N754pr From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Posted (9 years 11 months 4 weeks 1 day 14 hours ago) and read 3976 times:
I know it starts service in 2006 but being such a new design Is it possible the first aircraft could be built by the end of next year?. This aircraft will do at least one year of tests so what do you think?
Can't wait for that first shot of the engineless green A388 on the ramp
Gigneil From United States of America, joined Nov 2002, 16215 posts, RR: 88 Reply 1, posted (9 years 11 months 4 weeks 1 day 14 hours ago) and read 3953 times:
I think they might be finishing up construction of the first one by the end of 2004, and I think the first flight is planned for very late 2004 as well.
According to Airbus, as of this January: major components will start arriving in Toulouse in "early 2004", and first flight planned for "first quarter of 2005".
IMissPiedmont From United States of America, joined May 2001, 6201 posts, RR: 43 Reply 4, posted (9 years 11 months 4 weeks 1 day 10 hours ago) and read 3825 times:
I ahve some doubt about the timeline. I find it unlikely that the A380 will be able to fly in 18 months and doubt that Airbus is very concerned about that. The airline industry is in a slump right now that is worse than any ever known. I predict late 2005 for the first flight and 2007 for first delivery.
But then I've been wrong before. The next 6 months will tell.
What is it with all the "is there a possibilty airline X will.." threads? The answer it'll is possible.
Bobrayner From United Kingdom, joined Apr 2003, 2227 posts, RR: 7 Reply 6, posted (9 years 11 months 4 weeks 1 day ago) and read 3565 times:
No way you can build an aircraft of that size in such a short period of time, considering the hangars at TLS are hardly finished!
If we're thinking in terms of factory space...
Most of the production facilities are up and running; metal has already been cut, and parts are being produced. Most notably, the Major Component Assembly Hall in Hamburg was (formally) completed 21/05/03. Toulouse is effectively just for final assembly; I doubt it'll be too difficult to get the site ready before the first large chunks of A380 are scheduled to arrive early next year.
A little slip wouldn't surprise me at all, especially in this market, but a year sounds rather excessive.
PW100 From Netherlands, joined Jan 2002, 1981 posts, RR: 10 Reply 7, posted (9 years 11 months 4 weeks 20 hours ago) and read 3471 times:
I ahve some doubt about the timeline. I find it unlikely that the A380 will be able to fly in 18 months . . .
No way you can build an aircraft of that size in such a short period of time . . .
Seems that not everybody is aware that the A380 is well into production. First metal cut in Jan 2002 . . . !
Here's an update from the A380 special of last weeks Flight International:
* construction of the enormous A380 FAL [Final Assembly Line] at TLS is well underway;
* the roof of the huge 1639 x 820 ft FAL assembly hall was raised into position in February 2003;
* in June Airbus will start installing the jigs and stations into the FAL;
* the first forward and aft fuselage subassemblies are due to start final assembly in the MCA hall [Major Component Assembly] by August 2003;
* Stork [Netherlands] is close to completing delivery o fthe first full shipset of Glare fuselage panels to Airbus Deutschland, and will have its Papendrecht production facility fully operational by September 2003;
* the first Airbus UK wing rib was cut in August 2002;
* wing production work is well underway, with enormous 35m [115 ft] wing skin sections already visable on the Broughton East Factory floor;
* Australia's Hawker de Havilland will deliver the first wingtip and wing fences to Airbus UK in Septrember 2003;
* the first complete wing shipset is due to be delivered to TLS in April 2004 from Airbus UK;
* the Trent 900 ran for the first time at Derby [UK] on 18 mar 2003, achieving certified thrust level [81,000lb] on 02 Apr and passing 88,000lb seven days later;
* the second and third engines are scheduled to fire up in June 2003;
* P&WC plans to make the first run of the newly assembled PW980 APU by June 2003;
* first Goodrich delveries of the massive A380 landing gear are due later this year, flight test gears will be delivered in Q1 2004;
* the first Goodrich 150 kVA VF [Variable Frequency] generator was delivered to Rolls-Royce in March 2003;
* first production 5000psi EDP [Engin Driven Pump-hydraulic] are scheduled to be delivered to Airbus in May 2003, having already completed over a 1000 hrs of testing;
* the first full system air-conditioning packs [4x 235kW four-stage air cycle machine] will be delivered to Airbus Hamburg by the end of 2003;
* first parts for the static test airframe will begin arriving at the FAL in April 2004;
* final assembly of the first flying prototype will start in May 2004;
* the fatigue test aircraft will be assembled at EADS Dresden in October 2004;
* power-on testing on the first flight test aircraft is set for mid to end 2004.
