The largest aircraft is the Airbus 380. The A380 is the largest aircraft in the world. Interior layout and best seats
Airbus A380- a wide-body double-deck jet passenger aircraft created by Airbus S.A.S. (formerly Airbus Industrie) is the largest production airliner in the world.
The height of the aircraft is 24.08 meters, length is 72.75 (80.65) meters, wingspan is 79.75 meters. The A380 can fly non-stop over distances of up to 15,400 km. Capacity - 525 passengers in three classes; 853 passengers in single-class configuration. There is also a cargo modification of the A380F with the ability to transport cargo up to 150 tons over a distance of up to 10,370 km.
Among the big liners Airbus A380 is the most economical: 3.0 liters of fuel per passenger per 100 kilometers (54 nautical miles) of travel.
The maximum take-off weight of the airliner is 560 tons (the weight of the aircraft itself is 280 tons). Today, the A380 is also the world's largest passenger aircraft, surpassing the Boeing 747 in capacity, which can carry up to 525 passengers. The latter was the largest airliner for 36 years, and the absolute record for commercial use still belongs to the An-225 Mriya.
For development Airbus A380 it took about 10 years, the cost of the entire program was about 12 billion euros. Airbus says it needs to sell 420 planes to recoup its costs, although some analysts estimate the figure could be much higher.
According to the developers, the most difficult part in creating the A380 was the problem of reducing its weight. It was solved through the widespread use of composite materials both in structural structural elements and in auxiliary units, interiors, etc.
To reduce the weight of the aircraft, advanced technologies and improved aluminum alloys were also used. Thus, the 11-ton center section consists of 40% of its mass from carbon fiber reinforced plastic. The fuselage top and side panels are made from Glare hybrid material. Laser welding of stringers and skin was used on the lower fuselage panels, which significantly reduced the number of fasteners.
According to Airbus, per passenger Airbus A380 burns 17% less fuel than “the largest aircraft today” (apparently meaning the Boeing 747). The less fuel is burned, the lower the carbon dioxide emissions. For an airplane, CO2 emissions per passenger are only 75 grams per kilometer traveled. This is almost half the carbon dioxide emissions limit set by the European Union for cars produced in 2008.
The first A320 aircraft sold was delivered to the customer on October 15, 2007 after a long acceptance testing phase and entered service on October 25, 2007, making a commercial flight between Singapore and Sydney. Two months later, the company's president Singapore Airlines Chew Chong Seng stated that Airbus A380 performs better than expected and consumes 20% less fuel per passenger than the company's current Boeing 747-400.
The second A380 for Singapore Airlines was delivered by the company on January 11, 2008. Until 18 March 2008, Singapore Airlines operated its two aircraft in a 471-seat configuration between Singapore and Sydney. After the arrival of the third aircraft, it was decided to expand the number of air routes from Singapore to London.
January 25, 2008 Airbus A380 Qantas (the second airline to order the A380) made its first flight. Qantas said it will initially operate the A380 in a 450-seat configuration on its Melbourne-Los Angeles route. Subsequent routes may include Sydney-Los Angeles, as well as Melbourne-London and Sydney-London.
The first aircraft, powered by Engine Alliance's GP7270 engine (ordered by Emirates Airline), made its maiden flight on September 4, 2007. It should arrive at Emirates Airline's disposal in September 2008 and make its first flight to New York. As of January 2011, five different airlines around the world operate 43 Airbus A380s.
Airbus A380 can be equipped with two types of engines: A380-841, A380-842 and A380-843F - with a Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engine, and A380-861, A380-862, A380-863F, A380-864F - with an Engine Alliance GP7000 engine. Trent 900 is the successor to Trent 800, GP7000 originates from GE90 and PW4000. The Trent 900 is basically a scaled-up version of the Trent 500, but it also uses technology from the stillborn Trent 8104. Only two of the four engines are equipped with thrust reversers.
