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Old 04-27-2005, 08:37 AM   #1
glatt
 
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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.
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Last edited by glatt; 04-27-2005 at 08:41 AM.
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Old 04-27-2005, 09:18 AM   #2
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How are its pollution levels?
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Old 04-27-2005, 10:24 AM   #3
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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.
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Old 04-27-2005, 10:38 PM   #4
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You won't enjoy trying to retrieve your luggage.
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Old 04-27-2005, 11:22 PM   #5
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High !!
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Old 04-28-2005, 03:26 AM   #6
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Marvelous invention, has the glide path of a cinderblock. No thanks.
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Old 04-28-2005, 01:46 PM   #7
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It is also more efficient when operating in failure mode, as it can kill almost twice as many passengers as a 747!
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Old 04-28-2005, 04:26 PM   #8
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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?
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Old 04-28-2005, 04:41 PM   #9
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308 TONS of parts taking off and flying in close formation and landing safely represents considerable artistry, in my view.
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Old 04-29-2005, 12:09 AM   #10
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visual artistry where you look at it and think something besides, "that thing ain't gonna clear the trees"
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Old 04-29-2005, 09:34 AM   #11
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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.
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Old 04-29-2005, 10:57 AM   #12
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The one sitting behind you will still be a bratty 8-year-old kicking the back of your seat.
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Old 04-29-2005, 10:57 AM   #13
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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.
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Old 04-29-2005, 11:06 AM   #14
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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.
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Old 04-29-2005, 11:22 AM   #15
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Great. A cooperative project by people who really can't stand each other.

Nice.
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