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"Maiden Flight - Airbus A380 - Wednesday Morning"

For anyone who may have been following the development of controvesial Airbus A380, the biggest commecial aircraft ever built. The preliminary tests (engine checks, system checks etc) are rumoured to have been completed in Toulose - France. the maiden flight has been announced as being on Wednesday the 27th.

This will be the defining moment for this European feat of engineering, a lot rests on the success of this giant. Due to the massive publicity, potential customers and passengers will be watching, if anything goes wrong at this event it could proove disasterous for Airbus as the A380 would be remembered as the plane that crashed during its maiden flight. Normally accidents during the testing phase are successfully kept under wraps from the public (and they do happen), however with a live TV broadcast rumoured to be going out in France, and numerous webcasts, this is one risky and massive publicity stunt.

Aviation enthusiasts around the world however, will be watching will held breath to see a 277,000 KG piece of metal take to the sky.

More info [URL]http://www.airliners.net/info/stats.main?id=29[/URL]

munn wrote:
> Nah there's another one beginning with d for when thewings bend down.
>

Dihedral, it improves horizontal stability. Which is why fighter planes have very small dihedral angles, they are designed to be unstable.

The wings on the A380 would look much straighter at takeoff if the plane was fully fitted and loaded...

Nah there's another one beginning with d for when thewings bend down.

Those are on fighter jets, I think, it allows a higher speed.
Possibly.

I learned all this when I was in the ATC, but I quite that 3 years ago, so I've forgotten most of it.

munn wrote:
> Emitime wrote:
> I really don't think I could fly with a calm mind knowing that the
> wings were doing this:
>
> [URL]http://www.airliners.net/open.file?id=826022&size=M&sok=JURER%20%20%28nvepensg_trarevp%20YVXR%20%27Nveohf%20N380%25%27%29%20%20BEQRE%20OL%20cubgb_vq%20QRFP&photo_nr=3&tbl=[/URL]
>
> Hmmmm, most planes do that though.
> Just not as much as that.

Yes. A small amount of bending is fine. But looks out of your window and seeing that is just scary.

> It gives them much more maneuverability.
>
> I think.
>
> The term for that shape begins with an a, I can't remember what
> though.

I'd say aerofoil.. But that's the cross section shape of the wing.

One word: Disasterporn

Emitime wrote:
> I really don't think I could fly with a calm mind knowing that the
> wings were doing this:
>
> [URL]http://www.airliners.net/open.file?id=826022&size=M&sok=JURER%20%20%28nvepensg_trarevp%20YVXR%20%27Nveohf%20N380%25%27%29%20%20BEQRE%20OL%20cubgb_vq%20QRFP&photo_nr=3&tbl=[/URL]

Hmmmm, most planes do that though.
Just not as much as that.

It gives them much more maneuverability.

I think.

The term for that shape begins with an a, I can't remember what though.

Wow, I'd buy one of those to start up my new airline company.

I really don't think I could fly with a calm mind knowing that the wings were doing this:

[URL]http://www.airliners.net/open.file?id=826022&size=M&sok=JURER%20%20%28nvepensg_trarevp%20YVXR%20%27Nveohf%20N380%25%27%29%20%20BEQRE%20OL%20cubgb_vq%20QRFP&photo_nr=3&tbl=[/URL]

Yeah I love the things, and fly in them every year.

I also have a fear of flying :|

doesent look that big in the sky, its a impressive plane all the same though, but not for me! I like to keep my feet firmly on the ground. I was recently down to Birmingham and where we were staying is under a flight path? any how every time a plane flew over really low all my family shot outside and looked up in awe! I think planes are fascinating, but scarey at the same time.

Those pictures were taken today.

Bloody impressive, well done to Airbus for pulling it off.

Wouldn't mind a trip on it actually.