Airbus

Here is some data on the new A380

Powerplants
A380-800 - Four 302kN (67,890lb) thrust class Rolls-Royce Trent 900 or
Engine Alliance (General Electric-Pratt & Whitney) GP-7200
turbofans.
A380-800HGW - Four 311kN (69,915lb) Trent 900s or GP-7200s.

[b:de94e088b8]Performance [/b:de94e088b8]
A380-800 - Max cruising speed M 0.88. Long range cruising speed M
0.85. Range 15,100km (8,150nm). Service ceiling FL430.
A380-800HGW - same.

[b:de94e088b8]Weights [/b:de94e088b8]
A380-800 - Operating empty 275,000kg (606,000lb), max takeoff
548,000kg (1,208,000lb).
A380-800HGW - Max takeoff 560,000kg (1,235,000lb).

[b:de94e088b8]Dimensions [/b:de94e088b8]
A380-800 Wing span 79.8m (261ft 10in), length 73m (239ft 6in). Height
24,1 m (79ft 1in)

[b:de94e088b8]Capacity[/b:de94e088b8]
A380-800 - Flightcrew of two. Standard seating for 555 passengers on
two decks in a three class arrangement. Qantas plans to fit its
aircraft with 523 seats (in three classes). A380 has 49% more floor
area but only 35% more seats (in 555 seat configuration) than the
747-400, allowing room for passenger amenities such as bars,
gymnasiums and duty free shops. Cargo capacity 38 LD3s or 13
pallets.

[b:de94e088b8]Production[/b:de94e088b8]
116 firm orders (including 17 freighters) (July 2003). Airbus has
forecast a market for approx 1235 airliners of 400 seats and above
through to 2020. First deliveries in early 2005

[b:de94e088b8]History[/b:de94e088b8]
The 555 seat, double deck Airbus A380 is the most ambitious civil
aircraft program yet. When it enters service in March 2006, the A380
will be the world's largest airliner, easily eclipsing Boeing's 747.


Airbus first began studies on a very large 500 seat airliner in the
early 1990s. The European manufacturer saw developing a competitor
and successor to the Boeing 747 as a strategic play to end Boeing's
dominance of the very large airliner market and round out Airbus'
product line-up.

Airbus began engineering development work on such an aircraft, then
designated the A3XX, in June 1994. Airbus studied numerous design
configurations for the A3XX 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 aims include the ability to use existing airport
infrastructure with little modifications to the airports, and direct
operating costs per seat 15-20% less than those for the 747-400. With
49% more floor space and only 35% more seating than the previous
largest aircraft, Airbus is ensuring wider seats and aisles for more
passenger comfort. Using the most advanced technologies, the A380 is
also designed to have 10-15% more range, lower fuel burn and
emissions, and less noise.

The A380 would feature an advanced version of the Airbus common two
crew cockpit, with pull-out keyboards for the pilots, extensive use
of composite materials such as GLARE, and four 320 to 347kN (72,000
to 78,000lb) class RollsRoyce Trent 900 or Engine Alliance (General
Electric/Pratt & Whitney) GP-7200 turbofans now under
development.

Several A380 models are planned: the basic aircraft is the 555 seat
A380-800 and high gross weight A380-800, with the longer range
A380-800R planned. The A380-800F freighter will be able to carry a
150 tonne payload and is due to enter service in 2008. Future models
will include the shortened, 480 seat A380-700, and the stretched, 656
seat, A380-900. (The -700, -800, and -900 designations were chosen to
reflect that the A380 will enter service as a "fully developed
aircraft" and that the basic models will not be soon replaced by more
improved variants).

With orders and options from nine world-renowned customers (Air
France, Emirates (the first customer), Federal Express (the cargo
model launch customer), International Lease Finance Corporation,
Lufthansa, Qantas, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, and Virgin
Atlantic), the Airbus A380 was officially launched on December 19,
2000, and production started on January 23, 2002. More airlines have
placed orders since. The out of sequence A380 designation was chosen
as the "8" represents the twin decks. The first flight is scheduled
for the fourth quarter of 2004, and the entry into commercial
service, with Singapore Airlines, is scheduled for March 2006.

A380 final assembly will take place in Toulouse, France, with interior
fitment in Hamburg, Germany. Major A380 assemblies will be transported
to Toulouse by ship, barge and road.

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Publications[/b:de94e088b8]