutting the West in exchange for weapon technology that Saddam wanted. That same deal is being struck with China despite EU embargo's. Sooooooooooooooooo.... oil/fuel is indeed da' answer, and the key to the controlling the global economic engines across the world.

[Redcloak]

It's very interesting, but from an economics standpoint, is any carrier really lamenting the fact that they can't move 800 passengers at once? An 800+ passenger plane is useful only if there's a need for such a behemoth. With the exception of holiday travel, how often are existing aircraft packed to the gills? I think that Old Europe may have just invested $14 billion to fly lots of empty seats around in the sky.

[EQAndyBuzz]

"And, how do 800 passengers evacuate in an emergency."

First class goes first and the rest perish in the name of the party.

[WOSG]

Some more links:

How Boeing screwed up ...
http://slate.msn.com/id/2092031/

Jet Lag
How Boeing blew it.
By Douglas Gantenbein
Posted Friday, Dec. 5, 2003, at 10:34 AM PT

And what could save them in commercial aviation ...
http://www.aerosite.net/bwb.htm

This revolutionary blended wing design, called BWB for short, was conceived by the McDonnell Douglas Corporation and now proposed by Boeing. Its flying-wing shape has a thick airfoil-shaped fuselage section to maximize overall efficiency by integrating the engines, wings, and the body into a single lifting surface. The BWB concept houses a wide double-deck passenger compartment that actually blends into the wing. Adjacent to the passenger section is ample room for baggage and cargo.

Preliminary analyses indicate that the BWB would outperform all conventional aircraft. It is conceived to carry 800 passengers 8,000 nautical miles at a cruise speed of approximately 560 knots. This is almost twice the passenger capacity of the Boeing 747-400 and 69% larger than the new Airbus A380! This design would reduce fuel burn and harmful emissions per passenger mile by almost a third in comparison to today's aircraft. Other potential benefits of the BWB include increased aerodynamic performance, lower operating cost and reduced community noise levels.

[maestro]

......Giant flying machines preceeded WW-II too.....

/W-III

[xp38]

Yeah but Oz is too weird for most to visit.

[Question_Assumptions]

My guess is that the Japanese will use 1,000 passenger versions for short hops. I've been on Japanese 747s. They are quite unpleasant if you are taller than, say, 5 feet.

[Proud2BeRight]

"And, how do 800 passengers evacuate in an emergency."

"First class goes first and the rest perish in the name of the party."

And, if Democrat; "the rest" can still continue to exercise their right to vote.

[Reaganesque]

You're probably right. However, price is only a factor in the absence of value. If Boeing offers a plane that has lower operating costs, is safer to fly, doesn't require extensive modifications to existing infrastructure and delivers the same value as the A380, that would be one heck of a competitive advantage. Problem is, will Boeing see it that way? Apparently the main stumbling blocks to going ahead with the project is that most passengers would not have a window seat and Boeing's apparent attitude of "it wasn't invented by us."(The blended wing concept came from McDonald Douglas.) This according to the articles I've read.

[Smokin' Joe]

Let one of these go down, loaded with 'penny stinkers' and they'll have another record...

No thanks, I'll take the 'vomit comet' any day.

[Happy2BMe]

"Buying, selling, building, undercutting the West in exchange for weapon technology that Saddam wanted."

========================

Let's not forget what Saddam used to kill hundreds of thousands of Iranians with in the Iran/Iraq War, and where it came from - just to keep history in perspective.

[LTCJ]

C-5

Exactly. Imagine their disappointment.

[buwaya]

That will happen. Its a lot cheaper to modify airports than to buy new planes. There will be some delay due to the airport issue, but its not going to be much.