Reducing noise levels was an important design requirement for the A380, which was partly reflected in the design of the engines. Both engine types enable the aircraft to meet the QC/2 departure and QC/0.5 arrival noise limits set by London Heathrow Airport, which is expected to be the A380's key destination.
The A380 can fly on a mixture of jet fuel and natural gas GTL. A three-hour test flight on 1 February 2008 between Airbus's Filton Bristol facility in the UK and Airbus' main plant in Toulouse, France, was successful. One of the four Airbus A380 engines used a mixture of 60 percent aviation kerosene and 40 percent GTL fuel supplied by Shell.
The aircraft does not require modification to use GTL fuel, which is designed to be blended with conventional jet fuel. GTL does not contain sulfur compounds, which compares favorably with conventional kerosene.
Noise level in the cabin Airbus A380 50% less than the Boeing 747. Also, higher air pressure is maintained inside the aircraft (equal to the pressure at an altitude of 1,500 meters versus 2,500 for the 747). Both of these factors are expected to reduce travel fatigue among passengers.
The aircraft's upper and lower decks are connected by two staircases at the bow and tail, wide enough to accommodate two passengers shoulder to shoulder. In the 555-passenger configuration, the A380 has 33% more passenger seats than the Boeing 747–400 in its standard three-class configuration, but the cabin has 50% more space and volume, resulting in more space per passenger.
The maximum certified capacity of the aircraft is 853 passengers when configured with a single economy class. The announced configurations have a number of passenger seats from 450 (for Qantas Airways) to 644 (for Emirates Airline, with two comfort classes).
- the flagship of Airbus and the largest passenger airliner in the world, taking this title from the Boeing 747.
The first flight took place on April 27, 2005, and two and a half years later, on October 25, 2007, the aircraft was put into operation.
In addition to winning the “largest passenger aircraft” category, the Airbus A380 set a number of equally significant records:
the most economical among the largest- When the airliner is fully loaded, per passenger, only about 3 liters of aviation fuel are consumed per 100 kilometers. According to Airbus, this is 20% less than its main competitor, the Boeing 747.
the most environmentally friendly among the largest Naturally, the less fuel is burned, the less carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere. Also, in the manufacture of the liner, modern lightweight and durable composite materials developed in accordance with environmental standards are used.
The Airbus A380 can rightfully be called the flagship of modern passenger aviation; it is comfortable for both the crew and passengers:
- comfortable chairs
- wide passages and stairs
- always fresh and clean air - the ventilation and air conditioning system “refreshes” the air in the entire cabin every three minutes
- 220 portholes that provide natural light
- low noise level - the noise level in the A380 cabin is 50% lower than that of its main competitor
- in an airplane, air pressure is maintained equal to the pressure at an altitude of 1500 meters above sea level, for a Boeing 747 - 2500
All this ensures a comfortable flight and low fatigue for all passengers, regardless of class. “Further, quieter, more convenient and more economical” - this is the motto that perfectly characterizes the A380.
The Airbus A380 solves not only the problems of long-distance and ultra-long-distance routes, but also quite successfully copes with regional tasks. After all, the economical giant can replace other airliners on short flights with high passenger density.
And with a capacity of 400 to 853 passengers, it is the solution to easing congestion at busy airports and carrying more passengers without additional flights and at a much lower cost.
Main characteristics of the Airbus A340-600 (Airbus A340-600)
- The number of seats varies (depending on the model) from 525 passengers in a three-class cabin and up to 853 people in a single-class cabin
- The maximum range of the a380 is 15,400 kilometers
- Fuel tank capacity - 320,000 l
- Cruising speed - 890 km/h
A380-800 wingspan— 79.75 meters
Length A380-800— 72.72 meters
Height A380-800— 24.09 meters
A380 interior layout and seating arrangement
Airbus's flagship A380 sets new standards in cabin design and overall passenger comfort, making full use of its double-deck deck.
