Whats so "BIG" about the A380?

[Felix/FFDS]

You know its so strange, Loads of my freinds (non fs and aviation) have seen pictures of the A380, with its casino's, cinemas and bars and think this will be the case with all airlines. They find it hard to belive when I explain to them that on 99 out of 100 airlines will have the entire aircraft packed with seats. Im sure this is the case with many people aswell. If British Airways is flying to JFK on a 747 and Virgin is doing the same but on a A380, a large amout of people will go out of thier way just to have a go on the gym on the top deck! Dont know if this is helpfull to this convo, Probably not but hey!

Born_2_fly

At the beginning, the 747 was touted with a walkup piano bar, lounges etc.  American Airlines did have something like that early on, but it quickly faded out.

I foresee that few, if any A380s will have the "amenities", at least, at "Y" class prices.

[monkeyboy726]

i think the A380 is just bragging rights for airbus, it may be economically beneficial, but with gyms, lounges and what not airlines may as well be buying two A340's and flying them half full.., but the idea of having bball tourneys 6 miles in the air is pretty awesome

o yea what country is airbus based in?

[Craig.]

They are based in Europe, the main factory is in France, but they cant be called a French company

[Wing Nut]

Here is what is so big...  

http://www.simviation.com/cgi-bin/yabb/ ... 40;start=0

http://www.simviation.com/cgi-bin/yabb/ ... 03;start=0

http://www.simviation.com/cgi-bin/yabb/ ... 3;start=10

[microlight]

Airbus is a consortium of mainly German, French, British and (I think) Italian companies, with the pieces flown to Toulouse in France and assembled there, or in Hamburg, Germany.

I was in Nantes, France last week where they make some of the pieces, and I saw a Beluga transporter there, waiting to take some of the pieces for assembly. Huge thing.



So what's with the A350 then? It sounds as if it'll be something like a modified A330.

[Craig.]

So what's with the A350 then? It sounds as if it'll be something like a modified A330

it is. Airbus with all the talk about how the 7E7 was no threat to them, forgot to look at the facts and when they did they realised alot of companies were "very" interested in the 7E7. The A350 is a huge mistake on Airbuses part, if the A380 bombs for whatever reason, then airbus will be in a huge financial problem.

[chomp_rock]

Now now, calm down, this seems to be bordering on a flame war.

The A380 has a tailplane the size of a 737's wings. That is big but I, like many, would never fly on a plane packed with more than 500 other people. The real challenge is going to be finding airports large enough for it, not many exist. I doubt many an airport will spend the money on expanding for so little gain as well. I, being very concerned about the environment, am biased towards smaller and more efficient aircraft like the 7E7 (which is designed with efficiency in mind) so you won't hear a word of good about the A380 from me.