![]() As production comes to a close, the A380 will keep flying for decades to come, and Airbus is continuing to fully support A380 operators and their fleets. Travelling at speeds of over 700 mph, this jumbo jet can transport you. The iconic A380 has flown over 800,000 flights carrying more than 300 million passengers since its entry into service. Ultimately, the A380’s wing configuration and its engines put it a disadvantage compared to the newer generation of long-haul, twin-engine aircraft. At 73 metres in length, and with an 80 metre wingspan, the Airbus A380 is the world’s largest ever passenger plane. It’s just that the idea of a four-engine large jet in this day and age is clearly an anachronism.Ĭompared to a twin-engine aircraft, they also require twice as much maintenance, use more fuel and produce more carbon emissions.Īlthough the A380 engines were seemingly state of the art upon their release, they were surpassed in efficiency and technology just a few years later, when the Boeing 787 was announced. They offer a range of nearly 15,000 kilometers, enough to fly from Dallas to Sydney non-stop.īecause engines represent a significant percentage of the aircraft’s overall cost, having four of them raises the price tag. They provide a combined thrust of 240,000 pounds of thrust, capable of lifting the airplane’s maximum takeoff weight of 650 tonnes and achieving altitude in 15 minutes. The wings hold the plane’s distinctive four engines, produced by either Rolls-Royce in the UK or Engine Alliance in the United States. Airbus also had to add last-minute reinforcements – and therefore extra weight – to the wings after they narrowly failed a load test in 2006. However, the constrained wingspan creates more drag at high speeds, increasing fuel consumption. The A380's four engines deliver a combined 240,000 pounds of thrust. So how did this giant of the skies come to take flight in the first place? An aircraft that was once considered to be the future of travel is seeing its past approach ever faster. The lifespan of the superjumbos already in service may well be further shortened by the coronavirus pandemic’s devastating impact on the aviation industry. With a list price of about $450 million per aircraft, the A380 is a technological marvel packed with forward-thinking engineering, but it was conceived by taking cues from a bygone era of aviation, which ultimately clipped its wings. The cabin offers plenty of space and opulent amenities, making it a favorite among passengers and crew.Īirlines, however, loved it much less: Airbus was hoping to sell as many as 750, instead it’s scheduled to halt production in 2021 after just over 250 will have rolled off the line in Toulouse, in the south of France. The ride is exceptionally comfortable, a plus when a flight can be as long as 16 hours and take you halfway around the world. Tellingly, it delivered 35 aircraft in 2018 vs 56 in 2017. ![]() Bombardier earned 2018 revenues of 1.8 billion for commercial aircraft sales, a 24 year-over-year slump. It’s so big – the largest passenger plane ever built – that its wingspan almost runs the length of a soccer field, and more than 800 people could fit in one if all seats were economy class. Impressively, the 84-seat Q400 is the world’s largest commercial turboprop plane and is a staple model for Alaska Airlines. There’s nothing quite like seeing an Airbus A380 for the first time. ![]()
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