The aircraft was designed taking into account the needs of modern passengers and, in comparison with its competitors, provides:
- wider and more comfortable seats
- more space to store personal items
- spacious passages and stairs
The number of seats varies from 525 (in a comfortable three-class configuration) to 853 in one class.
The A380 is very flexible in terms of configurations and therefore aircraft layouts vary greatly.
As an example, we will give a diagram of the aircraft of the German giant carrier LuftHansa. The liner has a three-class cabin and the number of seats is 526.
We invite you to familiarize yourself with the model of the Airbus A380 (Airbus 380). The plane is a fairy tale! In the article you will learn how the seats for passengers are located in the cabin, how to choose the best seat, whether it is safe to fly on an Airbus A380 (Airbus 380), what models exist and how they differ, and much more...
- Description, history and benefits
- Airbus 380 models
- Diagram and photo of Airbus 380
- History of disasters and accidents
- Airlines are the owners of the giant
- Technical specifications
Airbus A380 (Airbus 380) - a double-deck wide-body jet four-engine passenger aircraft, which was created by Airbus S.A.S. (Airbus Industry). Airbus 380 is one of the largest production airliners in the world
(length 72.75 meters, height 24.08 meters, wing span of the aircraft 79.75 meters). The Airbus 380 cabin, consisting of 3 classes, accommodates about 525 passengers, in a single-class configuration - 853 passengers. Can carry out long flights over distances of up to 15,400 km.
For the development of the Airbus A380, Airbus S.A.S. spent 10 years, development costs amounted to more than 12 billion euros. To cover the costs of developing the Airbus A380 model, the company needs to sell more than 420 aircraft, given that 1 unit costs $389.9 million. As of October 2013, Airbus S.A.S. produced 115 aircraft.
The Airbus A380 has 4 engines, the ability to transport cargo up to 150 tons over a distance of more than 10,000 km.
Currently Airbus 380 It is considered the largest airliner in the world, even surpassing the Boeing 747 in capacity. The Airbus A380 also surpassed all large passenger airliners in fuel economy - 3 liters of fuel are consumed per 1 passenger per 100 km. Thus, it is environmentally cleaner than other airliners, i.e. per passenger, carbon dioxide emissions are 75 grams per kilometer.
First flight Airbus 380 took place on April 27, 2005. Five Airbus 380s were produced for testing and demonstration. Sales and operation of the aircraft began in 2007. The first flight was carried out from Toulouse airport at 10:29 local time on October 25, 2007, with a crew of 6 people under the control of test pilot Jacques Rosi. The flight duration was 3 hours and Airbus 380 landed safely.
The glass cockpit and remote control of the rudders using electric drives of the Airbus A380 are superior to previous Airbus models. The cabin is equipped with 9 interchangeable LCD monitors 20 x 15 cm. Airbus 380 equipped with two types of engines: Airbus models A380-843F, A380-841 and A380-842 are equipped with a Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engine, and A380-864F, A380-861, A380-863F and A380-862 are equipped with an Engine Alliance GP7000 engine. Compared to the Boeing 747, the noise level in the Airbus 380 cabin is 50% less and higher air pressure is maintained inside the aircraft. As a result, passengers are less tired during the flight.
Aboard Airbus 380 additionally available:
- Restroom
- Shower (only used on Airline)
- duty free shop
- bar counter
- WI-FI
- Telephone communications
Initially, critics argued that the Airbus 380's weight would cause damage to airport taxiways. However, subsequently, after a thorough analysis, it turned out that the pressure of the Airbus A380 wheels on the runway surface is less than that of the Boeing 777 and Boeing 747 airliners, since the Airbus 380 has 22 wheels, which is 8 more wheels than the Boeing 777 and 4 wheels than Boeing 747.
In Russia, the first airport that began to accept the Airbus A380 on its runways was the airport (Moscow).
