World’s biggest airliner completes first flight

gsxr1100 · Apr 27, 2005

From this mornings first flight.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7643311

http://home.comcast.net/~burnick/1114594468.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~burnick/1114594549.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~burnick/1114594780.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~burnick/1114594907.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~burnick/1114595157.jpg

http://www.planepictures.net/

bczoom · Apr 27, 2005

That is one big plane!!!

Once they come out with the stretch model, they're expecting it to pass the Antonov An-225 (details here)

Aren't there airport issues with this plane? I thought wingspan at the gates was a big issue.

gsxr1100 · Apr 27, 2005

I do not know. I have seen the Russian one once right across the road at work. Big....

I did not see it pull up to any gates or some other large planes at gates. As far as the A380, I could email some people at Boeing and find out.

Wannafish · Apr 27, 2005

One of the issues is the length of the runway needed for take off/landing. Most in the US are too short for the A380.

The company I work for manufactures floor and wall panels for Airbus (as well as several domestic airlines). My job? I get to do the "destructive testing" /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

bczoom · Apr 27, 2005

( As far as the A380, I could email some people at Boeing and find out. )

No need, I was just curious.

bczoom · Apr 27, 2005

( My job? I get to do the "destructive testing" /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif)

Now that sounds like fun /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif What do you do, bust them up with hammers or something?

As a teenager, I had a job in "interior demolition". I got to rip apart the inside of a multi-story building that was partitioned into small rooms for a furniture store. Ripped out every wall so it could become a warehouse. That was a seriously fun job.

slowrev · Apr 27, 2005

Impressive, but I hope to never fly on one. I spent my 20 yrs traveling and want no more air travel. The last few times I flew the checked my shoes each time. I purposely wore 2 day socks /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Wannafish · Apr 27, 2005

"Now that sounds like fun What do you do, bust them up with hammers or something?"

We have impact test equipment that measures the amount of force it takes to penetrate the panels; compression/tension testing machines that measure the amount of force required to rip the skin off the panel; and a "G-Force Ramp" that is basically a flat bed rail car that the panels are mounted on...the car runs down tracks on a ramp set up on a 30 degrees slope and crashes into a cement wall /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif.
Lotsa excitement when something goes wrong /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
We also perform burn test evaluations - light the panel on fire and time how long it takes to self-extinguish.

Some days I just can't wait to get to work. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

BB_TX · Apr 27, 2005

Aren't there airport issues with this plane? 
Another issue is the plane will need special ramps to get that many people on/off a double deck plane in a reasonable time frame.

 "If weather or scheduling problems forces two or more A380 to arrive somewhere at the same time, airports estimate it could take almost a day for every passenger to be processed and find their luggage" /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
 how stuff works

bczoom · Apr 27, 2005

( We have impact test equipment that measures the amount of force it takes to penetrate the panels; compression/tension testing machines that measure the amount of force required to rip the skin off the panel; and a "G-Force Ramp" that is basically a flat bed rail car that the panels are mounted on...the car runs down tracks on a ramp set up on a 30 degrees slope and crashes into a cement wall /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif.
Lotsa excitement when something goes wrong /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
We also perform burn test evaluations - light the panel on fire and time how long it takes to self-extinguish.)

You know, if it wasn't for the "when something goes wrong" part of that description, I would have suggested your company send my son one of those panels if you want it reaaalllly tested. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif I believe he can do what you described and then some. Hmmm. Do you have a test scenario called the "Ryan Factor? /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif