Air Bus A380 - Giant in sky

[J-Hisaishi]

Powerplants
A380-800 - Four 320kN (72,000lb) thrust class RollsRoyce Trent 900 or Engine Alliance (General ElectricPratt & Whitney) GP-7200 turbofans. (each cost @ 9 Millions USD)


Performance
A380-800 - Range 14,800km (8,000nm) A380-800F - Range 10,410km (5,620nm) Speed - M 0.87 Max Cruise Speed - M 0.90 service ceiling - FL 430

Weights
A380-800 - Operating empty 277,000kg (611,000lb), max takeoff 560,000kg (1,235,000lb). A380-800F - OWE 252,000kg (555,000 lb), MTOW 590,000kg (1,301,000 lb)


Dimensions
A380-800 Wing span 79.8m (261ft 10in), length 73m (239ft 6in). Height 24,1 m (79ft, 1in)


Capacity
Flightcrew of two. A380-800 - Typical three class seating for 555. Cargo capacity. 38 LD3s or 13 pallets.


Production
Airbus has forecast a market for approx 1235 airliners of 400 seats and above through to 2020. First deliveries in mid 2006.


Type
Long range high capacity widebody airliner


History

Airbus began engineering development work on the A380 in June 1994. Airbus studied numerous design configurations for the A380 and gave serious consideration to a single deck aircraft which would have seated 12 abreast and twin vertical tails. However Airbus settled upon a twin deck configuration, largely because of the significantly lighter structure required.

Key design parameters include the ability to use existing airport gates with little modification, and direct operating costs per seat 15% less than those for the 747-400.

The A380 would feature an improved version of the Airbus common two crew cockpit and four 320 to 347kN (72,000 to 78,000lb) class RollsRoyce Trent 900 or Engine Alliance (General Electric/Pratt & Whitney) GP-7000 turbofans now under development.


Several A380 models are currently envisaged: the baseline 555 seat A380-800; the heavier, longer range A380-800R, the A380-800C Combi, A380-800F Freighter (max payload of 160t), the stretched 656 seat A380-900 (with DOCs per seat 20% lower than for the 747-400), and the shortened, 480 seat A380-700.


The A380 will be developed in conjunction with risk sharing partners. Development cost is estimated at $US10bn.


With orders and options from six world-renowned customers (Air France, Emirates, International Lease Finance Corporation, Qantas, Singapore Airlines and Virgin Atlantic), the Airbus A380 is officially launched on December 19, 2000. The first flight is scheduled for 2004, and the entry into commercial service in 2006.

I can't wait to become a passenger for this giant. It's a new record of human aviation history. Made to become world's biggest airliner. Surely Boeing gona have a tough time.

[Concinnity]

anyone been on it?

[Santa]