Airbus aircraft modelsA380 (Airbus A380)
The following Airbus A380 models are currently conquering our skies:
- Airbus A380-800 (Airbus A380-800) – the basic model, the length of which is 73 meters
- Airbus A380-900 (Airbus A380-900) – The model is under development. When implementing this project Airbus A380-900 will become the longest aircraft in the world (80 meters). An aircraft that can withstand a distance of up to 14,200 km with a take-off weight of more than 590 tons.The maximum passenger capacity in the cabin is 963 people in one class and 656 people in three classes. Due to the interest in purchasing this model from such airlines as, Airline, , Airbus S.A.S. will begin production in 2015in one version A380-941.
- Airbus A380-1000 (Airbus A380-1000) – The model is planned to begin production by 2020-2025, the length of which will be 87 meters. The cabin will accommodate about 1,073 passengers. The wing size will be 84 meters. It is planned to be produced in only one version, A380-1041.
- Airbus A380-800F (Airbus A380-800F) – Initially, this model was planned to be produced as a cargo version, which in terms of carrying capacity would be second only to the An-225. However, production was delayed until sales of passenger airliners stabilized. The commissioning date has not been determined.
Diagram and photo of the Airbus aircraft interior A380 (Airbus A380)
Airbus accidents and disasters A380 (Airbus A380)
№ | Scene of the incident | date | Airline | Death toll | Description (cause) of the incident |
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1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
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|
| 0(433) | One of the engines failed during takeoff from Singapore to Sydney. The plane was forced to urgently return back. Rolls-Royce engine design error (alleged) |
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0(475) | During takeoff, the wing caught the tail of a Delta Air Lines plane. No harm done. |
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Colombo Airport, Sri Lanka | 0(500) | The plane en route from Dubai to Sydney made an emergency landing at Colombo Airport. The reason is a technical malfunction. No one was injured on board. |
Airlines using Airbus aircraft in their fleet A380 (Airbus A380)
№ | Airline name | A country | Ordered (pcs) | Operated (pcs) | year of flight of the first Airbus 380 | engine |
|
1 | 2 |
| 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
|
Air Australian | France | 2014 | GP72XX |
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Air France |
| 2009 | GP72XX |
||||
2013 | Trent 900 |
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China Southern Airlines |
| 2011 | Trent 900 |
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Emirates Airline |
| 2008 | GP72XX |
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| 2010 | Trent 900 |
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Malaysia Airlines | 2012 | Trent 900 |
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Qantas Airways | 2008 | Trent 900 |
|||||
| 2015 | GP72XX |
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Skymark Airlines |
| 2014 | |||||
total | 259 | 115 |
Technical characteristics of the aircraft modelAirbus A380 (Airbus A380)
model airplane Airbus A380 | A380-800 | A380-800F |
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Wing sweep angle | 33.5° | 33.5° |
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Model length (meter) | 67,9 | 72,75 |
|
Wing area (sq. meter) | |||
Model height (meter) | 24,09 | 24,09 |
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Wheelbase (meter) | 30,4 | 30,4 |
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Maximum speed (km/h) | 1020 | 1020 |
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Fuselage width (meter) | 7,14 | 7,14 |
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Cruising speed (km/h) | |||
Flight range (km) | 15200 | 10400 |
|
Crew (number of pilots) | |||
Power point | 4 x 340 kN 4 x 311 kN | 4 x 340 kN 4 x 311 kN |
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Run length (meter) | 2900 | 2900 |
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Takeoff length (meter) | 2050 | 2050 |
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Capacity class (person/container) | from 480 to 853 depending on configuration | ||
Practical ceiling (meter) | 13115 | 13115 |
|
The passenger cabin of the Airbus A380 aircraft has two decks and can have two options. The first option is when the cabin is divided into three classes (first and business class on the upper deck and economy class on the lower deck, thus the capacity is from 516 to 525 people). The second version of the passenger cabin layout of the A380 aircraft provides only economy class, located on the upper and lower decks with a capacity of more than 644 people.
