Airbus A380: So big; it's useless.

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Calin

Diamond Member
Apr 9, 2001
3,112
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Originally posted by: alphatarget1
From a Civil Engineering standpoint:

Airport runways will have to be repaved and/or redesigned (lengthen) because the A380 is probably much heavier than a 747 Jumbo. Pavements aren't designed for A380 probably, and will require more maintanence.



I guess airlines could make use of it IF they fill the planes with passengers. A lot of flights are pretty empty these days.
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I've heard the 380 has lower pressure on pavements (more/bigger wheels) than the 747. The problem would be some of the airports use overpasses which might not be strong enough to support an A380.
 
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George P Burdell

Lifer
Aug 25, 2004
11,151
1
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Originally posted by: alphatarget1
From a Civil Engineering standpoint:

Airport runways will have to be repaved and/or redesigned (lengthen) because the A380 is probably much heavier than a 747 Jumbo. Pavements aren't designed for A380 probably, and will require more maintanence.
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Not really. The A380 has flown around the world, visint a few major airports. Nobody mentioned anything about requiring a special kind of runway.

Runways are built to higher standards for many reasons. When an aircraft lands in heavy crosswinds, it usually makes a bumpy landing (which exerts a lot of pressure on the runway).

I guess airlines could make use of it IF they fill the planes with passengers. A lot of flights are pretty empty these days.
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You'd have to look high and low to find a flight between a major US city and a major Asian city that isn't almost full.
 
G

George P Burdell

Lifer
Aug 25, 2004
11,151
1
81
Originally posted by: iamaelephant
Originally posted by: Pepsei
when are they going to stop adding blades to my razor!??!!? isn't 5 enough?
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There is never enough! I'm still anticipating the Shick Deca.
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Just you wait, Gillette will release the Mach Fusion 3GHz (powered by a 3GHz processor and a high energy laser beam instead of blades). That'll start the gigahertz wars again.
 
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tm37

Lifer
Jan 24, 2001
12,436
1
0
Originally posted by: alphatarget1
From a Civil Engineering standpoint:

Airport runways will have to be repaved and/or redesigned (lengthen) because the A380 is probably much heavier than a 747 Jumbo. Pavements aren't designed for A380 probably, and will require more maintanence.



I guess airlines could make use of it IF they fill the planes with passengers. A lot of flights are pretty empty these days.
Click to expand...


Where are you flying? Every flight I have been on in the last 5 months has been PACKED.

I have even gotten my upgrade a few days early on a few occasions because the flight was that over booked.
 
Babbles

Babbles

Diamond Member
Jan 4, 2001
8,253
14
81
So far the A380 has been a financial failure with massive delays leading to carriers pulling out orders. I hope it will work out for them, but the upper management incompetence has not been reassuring.
 
Bateluer

Bateluer

Lifer
Jun 23, 2001
27,730
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Wouldn't airports/tarmacs/terminals have to be redesigned for the 7E7 Dreamliner as well, because of its size?
 
iamwiz82

iamwiz82

Lifer
Jan 10, 2001
30,772
13
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Originally posted by: Bateluer
Wouldn't airports/tarmacs/terminals have to be redesigned for the 7E7 Dreamliner as well, because of its size?
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The 787 family has a wide range, but all of them are smaller than a 747.
 
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j00fek

Diamond Member
Dec 19, 2005
8,099
1
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it has to be in service to make remarks like this, which it isnt yet. they cant even build a couple of these things.
 
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Calin

Diamond Member
Apr 9, 2001
3,112
0
0
Originally posted by: Bateluer
Wouldn't airports/tarmacs/terminals have to be redesigned for the 7E7 Dreamliner as well, because of its size?
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The 7E7 will seat about 200-300 passengers. As such, it is smaller than the 747 class (more than 450 passengers). The high point of the 7E7 would be fuel efficiency, not record cargo/passenger capacity. They will take the place of existing planes (but will be cheaper to fly)
 
halik

halik

Lifer
Oct 10, 2000
25,696
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im sure they said the same about 747. If airbus pulls their heads out of their collective asses and actually build 'em (wiring what?), they'll sell well.

This plane is a cost effective transcontinetal transport and the amount of preorders they had shows it as such.
 
Specop 007

Specop 007

Diamond Member
Jan 31, 2005
9,454
0
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It was a good idea that failed in execution.

Airbus could have really come out strong had they executed properly. As to why they had all the failures they did....Who knows. Weight savings? Cost cutting? Union? God only knows.

As with any new product going to market, you have alot of hurdles and it only takes one to really trip you up for the rest of the race. Airbus has had a few. Boeing is eating their asses out right now, and unless Airbus *really* gets it together (Or gets a massive handout from the EU......THAT never happens) this plane is gonna sink them.

That said, I'm lovin it.
 
Z

zoiks

Lifer
Jan 13, 2000
11,787
3
81
Once they have it done, it'll surely outdo Boeing. The reason Boeing is doing well now is only because of Airbus's problems.
 
theknight571

theknight571

Platinum Member
Mar 23, 2001
2,896
2
81
I think a plane like this will work out just fine on the long haul routes.

Many of the airports I've been to need to upgrade anyway... lol

Unfortunately the airlines will just squeeze more people onto it, instead of making it more comfortable.

Everytime I saw the 380 mocked up, or drawn, with a casino, a restrurant, a lounge, sleeping cabins, etc. I just had to LMAO, because I know that will never happen... why put anything but seats in a space where you could put 100 more paying passengers.
 
Gibsons

Gibsons

Lifer
Aug 14, 2001
12,530
35
91
Originally posted by: zoiks
Once they have it done, it'll surely outdo Boeing. The reason Boeing is doing well now is only because of Airbus's problems.
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The market for planes this big is quite small. Boeing went after a larger market share with the 787, and right now at least, that's looking like the smart move. Add Airbus's problems on top of it and it might be bailout time.
 
Gibsons

Gibsons

Lifer
Aug 14, 2001
12,530
35
91
iamwiz82

iamwiz82

Lifer
Jan 10, 2001
30,772
13
81
Isn't the breakeven well over 400 planes now? I remember when Airbus was saying less than 100 to breakeven.

The 747 has been around for more than 35 years and has only sold around 1,300.
 
Gibsons

Gibsons

Lifer
Aug 14, 2001
12,530
35
91
Originally posted by: iamwiz82
Isn't the breakeven well over 400 planes now? I remember when Airbus was saying less than 100 to breakeven.

The 747 has been around for more than 35 years and has only sold around 1,300.
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Yep, it's 420.
 
Specop 007

Specop 007

Diamond Member
Jan 31, 2005
9,454
0
0
Originally posted by: zoiks
Once they have it done, it'll surely outdo Boeing. The reason Boeing is doing well now is only because of Airbus's problems.
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Doubtful. With the breakeven point now over 400....Its hard to tell if it will ever break even. The A380 is really a sppecialized airplane. Its made to haul alot[/] of people from a major airport to another. IIts not the type of airplane you hop from Atlanta to Miami on.
As such, the volume will probably be somewhat low in comparison to smaller aircraft that can serve more functions.
 
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