Airbus A380: So big; it's useless.

[Dari]

what 'infrastructure' are you talking about?

they might need new jet bridges and more baggage handling capacity, but it doesn't require new, longer runways or anything

from a thread at airliners.net

The modifications that was mentioned in your quote. Seriously, wtf wants to be in an airplane with 800 other people? Like were all sardines, cramped together all for the benefit of profit maximization. Pass.

 

[tynopik]

Seriously, wtf wants to be in an airplane with 800 other people? Like were all sardines, cramped together all for the benefit of profit maximization. Pass.

The total number of passengers is less relevant than your personal space, and most A380 configurations give you more space than smaller planes

 

[doubledeluxe]

The total number of passengers is less relevant than your personal space, and most A380 configurations give you more space than smaller planes

If I remember correctly the 380 costs twice as much as a Dreamliner but seats 50% more people. This is where it struggles. They can squeeze in another 50% but then it's no fun.

 

[Red Squirrel]

I always forget just how big this plane is until it is pictured next to other big planes. It's just insane that thing can fly. Crazy how far technology and engineering has gone. I'm sure the first person that made a plane that could fly never imagined one day something that big would be made to fly.

They should take it a step further and make it so it has lot of mini planes inside of it, for overseas flights you go to the proper plane inside the plane. The big plane flies overseas then the other planes detach and spread to their respective airports. The big plane then picks up other small planes and heads back. Heck, take it a step even further, the seats in the small planes detatch and then take you directly to your hotel instead of an airport. That is the future! I don't think anything could go wrong.

 

[doubledeluxe]

Still smaller than a Antonov

 

[RampantAndroid]

what 'infrastructure' are you talking about?

they might need new jet bridges and more baggage handling capacity, but it doesn't require new, longer runways or anything

from a thread at airliners.net

You do know the A380's wingspan is around 20M longer than the 747s? The problem with the A380 is that many airports are set up with the 747 being the largest plane they can handle. It isn't even runway length that precludes many airports from hosting a A380, but the ability offer it a jetway.

 

[ElFenix]

Twin engine jets tend to have a higher safety requirement than four engine planes.

Also, planes crashing due to a simple engine failure is basically unheard of.

The second is the major factor. Simple engine failure doesn't bring down planes. Catastrophic engine failure does. And you're 2x more likely to have catastrophic failure when you have 2x the engines.

 

[DesiPower]

Just flew in those, India to Frankfurt 9 hours and Frankfurt to US 10 hours. Very comfortable planes... You barefly feel anyting during take off or landing and even throughout the flight, the impact of turbulence and much le

 

[feralkid]

nm.

 

[Number1]

The second is the major factor. Simple engine failure doesn't bring down planes. Catastrophic engine failure does. And you're 2x more likely to have catastrophic failure when you have 2x the engines.

You do have a point, a catastrophic engine failure darn near brought one 380 down already.

Quantas flight 32

 

[Ns1]

A380 is the shit. Waaaaaaaaay superior than 747-8. Have not been on a Dreamliner.

 

[AMCRambler]

What is the red and white thing in the top left corner of the image?

Might be a Sukhoi SU-35

 

[doubledeluxe]

A380 is the shit. Waaaaaaaaay superior than 747-8. Have not been on a Dreamliner.

I haven't been on a 380 but have been on a Dreamliner a bunch of times. It's not that big. It is nice but one I was on they cramped the seats together too much which wasn't any fun so clearly they're trying to sardine can some flights too. The windows though are at least a solid 20 minutes of entertainment as you dim and brighten them so that's a big plus. My only real gripe with the Dreamliner is that it seems to be noisy. It shakes a lot and the overhead bins make a racket on every flight I've been on. It's a bit unsettling.

 

[who?]

I wonder if the carbon fiber transmits more vibration and absorbs less than aluminum.

 

[DesiPower]

I haven't been on a 380 but have been on a Dreamliner a bunch of times. It's not that big. It is nice but one I was on they cramped the seats together too much which wasn't any fun so clearly they're trying to sardine can some flights too. The windows though are at least a solid 20 minutes of entertainment as you dim and brighten them so that's a big plus. My only real gripe with the Dreamliner is that it seems to be noisy. It shakes a lot and the overhead bins make a racket on every flight I've been on. It's a bit unsettling.

That's a nice way to say its the shitiest plane ever

 

[doubledeluxe]

That's a nice way to say its the shitiest plane ever

LOL well it's not perfect that's for sure.

However when I compare to some of the shit that airlines are flying like 747's from the 80's with crappy seats and weird checkered inseat entertainment screens it's really a nice plane. I had tons of movies, the windows are awesome, the bathrooms are awesome, and the flights are pretty easy. I take them from Europe to the US and normally I'm a mess when I arrive but it's definitely easier on a Dreamliner.

 

[GTaudiophile]

If you take out the ME3, it would appear that those who did order it have decided for the most part not to act on their options. It's only profitable if it's full and on many segments they just can't fill it enough of the time. And if it's not profitable for the airlines, they won't order and Airbus won't be able to keep the line profitable after 2018. This what their CFO said the other day.

The key to saving the A380 is a NEO version and I am still very doubtful whether RR will step up to the plate and develop a whole new engine for it. The new Trent XWB is too heavy.

The OP was right.

 

[StrangerGuy]

I have never seen any 4 engine planes when flying or hanging around the airport in Singapore for 2 years at least.

 

[Exterous]

The biggest customer left is probably the US government given their preference of large 4 engined planes for the AF1 planes and their hardened fleet. It will be interesting to see if Boeing keeps the 747 line alive for them and for how long. IIRC the AF needs until 2025 to upgrade their fleet

not even close. EK has tons of A380 on order

AF1 contract will be 2 planes

I wasn't talking about people with orders on the books already. The AF is looking at replacing 6 747-200s. No cost for the hardened ones but I don't think it would be all that far off the $1.65B for AF1 planes so its a pretty major contract for a small number of planes

 

[Rakehellion]

So big; it's useless

Like everything Samsung has ever produced.

 

[tynopik]

I have never seen any 4 engine planes when flying or hanging around the airport in Singapore for 2 years at least.

singapore was the very first route it was ever used on

 

[DesiPower]

I have never seen any 4 engine planes when flying or hanging around the airport in Singapore for 2 years at least.

every big plane has 4 engines, entire 747 line has 4 engines iirc. most of the bigger Airbuses are the same..

 

[DCal430]

every big plane has 4 engines, entire 747 line has 4 engines iirc. most of the bigger Airbuses are the same..

Not true, the 777 is a big plane, and has only 2 engines. In fact some varients of the 777 are larger than some varients of the 747. With the 2 new 777 being almost as big as the biggest 747, still with only 2 engines.