A380-800 milestones:
Jan 2000: Authorisation to offer
Mid 2000: Concept selection
Dec 2000: Programme launch
Early 2001: Critical industrial commitments
Mar 2001: First firm order [QANTAS]
Q2 2001: End of concept phase
Mid 2001: Structure/systems specification completed
Jan 2002: First metal cut
Nov 2002: Definition phase completed
End 2002 First aircraft definition
Early 2003: Main component assembly starts
May 2004 Final assembly of prototype begins
Mid 2004: Power on
Jan 2005: First flight [RR version]
Jan 2006: Type certification [RR version]
Mar 2006: First delivery [SQ]
I would expect the A380 to fly in Q1 2005. I'm pretty sure Airbus is preparing and timing to have it make a smashing flying debute at the 2005 Paris Air Show!! Book your tickets and hotel NOW for the 2005 Aerosalon Le Bourget!
PW100
Immigration officer: "What's the purpose of your visit to the USA?" Spotter: "Shooting airliners with my Canon!"
IMissPiedmont From United States of America, joined May 2001, 6201 posts, RR: 43 Reply 8, posted (9 years 11 months 4 weeks 10 hours ago) and read 3303 times:
I am indded aware of the timeline you present PW100. It is a few years old though and things, as you are aware, have changed a bit in the past 18 months. I maintain that the A380 will not fly before fall of 2005. Not a problem though, the airline industry will be ripe for such a monster by 2007. I forsee perhaps 300 delivered over the next 20 years.
Of course I thought that the 747 would sell only 800.
What is it with all the "is there a possibilty airline X will.." threads? The answer it'll is possible.
Treg From Estonia, joined Oct 2001, 534 posts, RR: 0 Reply 11, posted (9 years 11 months 4 weeks 3 hours ago) and read 3201 times:
SAAB in Linköping, Sweden is producing wings structural components and the first ones were delivered approx. 2 months ago. Picture of the component can be seen here: http://www.corren.se/_internal/cimg!0/z2mwduez34l2bhpk1 I have only no idea how they are transporting them from here to Toulouse. Anyone knows?
Na From Germany, joined Dec 1999, 9600 posts, RR: 10 Reply 12, posted (9 years 11 months 3 weeks 6 days 3 hours ago) and read 3101 times:
PW100 is mentioning last weeks "Flight International". Everybody interested in the A380 should read that issue. There are 30 pages about the giant. An incredible effort, this project. The logistics behind are admirable as well as they are crazy.
The program seems to be on time at the moment. When this aircraft will finally fly it´ll surely be the most important event in aviation since the 747 and Concorde took of 34 years ago!
Interesting to know designwise is that the engine size has risen considerably. The RR engines on the first A380 will be bigger than on the 777!
Bobrayner From United Kingdom, joined Apr 2003, 2227 posts, RR: 7 Reply 14, posted (9 years 11 months 3 weeks 6 days ago) and read 3034 times:
PW100 is mentioning last weeks "Flight International". Everybody interested in the A380 should read that issue. There are 30 pages about the giant.
I couldn't agree more.
Hmm, somebody "borrowed" my copy...
The logistics behind are admirable as well as they are crazy.
Idem / Ditto.
Interesting to know designwise is that the engine size has risen considerably. The RR engines on the first A380 will be bigger than on the 777!
