Airbus A380 completes first test flight

glatt · 04-27-2005, 08:37 AM

The largest passenger jet in history completed its first test flight this morning. The Airbus A380 is an impressively large airplane with two levels. It can be configured to hold over 800 people, it has a range of 8,000 miles without refueling. It is also quieter than most jets. Almost 150 of the planes have already been ordered by airlines around the world, but you probably won't see it much in the US. It's bigger than needed for most routes here.

Troubleshooter · 04-27-2005, 09:18 AM

How are its pollution levels?

LCanal · 04-27-2005, 11:22 PM

High !!

Tonchi · 04-28-2005, 03:26 AM

Marvelous invention, has the glide path of a cinderblock. No thanks.

Elspode · 04-28-2005, 01:46 PM

It is also more efficient when operating in failure mode, as it can kill almost twice as many passengers as a 747!

jaguar · 04-27-2005, 10:24 AM

well lots of people on one big plane is more efficient than a few people on lots of planes. I look forward to these things on the Europe-Asia routes I spend too much time on.

xoxoxoBruce · 04-27-2005, 10:38 PM

You won't enjoy trying to retrieve your luggage.

mrnoodle · 04-28-2005, 04:26 PM

It's kind of cool that we've finally taken another step in commercial aviation, but it's not really innovative, is it? Just bigger? And with newer computers and whatnot. I miss the days of pretty aircraft (e.g., Concorde). This is just the double decker bus of the sky. I expect one day they'll fit those monstrous cruise ships with wings and jet engines. Where's the artistry?

BigV · 04-28-2005, 04:41 PM

308 TONS of parts taking off and flying in close formation and landing safely represents considerable artistry, in my view.

mrnoodle · 04-29-2005, 12:09 AM

visual artistry where you look at it and think something besides, "that thing ain't gonna clear the trees"

Kitsune · 04-29-2005, 09:34 AM

I think the A380 is a mistake. Well, at least from a passenger's point of view.

Hauling twice as many passengers over the ocean is an international airline's dream. Its more cost effective and already some of the carriers that plan on buying them have spoken of eliminating flights.

The result: your options for a flight go down, your ticket price goes up, and there is the possibility that you get to endure being on a flight with eight hundred people. How miserable is that?

A380? I'd rather be on a 777 or 787.

mrnoodle · 04-29-2005, 10:57 AM

The one sitting behind you will still be a bratty 8-year-old kicking the back of your seat.

wolf · 04-29-2005, 10:57 AM

I'm trying to imagine dealing with the families of 800 victims of a crash.

It's not a pretty thought.

I also wonder what an airline will do if a flight is undersold.

Of course, I doubt that it will be used for any 9-11 type attack, because it's made by the French, and nobody gives a damn about the French.

Undertoad · 04-29-2005, 11:06 AM

Turns out it's made all over - the Welsh make the wings, the Dutch make the tail, etc.

I'm sure there is an ethnic joke about this similar to the one where, in heaven the french are the cooks, the english the police etc.

wolf · 04-29-2005, 11:22 AM

Great. A cooperative project by people who really can't stand each other.

Nice.

04-27-2005, 08:37 AM	#1
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	Airbus A380 completes first test flight The largest passenger jet in history completed its first test flight this morning. The Airbus A380 is an impressively large airplane with two levels. It can be configured to hold over 800 people, it has a range of 8,000 miles without refueling. It is also quieter than most jets. Almost 150 of the planes have already been ordered by airlines around the world, but you probably won't see it much in the US. It's bigger than needed for most routes here. Attached Images Last edited by glatt; 04-27-2005 at 08:41 AM.

04-27-2005, 09:18 AM	#2
Troubleshooter The urban Jane Goodall Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Florida Posts: 3,012	How are its pollution levels? __________________ I have gained this from philosophy: that I do without being commanded what others do only from fear of the law. - Aristotle

04-27-2005, 11:22 PM	#3
LCanal I hope to be the kind of person my dog thinks I am Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Sumatra Posts: 257	High !! __________________ "Happiness is like sex. In order to get any good out of it, you have to give it to someone else."