Interior layout and best seats
The three-class version of the passenger cabin provides for the location of the first class in the front part of the upper cabin. There is no point in proving that the places here are the most comfortable, and the staff service is no worse than in a five-star hotel. Each seat in the first cabin of the A380 aircraft looks like a closed separate compartment with a convenient door. The passenger seat can be folded out and turned into a comfortable bed. Services such as Internet and the ability to charge mobile devices are offered. In addition, each of these “mini-compartments” has a large, convenient monitor and a mini-bar. For first class passengers, there are showers (as, for example, on Emirates Airline aircraft), and an exquisite restaurant menu is also provided.
However, it should be noted that even in first class there are places that have their drawbacks. These are seats in the first and fourth rows (according to the diagram), located close to the toilets. Most likely, passengers will visit the toilet at any time of the day, so the noise of the doors can seriously interfere with the rest of passengers. The close proximity of the service areas also means that staff will often walk past the first and fourth rows of first class, creating additional inconvenience. And of course, in addition to everything, directly opposite the first row of seats there is a staircase leading down to the main deck, which also will not contribute to proper rest, especially at night. Behind the first class seats on the upper deck of the Airbus A380 is business class.
Business class also has very comfortable seats for passengers (although not as good as first class). Each place here is equipped with a comfortable chair, which, if necessary, can be unfolded and turned into a comfortable bed. In addition, there is a good bar here, and the distance between the seats allows you to absolutely not worry about legroom. However, in the business class of the A380 aircraft there are seats with less comfort. These, as in first class, are seats near the bar and near the toilets - usually in the first and last rows. On the diagram of the upper passenger cabin of the Airbus A380 aircraft, these seats are indicated by rows 6, 21, 22 and 26. As for first class, the inconvenience of these seats is explained by the intense flow of passengers to bars and toilets at any time of the day, as well as the movement of service personnel. When booking tickets, you should take this factor into account and take seats in the rows listed above only in cases where there are no more tickets for other seats.
On the lower (or main) deck of the passenger cabin of the Airbus A380 aircraft there is an economy class, usually designed for 399 seats and, as a rule, occupying rows numbered from 43 to 88 (according to the diagram) with two large aisles. The backs of economy class seats cannot recline 180 degrees, but they are very soft and comfortable. The distance between rows is approximately 80 centimeters - according to generally accepted standards. Each economy class seat has its own screen mounted in the seat in front and an audio/video system. Just like for seats in other classes, economy class seats are equipped with USB charging systems and the Internet, which, by the way, is paid on the Airbus A380 aircraft.
The most successful and comfortable seats here are the seats with the letters D, E, F and G, located in rows 45, 54 and 82. The convenience of these seats is explained by the fact that there are no seats in front of them, which means there is ample legroom, in addition , toilets, bar and service areas are located quite far from them. Of course, the absence of seats in the front does not mean that these seats are not equipped with electronic displays for entertainment.
Also very good for relaxation and viewing in economy class are the seats with the letters A and K, located in rows 68 and 81. Their advantage is explained by the fact that these seats do not have other seats in front of them, and also by the fact that they are located near the windows , which makes them “aside” from the general movement of passengers, so they are considered the most profitable and comfortable in the entire economy class.
The seats in rows numbered 43, 52, 67 and 80 are also good. These seats also have more space in front of them, but at the same time they have the serious disadvantage of being close to service areas and toilets with all the associated inconveniences.
The most unfortunate for economy class, and therefore for the entire Airbus A380 aircraft, are the seats located in the 88th (rearmost) row and the seats designated by the letters C and H. Their inconvenience lies, as in many cases, in the fact that that there are toilets right behind them. The fact that the backs of the last seats are blocked does not add to the convenience of these seats, which limits the comfort of passengers.