Sorry to be picky, but - bigger how? Both the GP7270 and the Trent 900 have a fan diameter of 2.95m, whereas the GE90-115B has a fan diameter of 3.25m. Thrust is lower too.
I have only no idea how they are transporting them from here to Toulouse. Anyone knows?
Are they being taken to Filton (UK) first for integration with other bits of wing?
If so, then from the UK, the wing would travel by sea to Bordeaux, then be transferred onto a barge to Toulouse.
Personally, I'd love to see the first green, newborn A380 next year.
For visual impact, it won't be quite as eyecatching as the 747 was way back then, and it's not even in the same league as Concorde; but nonetheless I think it'll be impressive, especially when stretched. But that's all subjective.
Bobrayner From United Kingdom, joined Apr 2003, 2227 posts, RR: 7 Reply 15, posted (9 years 11 months 3 weeks 1 day 23 hours ago) and read 2950 times:
SAAB in Linköping, Sweden is producing wings structural components and the first ones were delivered approx. 2 months ago. Picture of the component can be seen here: http://www.corren.se/_internal/cimg!0/z2mwduez34l2bhpk1 I have only no idea how they are transporting them from here to Toulouse. Anyone knows?
Hi,
Sorry for the late reply...
The wing outer leading edge goes by truck from Linköping (Sweden) to Broughton (UK). 31m is rather long for road transport, but it's not very wide/deep. In Broughton, it's integrated into the rest of the wing, which travels to Toulouse (France) by ship & barge as detailed above.
Eg777er From United Kingdom, joined Feb 2000, 1829 posts, RR: 13 Reply 16, posted (9 years 11 months 3 weeks 1 day 22 hours ago) and read 2914 times:
This is going to be one amazing aircraft. I read the Flight article, and the logistical arrangements for one are spectacular. If it works, it'll be a miracle. But I have no doubt that it will.
One thing that particularly amazed me was the size of the A380 compared to the 747. It's not just a 747 with a full length upper deck: It dwarfs the 747.
The A380 is the next step in air travel. Look at the cockpit for god's sake! It's a triumph of ergonomics. The terrain display is amazing. Technologies pioneered on the A380 will filter down through all areas of air travel.
The A380 will cement Europe's superiority in aviation. We've always built supreme aircraft, from the Caravelle, Concorde and the VC-10 to the A380. With the A380, Airbus will come of age.
Na From Germany, joined Dec 1999, 9600 posts, RR: 10 Reply 17, posted (9 years 11 months 3 weeks 1 day 22 hours ago) and read 2902 times:
As much as the current situation seems to point into a direction where Airbus appears to have beaten the longtime champion Boeing I don´t think that really is the case although chances are there.
The 7E7 project seems promising businesswise although it will produce another breed of the most boring airliner configuration around, the underwing twin. (and the prospect of a blown-up 777 type of aircraft to replace the 747 finally is a nightmare for every aviation enthusiast)
I guess the whole A380 hype together with the bad economical state of this planet puts the Seattle manufacturer into a waiting position. Hopefully they come up with a stunning 747 NG variant and not a blown up 7E7 when the A380 flies and Boeing "knows the enemy in person".
Bobrayner,
re the engine size on the A380: RR´s A380 Trent engine indeed will, according to RRs own statement in FI, have a bigger diameter fan than the Trent of the 777. That doesn´t mean its bigger than the GE for the 773 ER though.
RayChuang From United States of America, joined Jun 2000, 7693 posts, RR: 5 Reply 18, posted (9 years 11 months 3 weeks 1 day 18 hours ago) and read 2826 times:
By the way, if you insist on seeing semi-regular visits by the A380-800 prototype and/or early production planes on long-distance test flights, you might want to watch the schedule of test flights to SFO from the late spring of 2005 or so. SFO is one of the few airports ready right now to accommodate the A388, and you will see Airbus test on behest of AF, LH, SQ and VS how it handles the gates at the end of Concourse A and G, which have the full 80 x 80 meter spacing for parking gate size.
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