A380 : first flight (Merged)

It mentions that Airbus will conduct cold weather testing in Canada. Where exactly will these test be conducted? Knowing my luck, it will probably be out in Alberta or Montreal. Are there any chances they could be conducted out of Toronto?

They may actually end up shortening it before they lengthen it. :diablo:

Good to see it up. Having seen pictures of it flying I can’t help thinking that the fuselage looks like it has potential for some extension plugs, something along the lines of an A380-600. Anyone know of any plans along these lines ?

MSN 0004, which is the second aircraft to validate flight enveloppe and attitude in general should have its first power-on today :confused: . It should start flying end of May/June I believe.

The good chance for the moment to see the A380 somewhere else than Toulouse, Paris air show, Istres Air Force Base and Hamburg (cabin fitting for MSN 0002 and 0007 during summer) will be rare.

Only from January 2006 will MSN 0002 and 0004 will start the early long flights/ route proving around the world, while MSN 0001 and 0004 will do the harsh environments testing (Tunisia, Spain, Canada or Siberia and Iceland).

Source: A-net forum

MSN 0004, which is the second aircraft to validate flight enveloppe and attitude in general should have its first power-on today :confused: . It should start flying end of May/June I believe.

The good chance for the moment to see the A380 somewhere else than Toulouse, Paris air show, Istres Air Force Base and Hamburg (cabin fitting for MSN 0002 and 0007 during summer) will be rare.

Only from January 2006 will MSN 0002 and 0004 will start the early long flights/ route proving around the world, while MSN 0001 and 0004 will do the harsh environments testing (Tunisia, Spain, Canada or Siberia and Iceland).

Source: A-net forum

How long before we see the second prototype take to the air? Will it be soon or later?

How long before we see the second prototype take to the air? Will it be soon or later?

A380 : second flight

Do not want to start a new thread: “A380 : second flight” 😉

TOULOUSE, France (AFX) – The superjumbo Airbus A380, the world’s largest
commercial airliner, took off over southwestern France today for its second test
flight at about 14.30 LT.

The European aircraft maker, based in the French city of Toulouse, said the
second flight — which came a week after the A380’s maiden voyage — would last
about four hours.

A third flight is planned for later this week, probably on Saturday, followed by
three flights next week, a company source told Agence France-Presse.

The plane may fly at an altitude slightly higher than the 10,000 feet achieved
in the first flight, and could climb up to 13,000 feet, the source said.

Pic’s:

A380 : second flight

Do not want to start a new thread: “A380 : second flight” 😉

TOULOUSE, France (AFX) – The superjumbo Airbus A380, the world’s largest
commercial airliner, took off over southwestern France today for its second test
flight at about 14.30 LT.

The European aircraft maker, based in the French city of Toulouse, said the
second flight — which came a week after the A380’s maiden voyage — would last
about four hours.

A third flight is planned for later this week, probably on Saturday, followed by
three flights next week, a company source told Agence France-Presse.

The plane may fly at an altitude slightly higher than the 10,000 feet achieved
in the first flight, and could climb up to 13,000 feet, the source said.

Pic’s:

Thank God. I don’t like the full length cowling on the A330.

Me neither. Although, the latest versions have seemingly ditched this look.

Thank God. I don’t like the full length cowling on the A330.

Me neither. Although, the latest versions have seemingly ditched this look.

… than the circumsised look on the Pratt&whitney and GE has to offer. 😀

Ahh, now I now why I prefer the PW and GE engines and somehow feel “at one” with them. 😀

… than the circumsised look on the Pratt&whitney and GE has to offer. 😀

Ahh, now I now why I prefer the PW and GE engines and somehow feel “at one” with them. 😀

Of course. I was referring to the engines only because all AB’s have BAe wings. Not all AB’s have RR engines. Thank God. I don’t like the full length cowling on the A330.

How can you say that!!!…it’s a design masterpiece, looks far better than the circumsised look on the Pratt&whitney and GE has to offer. It stands out alot better too,and when your sitting in the A330 and lookout the window you see the silver plate with the Black and Bold RR on there it makes you feel proud to be British, that once a struggling company back in the 70s and 80s and it can now can capture over half the worlds aero engine orders, whether it be thru RRBMW or Allison, you know there’s something special there.

Party political broadcast over! 😀

Of course. I was referring to the engines only because all AB’s have BAe wings. Not all AB’s have RR engines. Thank God. I don’t like the full length cowling on the A330.

How can you say that!!!…it’s a design masterpiece, looks far better than the circumsised look on the Pratt&whitney and GE has to offer. It stands out alot better too,and when your sitting in the A330 and lookout the window you see the silver plate with the Black and Bold RR on there it makes you feel proud to be British, that once a struggling company back in the 70s and 80s and it can now can capture over half the worlds aero engine orders, whether it be thru RRBMW or Allison, you know there’s something special there.

Party political broadcast over! 😀

Lets not forget the Aussie’s
In western Australia, near Perth, miners dig up a reddish, clay-like material containing bauxite, the principal ore of aluminum, which makes up the basic structure of the A380. Bauxite is ground down and mixed with caustic soda and lime, then heated to a granulated state. It’s shipped to a smelting plant in Texas, where it is poured into large pots and shocked with electricity to turn it into hard aluminum ingots the size of mattresses.

The ingots are shipped to Alcoa Inc.’s Davenport, Iowa, plant, the world’s largest aluminum mill. Stretching 1.2 miles along the Mississippi River, the facility produces aluminum sheets and plates used in bicycles, cars, trucks, planes and rockets. It’s the only mill that can fabricate aluminum pieces large enough for the A380.

The ingots are put through a machine with rollers that apply 16 million pounds of pressure. In 10 minutes the ingots are reduced in thickness from 20 inches to barely half an inch. Another machine pulls and stretches them to create 6-ton aluminum plates 115 feet long.

Lets not forget the Aussie’s
In western Australia, near Perth, miners dig up a reddish, clay-like material containing bauxite, the principal ore of aluminum, which makes up the basic structure of the A380. Bauxite is ground down and mixed with caustic soda and lime, then heated to a granulated state. It’s shipped to a smelting plant in Texas, where it is poured into large pots and shocked with electricity to turn it into hard aluminum ingots the size of mattresses.

The ingots are shipped to Alcoa Inc.’s Davenport, Iowa, plant, the world’s largest aluminum mill. Stretching 1.2 miles along the Mississippi River, the facility produces aluminum sheets and plates used in bicycles, cars, trucks, planes and rockets. It’s the only mill that can fabricate aluminum pieces large enough for the A380.

The ingots are put through a machine with rollers that apply 16 million pounds of pressure. In 10 minutes the ingots are reduced in thickness from 20 inches to barely half an inch. Another machine pulls and stretches them to create 6-ton aluminum plates 115 feet long.

And the wings dear boy…

The A380 would be a mere paperweight (admitedly a rather humungous one) if not for BAe’s wings 😉

Of course. I was referring to the engines only because all AB’s have BAe wings. Not all AB’s have RR engines. Thank God. I don’t like the full length cowling on the A330.

And the wings dear boy…

The A380 would be a mere paperweight (admitedly a rather humungous one) if not for BAe’s wings 😉

Of course. I was referring to the engines only because all AB’s have BAe wings. Not all AB’s have RR engines. Thank God. I don’t like the full length cowling on the A330.

As subsequently noted only with RR engines. Nothing new of course- the same applies to the A330.

And the wings dear boy…

The A380 would be a mere paperweight (admitedly a rather humungous one) if not for BAe’s wings 😉