The history of the Airbus A380
The beginning of the 90s of the last century in the aviation industry was a time of complete dominance of the Boeing 747 in the field of wide-body aircraft. Boeing managed to maintain an advantage for almost 30 years, which forced many companies, such as McDonnell Douglas or Lockheed, to look for a solution that could replace the Boeing 747 and gain a monopoly in the wide-body airliner niche.
In the summer of 1994, Airbus began developing its own wide-body aircraft, codenamed A3XX. Initially, options were considered for the possible combination of two fuselages of the Airbus A340 aircraft. This solution would have made it possible to significantly increase the passenger capacity of the aircraft, since the A340 was the company’s largest aircraft at that time. However, such a decision would also lead to a serious decrease in the aircraft’s flight characteristics, an increase in its weight and the required take-off run.
The development of the A3XX was carried out in partnership with Boeing, which was developing its own model, the Boeing 747X, also aimed at increasing passenger capacity and reducing operating costs. This partnership ended in 1996. And the following year, 1997, Boeing closed its project due to the economic crisis that erupted in East Asia. Meanwhile, Airbus decided to use a double-deck design for the A3XX, which would provide the aircraft with a number of advantages.
In December 2000, they decided to launch the A3XX project, which initially required costs of about 8.8 billion euros. The plane received a new name - A380. There are many hypotheses explaining why Airbus decided to “jump” from number 340 to 380. For example, one of them says that the number 8 is lucky in a number of Asian countries, which were potential customers for the future aircraft.
In the spring of 2001, the design of the Airbus A380 was finally approved, and already at the beginning of 2002, production of the first parts for the aircraft began. They were produced in 4 countries of the European Union, and the delivery of components to the assembly site in Toulouse was carried out by land and water transport, as well as by air.
At the beginning of 2005, the first Airbus A380 was built and demonstrated in Toulouse, and in April its first flight was carried out. During testing of the aircraft in early 2006, flaws in the design of its wing were identified. After this, the A380 wing structure was urgently changed.
Ground and flight tests of the aircraft were completed in December 2007, and the Airbus A380 received certificates from EASA and FAA.
Design and characteristics of the Airbus A380
The Airbus A380 is a wide-body jet passenger aircraft. The passenger cabin of the aircraft consists of two decks. Due to its size and large capacity, the aircraft is the largest passenger airliner in the world. The aircraft's power plant consists of 4 engines. Depending on the modification, this is the Trent 900 from Rolls-Royce (for Airbus A-300-800), or the GP7000 from Engine Alliance (for other modifications of the Airbus).
Characteristics of the Airbus A380 aircraft:
- Length, m – 72.7
- Wingspan, m – 79.8
- Height, m – 24.1
- Wing area, m2 – 845
- Weight:
- Max. take-off, kg – 560,000
- Max. landing, kg – 386,000
- Empty weight, kg – 276,800
- Max. weight without fuel, kg – 361,000
- Fuel tank capacity, l – 310,000
- Flight range with max. load, km – 15,000
- Ceiling (max. flight altitude), m – 13,100
- Run length, m – 2,050
- Run length, m – 2,900
- Engines:
- R-R Trent 970 – 4 x 31780 kgf
- Alliance GP7270 – 4 x 31780 kgf
- Passenger compartment:
- Number of seats (single-class option) – 700
- Number of seats (three-class version) – 555
- Cabin width, m – 5.9-6.6
Airbus A380 modifications
There are the following modifications of the Airbus A380:
- Airbus A380-800 is the base model of the airliner. A380-841 and A380-842 have a Trent 900 engine. Modifications A380-861 and A380-862 have a GP72XX engine.
- Airbus A380-800F is a cargo modification of the A380 aircraft.
- Airbus A380-900 is an extended modification of the airliner, currently under development. It will have increased passenger capacity (more than 900 people) and more powerful engines. Potential buyers will include airlines such as Emirates Airline, Lufthansa and others.
