French jet takes off from French airport

[Goathead]

http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/europe/04/26/airbus.launch/index.html

TOULOUSE, France (CNN) -- The world's largest passenger plane, the Airbus A380, has taken off from Toulouse, France for its first-ever flight.

[TyeDye75]

1. This plane is a great example

of European industrial and economic cooperation, I hope its a success... it looks awsome on the TV.

[Redstone]

24. It's also a great example of government subsidies,

not, of course, that we don't do that here...when was the last time Boeing paid any taxes?

Redstone

[MADem]

2. That thing can carry 800+ pax in the dual tier configuration

HUGE. They'll be testing it for a year or more. I just worry about an accident, that would be a real disaster. It's AIRBUS, computer controls...

I would like to see the thing, though.

[marlo]

21. Boeing uses fly by wire systems on

on the different variants of the 777, and the 787 Dreamliner will be outfitted with them as well. They are actually following Airbus on this trend. Fly-by-wire systems generally have triple or quadruple redundancy and the airframes that employ them have an excellent safety record.

[Submariner]

3. Will they serve Freedom fries or French Fries in U.S. airspace?

That's what the Chimp needs to know so he can kick-off another public relations disaster for himself.

[Elidor]

4. Check out first-class:

Pretty spiffy.

[underpants]

6. Is that the set of the newest Star Trek failure?

That is pretty nice.

[fortyfeetunder]

5. Wonder what the Boeing folks are doing this morning?

It's not yet the beginning of the day in Seattle, but wonder what the Boeing airplane folks, particularly the execs are thinking about the A380....

[Ellen Forradalom]

14. The execs are in Chicago

so they can't be strung up by mobs of angry laid-off workers.

[Zuni]

7. quick, Americans to the anti-aircraft guns

we have to shoot this puppy down before other countries buy it!

[yvr girl]

8. They said on the news that the only airports (in America I assume)

that can handle it are JFK and LAX. Doesn't seem that practical to me.

[Kellanved]

9. In time there will be more airports big enough to handle it

As it was with the 747 - the airport business has a pretty strong competition. If a major carrier wants to land with a A380, then the airport will make it possible.

[underpants]

11. Actually Newport News probably could

Not that I could see a need for that jet flying into NN airport.

One of the longest runways in the US. A lot of soldiers (WWII? Korea?Vietnam?) flew out of there.

[Kellanved]

12. length is actually not the problem

The plane is designed to use 747-capable runways - although not all runways are wide enough.

The problem is that the terminals need new gangways to allow two-level boarding and bigger luggage carousels.

AFAIR, O'Hare and Dulles are ready; most Cargo airports as well.

[patcox2]

13. They need waiting areas that can fit 600-800 people, too.

Of course, our airports need lots of things, like security systems that could process 800 people in a reasonable time so that it wouldn't be necessary to show up the day before.

[GreenPartyVoter]

17. delete

[Zuni]

19. I am sure O'Hare and Atlanta could too

they are the 2 biggest in the US

[Kellanved]

10. "European jet takes off from French airport"

:hi:

[Stockholm]

23. 'Superjumbo' A380 lands safely

:shrug:

[stopbush]

15. How does the fuel consumption per passenger compare to

smaller jumbo jets? I'd imagine you could double the number of passengers and the fuel ratio wouldn't increase dramatically.

It could be a huge savings on fuel...or maybe the weight of the plane itself negates any gains.

Anyone know?

[stopbush]

18. To answer my own question, it's 20% lower.

here:

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2005/04/27/international/i053059D22.DTL

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

22. This thing could carry a full battalion of troops virtually anywhere

provided it has a long enough runway. I wonder if they've contemplated any military use.

[Squatch]

16. They don't call that company "Scarebus" for nothing.

Egad

[Kellanved]

20. now, that reason I want to hear

considering that they have a far better track record than most Boeings.