Airbus unveils its superjumbo, European leaders hail lead over US

AFP ^

[Question_Assumptions]

My guess is that (A) Boeing is learning how to do composite construction using the 7E7 and (B) waiting for a military contract ot subsidize working out all of the problem with something like that. The main problem I've heard about with a composite wing (other than the lack of window seats) is escape during an emergency. A lot of seats will be very far from an exterior bulkhead.

[insider_uk]

About 30 minutes is the same, but in the other direction. W-s-M.

[WOSG]

"1. I thought the aviation trend was going more to regional jets and smaller "full service" jets. Hence the rise of the Canadian and Brazillian jet industries and Boeing building planes like the 717, 777, 7E7 etc."


Yeah, well Boeing just withdrew a 100 passenger jet from the market, even a Bombadier is building a new model.

"2. If this thing is going to be used in 10, mostly Asian, markets I'm not worried about it. I can't imagine many routes in the world requiring this kind of passenger demand."

Trends are actually towards larger aircraft overall, but Boeing didnt get takes for the 747X, so didnt chase the market.

But Boeing has been in retreat, see previous link. That's the real problem, not this plane but the fact that 20 years ago we had 2 profitable commercial airline builders, and today we have one that is on the ropes.


"3. 250? I'm willing to bet you that half or more of that goes to the international cargo market. Want to combat that? C-17 for the civillian market."

250 is what they pegged as the *minimum* to break even. They are not there yet. This may still be a boondoggle.


"4. As was mentioned, what kind of airport improvements need to be made across the board as this thing would be a ground resource PIG."

A380 fits the 80m box limit for gates. Barely.
They'll have to update gates to hande the hordes getting on a single plane, but it will fly from most airports.

[buwaya]

I am not pro Chirac/Schroeder, and Zapatero is of course a weasel, but what he said is perfectly true.

Anything that reduces transportation costs is good for everybody. It would be better if the US had built the thing, but so be it.

[Indy Pendance]

That's the only way to go. Approximately 3 or more on a business trip, charter is less expensive than commercial. You drive your car up to a tiny airport, walk into the reception room, meet your pilot, board the plane, fly to your location, rental car is waiting for you 100 feet away. When your meeting is done, phone the pilot, leave in 30 minutes.

[Ed Thomas]

Ahh, Weston? I guess _somebody_ has to live there ;) Mind you, exactly the same thing can be said about Stroud, at least you've got a beach!

[buwaya]

I think he meant they backed Airbus, the company.

What that did was preserve all the remaining European civil aircraft industries under subsidies. Airbus is the heir to the De Havillands, BAE, etc.

[greasepaint]

What is the fuel burn, of the a380 ?

[FBD]

According to the *eggspurts*, this behemoth is cheaper to operate than a Boeing 747, uses less fuel, and has more range. (See below)

Airlines who have orders for the A380 Airbus:
Federal Express , Virgin Atlantic, Air France, Emirates, International Lease Finance Corporation, Lufthansa, Qantas, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines

www.airliners.net

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"Key design aims include the ability to use existing airport infrastructure with little modifications to the airports, and direct operating costs per seat 15-20% less than those for the 747-400.

With 49% more floor space and only 35% more seating than the previous largest aircraft, Airbus is ensuring wider seats and aisles for more passenger comfort. Using the most advanced technologies, the A380 is also designed to have 10-15% more range, lower fuel burn and emissions, and less noise."

[buwaya]

And thats part of the problem. Boeing hasn't made a sufficient improvement on the 747 in all that time.

Now, Airbus has been a pretty consistent money-loser since it was founded, unlike Boeing.

[buwaya]

And this is different from today ?

Have you been on a trans-Pacific 747 ?

[buwaya]

Correct. This thing is mainly designed to expand capacity on congested routes and airports. If places like San Francisco are maxed out for landings, just double the people per landing.

[dc27]

Excuse me if I don't want to fly on a plane with 839 other people.

Its bad enough trying to get everyone on board for a 747, I can only image how long it would take to get 800+ people on the plane.

I wonder how many airports are equipped to handle this plane?

[buwaya]

They will. Its easier to do that than add runways.
The thing is a natural for a lot of routes.

[JesseJane]

Absoulutely right ! :)

[Publius6961]

BUMP

[buwaya]

Airline travel is a hassle, but more people are travelling than ever. I.e., its not useful to extrapolate from the personal to make predictions.

There are plenty of routes that are limited due to congestion. Consider - if you could, by just changing the plane, double your capacity for the Christmas/Thanksgiving rush ? That is a valuable capability.

[NavyCanDo]

Now this is how to run an airline.

SOUTHWEST HAS PAJAMA PARTY FOR 737-200

Check out the photos......

http://www.southwest.com/about_swa/press/050117_200_retirement.html

I love Southwest and their all-Boeing fleet. They have been rated one of the best companies to work for and the only US airline to remain profitable during the post 9/11 downturn.

[Happy2BMe]

Other Planes That Made 'European' History . .

Berlin Airlift Aircraft

C-47 "Skytrain." 26 June 1948 -- the first day of the Berlin Airlift, 32 flights of C-47s carried 80 tons of supplies from Wiesbaden AFB to Tempelhof AFB. Some 102 C-47s were available in USAFE but none of the larger C-54s. 30 Sept 1948, the C-47s were phased out since they only carried 2 ½ tons compared to the 10 ton capacity of the C-54 "Skymaster."

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C-54 "Skymaster." The workhorse of the Airlift pictured at Tempelhof.

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C-54 "Skymaster." Unloading operations at Tempelhof.

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A C-74 "Globemaster." Only one C-74 was used during the Airlift, with a capacity of 74,000 pounds.

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C-97 "Stratofreighter." First C-97 landing at Tempelhof. The US Air Force used a solitary C-97 "Stratofreighter" for a short time. The aircraft eventually withdrew after being damaged in a landing incident.

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Fairchild C-82 "Packet." On 16 September 1948, five C-82s were assigned to the Airlift for the purpose of carrying heavy and bulky cargo. The C-82 with its hangar-like compartment and clamshell rear loading doors was an ideal tool for the Airlift, but was not available in sufficient numbers to make a great contribution.

[Happy2BMe]

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