- Airbus A380-1000 is a modification that will be larger in size than the A380-900 and accommodate more than 1,000 passengers. The project was proposed in 2010.
Airbus A380 operation
Operation of the Airbus A380 aircraft began in 2007. By the end of 2014, the number of Airbuses was already 139 aircraft, and the number of companies operating the aircraft was 10. Emirates Airline operates the most A380 (67 aircraft). Other airlines use from 5 to 19 aircraft of this type, which, of course, cannot compare with Emirates Airline.
The aircraft can be found mainly on intercontinental flights. A larger number of airbuses are operated by Asian airlines (Emirates Airline, Singapore Airlines, Korean Air and others). Due to operating costs, which are 10-15% less than those for the Boeing 747, the Airbus A380 is a very popular aircraft today. Due to the good price and the optimal characteristics of the A380, Emirates Airline plans to purchase several dozen more aircraft. At the same time, Emirates Airline also pays attention to cargo modifications of the Airbus. In addition, the air carrier orders more comfortable aircraft (for example, with shower cabins for first class).
Conclusion
The Airbus A380 is the largest passenger aircraft in the world, with a capacity of 519 to 800 people. Reliability, reduced operating costs compared to other wide-body airliners and comfort provide this aircraft with good demand in the market, especially in Asia. The main operator of the aircraft is currently Emirates Airline, which has appreciated the Airbus. In addition, Emirates Airline, albeit indirectly, is helping to further modify the aircraft by showing interest in its new capabilities.
However, the Airbus Group in December 2014 announced a possible stop in production of the Airbus A380 aircraft. This is explained by the fact that the demand for this aircraft, according to the company’s management, is not great enough.
However, it is worth recognizing that due to its performance and reliability, the Airbus A380 is a really good aircraft.
If you have any questions, leave them in the comments below the article. We or our visitors will be happy to answer them
Airbus A380 is the largest aircraft of the Airbus S.A.S concern. (European Union) and the largest passenger aircraft in the world. This is the world's first long-haul civil aircraft with two full-size decks along the entire length of the fuselage. The decks are connected by two wide staircases at the bow and aft.
The airliner can make non-stop flights over a distance of 15,000 kilometers and carry a third more passengers than a Boeing 747.
The Airbus A380 is the most economical among large airliners: three liters of fuel per passenger are consumed per 100 kilometers.
The main competitor of this model is the Boeing 747.
First flight - April 27, 2005.
The first aircraft sold was MSN003, registration number 9V-SKA, delivered to Singapore Airlines on October 15, 2007. The first commercial transcontinental flight with passengers (flight from Singapore to Australia, flight number - SQ380, 455 people on board) - October 25, 2007.
The Airbus A380 has 12 single suites and several double suites.
Suites include a bed, wardrobe, reading lights, mirror and 23-inch TV. At the request of the airlines, bars, billiard rooms, showers, a library and a conference room can be built on the ground floor of the aircraft.
The cost of a flight from London to Singapore in luxury class (as of 2005) is about $10,000.
First class passengers are provided with pajamas and slippers, and it is possible to close the windows and cabin doors with special curtains.
The cost of one airliner (as of 2005) is $281 million, which is 15 percent cheaper than the double-deck Boeing 747.
The number of assembled A380 airliners (as of March 2008) is 27.
As of March 2009, A380 aircraft are in the fleet of three airlines: Singapore Airlines, Qantas Airways, Emirates.
The first airport in Russia that has agreed to accept the Airbus A380 is Moscow Domodedovo.
History of creation
Development of the aircraft began in 1994 under the code A3XX and continued for 10 years. The designation A380 was chosen because the number 8 resembles the cross-section of this double-deck aircraft.
The cost of the program is 12 million euros. The most difficult part of the project was the problem of reducing the weight of the aircraft. This was achieved through the use of a new composite material from which the fuselage and wings are made.
