Posted on 04/20/2006 1:34:59 PM PDT by Paul Ross
Airbus to build seven story airliner
Passengers will have choice of restaurants and theatres
TOULOUSE, FRANCE -- With delivery of its first 555 passenger, double-deck commercial airliner expected to take place later this year, Airbus announced today that it has initiated preliminary studies for the design and manufacture a 2600 passenger airplane.
The aircraft on the drawing board will have ten decks—seven for passengers, three for cargo and baggage. A prototype of the new aircraft, based on the company's Super Transporter design, will be called the "Airbus A390."
The plane is targeted for international service of flights of over 9,000 nautical miles (about 16,600 kilometers). The A390 will be powered by six Rolls-Royce turbofan engines developing thrusts of over 340,000lb each. According to a company spokesman, Jean-Claude Randele, "The break-even point for operating the airplane will be at a passenger load of about 1760 passengers."
Mr. Randele also noted, "Flights in 9,000 miles-plus range are expected to take 20 hours or longer so the A390 will include lots of amenities to help the passengers pass the time."
Among the features proposed for the future aircraft are six restaurants, three duty free shops, a lounge with a discothèque, two full sized movie theatres, a 14 lane bowling alley, a swimming pool with water slides, a wedding chapel, a fully functional medical clinic, and a 11,000 volume library.
Mr. Randele said that two major international carriers have already placed orders and that the new jets are scheduled to begin service in late summer of 2008.
I did ... working here LOL.
I was hoping for a pool hall myself.
Take out the amenities, put in seats with 12 inch legroom and you can get at least 15,000 passengers on board. Of course you will still have to keep the deep vein thrombosis clinic.
(yes, I know it's a joke)
Shooting range! It has to have a range for rifles and pistols!
Good luck and safe flying. Anything less would be...
Forget the wienermobile, just repaint that and you have a weinerplane.
Yeah? Tell me how they're gonna fit three tons of stale pretzels on that behemoth, hmm?
There is a resemblance:
Didn't the Guppies used to have turbo props? When did they upgrade to turbo fans?
Maybe they'll go with SuperPretzels:
> When did they upgrade to turbo fans?
When Airbus built 'em. That's a "Beluga," not a "Guppy."
Where's the casino?
The guppies were retired years ago, the new transports are based on the A300 and known as the Beluga.
Ewwwwwwww.
"Unwashed" and "French" is redundant.
its a joke
and if its not it should be
airbus sucks ass
Yes. They did and still do. The Super Transporter is an Airbus-derived aircraft that was obviously inspired by the U.S.'s Super Guppy.
Imitation...the sincerest form of flattery.
Meanwhile, with Boeing going along the same production approach as Airbus...they are making their own version...the 747400LCF... to transport fuselage sections...all the way from Italy to Seattle...
I'm thinking Nascar track on levels 2 through 4.
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