04-28-2005, 03:26 AM	#4
Tonchi Victim of gravity Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Hiding in plain sight Posts: 1,412	Marvelous invention, has the glide path of a cinderblock. No thanks. __________________ Everything you've ever heard about Fresno is true.

04-28-2005, 01:46 PM	#5
Elspode When Do I Get Virtual Unreality? Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Raytown, Missouri Posts: 12,719	It is also more efficient when operating in failure mode, as it can kill almost twice as many passengers as a 747! __________________ "To those of you who are wearing ties, I think my dad would appreciate it if you took them off." - Robert Moog

04-27-2005, 10:24 AM	#6
jaguar whig Join Date: Apr 2001 Posts: 5,075	well lots of people on one big plane is more efficient than a few people on lots of planes. I look forward to these things on the Europe-Asia routes I spend too much time on. __________________ Good friends, good books and a sleepy conscience: this is the ideal life. - Twain

04-27-2005, 10:38 PM	#7
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	You won't enjoy trying to retrieve your luggage. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

04-28-2005, 04:26 PM	#8
mrnoodle bent Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: under the weather Posts: 2,656	It's kind of cool that we've finally taken another step in commercial aviation, but it's not really innovative, is it? Just bigger? And with newer computers and whatnot. I miss the days of pretty aircraft (e.g., Concorde). This is just the double decker bus of the sky. I expect one day they'll fit those monstrous cruise ships with wings and jet engines. Where's the artistry? __________________ Sìn a nall na cuaranan sin. -- Cha mhór is fheairrde thu iad, tha iad coltach ri cat air a dhathadh

04-28-2005, 04:41 PM	#9
BigV Goon Squad Leader Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Seattle Posts: 27,063	308 TONS of parts taking off and flying in close formation and landing safely represents considerable artistry, in my view. __________________ Be Just and Fear Not.

04-29-2005, 12:09 AM	#10
mrnoodle bent Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: under the weather Posts: 2,656	visual artistry where you look at it and think something besides, "that thing ain't gonna clear the trees" __________________ Sìn a nall na cuaranan sin. -- Cha mhór is fheairrde thu iad, tha iad coltach ri cat air a dhathadh

04-29-2005, 09:34 AM	#11
Kitsune still eats dirt Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 3,031	I think the A380 is a mistake. Well, at least from a passenger's point of view. Hauling twice as many passengers over the ocean is an international airline's dream. Its more cost effective and already some of the carriers that plan on buying them have spoken of eliminating flights. The result: your options for a flight go down, your ticket price goes up, and there is the possibility that you get to endure being on a flight with eight hundred people. How miserable is that? A380? I'd rather be on a 777 or 787.

04-29-2005, 10:57 AM	#12
mrnoodle bent Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: under the weather Posts: 2,656	The one sitting behind you will still be a bratty 8-year-old kicking the back of your seat. __________________ Sìn a nall na cuaranan sin. -- Cha mhór is fheairrde thu iad, tha iad coltach ri cat air a dhathadh

04-29-2005, 10:57 AM	#13
wolf lobber of scimitars Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 20,774	I'm trying to imagine dealing with the families of 800 victims of a crash. It's not a pretty thought. I also wonder what an airline will do if a flight is undersold. Of course, I doubt that it will be used for any 9-11 type attack, because it's made by the French, and nobody gives a damn about the French. __________________ wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis

04-29-2005, 11:06 AM	#14
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	Turns out it's made all over - the Welsh make the wings, the Dutch make the tail, etc. I'm sure there is an ethnic joke about this similar to the one where, in heaven the french are the cooks, the english the police etc.

04-29-2005, 11:22 AM	#15
wolf lobber of scimitars Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 20,774	Great. A cooperative project by people who really can't stand each other. Nice. __________________ wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis

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