Already at the design stage, 55 orders were received from 6 customers.
The final configuration of the aircraft was approved in January 2001. Production of the first A380 wing components began on January 23, 2002.
The main structural sections of the airliner were built at enterprises in France, Germany, Spain, and Great Britain.
Components for the A380 were supplied by: Rolls-Royce, SAFRAN, United Technologies, General Electric, Goodrich and other well-known companies.
The largest project of the European aircraft manufacturer brought him big problems. The main problems were found in the aircraft's electrical wiring. Each aircraft required 100,000 wires and 40,300 connecting elements, amounting to about 530 kilometers of electrical wiring. The problems were resolved within two years.
The A380 features an improved glass cockpit and remote control of the steering wheels using electric drives linked to the side-stick controls. Information display devices are located in the cockpit: nine interchangeable liquid crystal monitors, including two navigation data indicators, two main flight data indicators, two engine operation indicators, two multifunction ones. Another monitor displays data about the current state of the entire system as a whole.
After assembly, the aircraft were equipped and painted in Hamburg. Each aircraft (3,100 square meters) requires 3,600 liters of paint to cover the skin.
To service the A380, special passenger boarding terminals are needed.
The load on the runway pavement was measured using a custom 580 tonne load bogie built to simulate the landing gear of an A380. For the Airbus A380, Group V tracks are sufficient - 45 meters; their expansion to the expected 60 meters is not required.
Five A380s were built for demonstration and testing purposes.
On September 4, 2006, the first flight test of the A380 took place with passengers on board. The purpose of the flight was to check the comfort and quality of passenger services. The plane took off from Toulouse with 474 employees of the Airbus S.A.S concern. on board.
In November 2006, test flights took place to check the aircraft's performance under standard airline operating conditions.
The launch of the A380 was delayed for almost two years due to a series of technical problems, costing Airbus 8.5 billion euros.
Technical characteristics of the Airbus A380
The liner has four engines - Rolls-Royce Trent 900 or Engine Alliance GP 7000.
The cabin noise level of the A380 is 50 percent lower than that of the Boeing 747. The air pressure inside the aircraft is higher. According to the developers, these characteristics will reduce passenger fatigue during long non-stop flights.
Dimensions:
Wingspan: 79.80 meters.
Aircraft length: 73.00 meters.
Aircraft height: 24.10 meters.
Wing area: 845.00 square meters.
Wing sweep angle along the 1/4 chord line (degrees): 33.50.
Number of places:
Passengers in the cabin of three classes: 555.
Passengers in the cabin of two classes: 644.
Charter passengers: 853.
Masses and loads:
Takeoff: 560 tons.
Empty equipped aircraft: 276.8 tons.
Aircraft without fuel: 361 tons.
Paid load: 66.4 tons.
Landing: 386 tons.
Flight data:
Cruising speed: 900 kilometers per hour.
Flight range with passengers and luggage (with fuel reserves): 15,000 kilometers.
Operational ceiling: 13,000 meters.
Incidents
On January 10, 2008, an A380 aircraft owned by Singapore Airlines was unable to fly from Singapore to Sydney due to a tractor failure. The airliner continued to move by inertia for some time, then moved off the runway and rolled onto the lawn. As a result of the incident, no one was injured and the plane was not damaged.
Promising modifications of the A380
It is planned to create the following passenger modifications: A380-800 with 555 seats, a shortened A380-700 with 480 seats and a lengthened A380-900 with 656 seats. A cargo modification of the A380F has also been developed, capable of transporting cargo with a total weight of up to 150 tons over a distance of up to 10,400 kilometers.
Employees of the Airbus ECAR Engineering Center in Moscow have already completed a number of important tasks for the A380F program.
Russian designers have been entrusted with carrying out a significant amount of work on the design of fuselage parts, strength calculations, placement of on-board equipment and support of serial production of aircraft.