Video of A380's first takeoff

linecrew · Post by **linecrew** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 3:18 am

The Airbus website has both low and high resolution video of the first flight. It's pretty amazing to see that thing get off the ground!

http://www.airbus.com/A380/seeing/indexminisite.aspx

talkinghead · Post by **talkinghead** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 3:53 am

Contrary to what most of you may think, bigger is not always better.

Most of the time it is, but I dont think it is this time.

desksgo · Post by **desksgo** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 4:43 am

Yea, progress sucks. Don't worry, there was some forward thinker just like you shaking his fist when he heard the roar of the first jet engine too.

Good on the big bird!

talkinghead · Post by **talkinghead** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 5:52 am

Um yaaa.
I am shaking my fist. NOT.

I do think about stuff like who is going to pay for things like, bigger terminals and bigger gates, more concrete and pavement.
I think progress is cool. I just question the direction of that progress sometimes.
No biggie.

EI-EIO · Post by **EI-EIO** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 6:15 am

talkinghead

a good point, but these considerations had to be made for 747 too. Slot congested airports like LHR need to utilise available slots to the max to push more punters through. 380s will relieve congestion on routes where 744s are maxing out. There are not many of those at the moment but I think airlines like Emirates are trying to create new markets for longhaul by "piling high and selling cheap".

Airports make their money from passengers - those who think that an extra 100 pax per slot will pay them back will like LAX (who just approved a bunch of changes to accomodate 380) and LHR make the change. Those who don't, because they aren't filling 777s or 744s, won't.

desksgo · Post by **desksgo** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 7:11 am

And at the other end of the spectrum you have Sir Richard Branson who plans on turning these aircraft into luxurious, laung haul luxury liners with cruise ship-like amenities. Remember when people put on their best suits and dresses to get on aircraft? Oh, those were the days.

Not an on-topic picture...but the guy is pretty cool.

We can still squeeze our oversized, wide-load rumps into our current airliners and stuff ourselves with peanuts...But I'll still welcome the new Queen of the skies.

Any form of innovation in this industry is welcomed. If she fails, then park her next to Howard Hughes' Hercules in Oregon and mark the idea that at least someone, some group, took the chance.

Phlyer · Post by **Phlyer** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 9:07 am

Do you think the pilots were so excited that they forgot to raise the gear?

desksgo · Post by **desksgo** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 9:08 am

I guess the computer caught it somewhere in cruise

At first I thought Airbus was trying to tell us that fixed gear was the way of the future!

Phlyer · Post by **Phlyer** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 11:04 am

CLguy · Post by **CLguy** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 11:55 am

It's common practice to leave the gear down for a maiden flight. I think they are probably to busy with other system tests to worry about a gear problem.

Even the Avro Arrow maiden flight video's show it with the gear down.

CClub · Post by **CClub** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 12:11 pm

CLguy wrote:It's common practice to leave the gear down for a maiden flight. I think they are probably to busy with other system tests to worry about a gear problem.

Even the Avro Arrow maiden flight video's show it with the gear down.

Right. The gear is left down on purpose for the first part of flight. Once all systems are performing as planned and no problems, the gear comes up. This is typical of first flights for new airplanes.

Phlyer · Post by **Phlyer** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 12:34 pm

I don't imagine the top test pilots in the world would forget the gear - it was a joke. As cornshoot said - turn down your humour cancelling headset.