Airbus A380 - One of the Biggest Airplanes in the World

Airbus A380 - One of the Biggest Airplanes in the World

Airbus A380 is the largest passenger plane in the series and the first large-capacity aircraft with two full bridges for passengers. The plane is cvadrimotor and provides long-courier flights of up to 15,200 km. Each deck has two corridor, is certified for operations up to 880 passengers (typically will carry between 420 and 620). The first company operating this model is Singapore Airlines.

The plane was built to ensure high-capacity flights on major routes between major nodes (and very congested) of major airlines. Covers a market niche, most airlines have no need for such a large capacity for their services. In early'90, there were 3 studies for such a project, one of Boeing product called VLCT, one product called McDonnell Douglas MD-12 and Airbus A3XX product. Due to market very low, which could not sustain more than one manufacturer, but also because of the Asian crisis of 1997 others have been withdrawn (and McDonnell Douglas being acquired by Boeing), Airbus remains the only manufacturer on the market.

The model chosen by noting the existence of two overlapping floors, and was named A380 (8 is a lucky number in Asia but representing the two floors and overlapping). Until the first flight, which took place on 18 January 2005, the development of the aircraft cost 11 billion euros.

After the first flight, however, production was hit by numerous difficulties, which led to the postponement of delivery plane over two years because of problems related to aircraft cabling (which were due to the use of two incompatible versions of software), weight problems, the wings didn't pass the resistance test and the problems generated by suppliers. Thus, There were three delays, the first aircraft to be delivered from early 2006, was delivered to only 15 in September 2007 by Singapore Airlines, making the first race on the Singapore-Sydney route.

The plane was thought to carry 555 passengers in a 3-class configuration or 853 in a configuration with a single class. The structures were designed to be used on a cargo version, and a longer version (A380-900) (which, if they were produced, would carry up to 960 passengers). Provide a capacity of 100 places higher than the nearest plane that size - Boeing 747. It is the largest aircraft manufactured in series, the only plane bigger than Airbus, was Antonov An-225, but that was produced in a single copy.

Cabin command receiving digital instrumentation with 6 LCD displays and systems fly-by-wire, control through a joystick. It provides a multifunctional display system for scheduling flights, with keyboard and mouse. The plane is also very advanced, it has a modular integrated data networks based on an adapted version of standard Ethernet.

It offers two engines, a Rolls-Royce Trent 900, respectively Alliance GP7200 engines, offering both low noise level of operations for Heathrow Airport in London.

25% of the aircraft is made of composite materials such as carbon fiber. Use of aluminum and alloys that can be welded, eliminating the need to use rivets.

In order to provide a passenger cabin equipped with LEDs, and an area greater than for other planes. If the initial proposed equipment cabin with restaurants, casinos, and even swimming pools, these proposals were abandoned for the sake financial. It is possible, however, equipping some of these planes with bars or showers, especially for first Class.

The standard seats for first class and business class will be offered at the front of the plane, the upper floor (although some airlines want to develop this area to the lower floor). For economic class the plane will offer a configuration with 10 seats in the lower floor (typically 3 +4 +3) and 8 seats in the upper floor (2 +4 +2 or 3 +3 +2).

Although the plane fits the standard gate, airports have been forced to make large investments in infrastructure such as widening the track because of huge wings, reinforcement of bridges (where available) , the purchase of tractors able to pull the tremendous weight of the plane, adaptation door for the loading of 500-800 passengers.

The plane has 165 orders and 42 options. To be profitable, director of Airbus has estimated that with the delays, the plane needs a minimum of 420 orders, but that Airbus hopes to sell at least 700 such planes in the coming 25 years. There are 14 buyers, of which the largest is the Emirates with 55 orders. List price is between 296 and 316 million U.S. dollars, but in general offered discounts of between 15 and 50%, according to tradition in the field.

Currently only one model is offered the passenger A380-800. In the past, a cargo model has been offered for courier operations, but delays have led to massive cancellation of the two orders taken, and putting the project on the dead line (it was delayed by 10 years).