RedFlyer From United States of America, joined Feb 2005, 4175 posts, RR: 30 Reply 1, posted (7 years 3 months 4 hours ago) and read 5032 times:
Good article. Thanks for posting, Leelaw.
It reminded me of why I've always thought the 380 was not a market-driven aircraft. I remember how MD had trouble finding adequate backing in the financial markets to launch its fabled MD12. Obviously no one believed the market existed to justify the airplane. Yet Airbus, with government backing, went ahead and launched the 380. And people say its "launch aid" does not distort. - I'm sure I'll get flamed for this -
Also on the Sonic Cruiser, I can't believe anyone would think that it was intended to be smoke-and-mirrors to cover up Boeing's real intentions. Boeing mentioned the Sonic Cruiser plenty of times in its financial statements. I don't think they would take a risk like that just to be deceptive. Of course, who am I to judge their ethical standards. They did, after all, get caught red-handed in ethics scandals a couple of years ago.
PanAm747 From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 4242 posts, RR: 10 Reply 2, posted (7 years 3 months 4 hours ago) and read 5032 times:
I don't recall seeing it discussed before....
Interesting that most of the projects discussed came from the high-flying late 1960's - before fuel costs were anything anyone ever discussed.
Remember that the 747 had an upper level flight deck because it was believed that by 1975 everyone would flying SST's, and all 747's would be converted to cargo carrying. We all know what became of THAT concept...
Also, this was the age where manufacturers would offer a product, and airlines would design service around that. Was Boeing the first to do the reverse with their 777? Use customer input to design the plane?
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Jacobin777 From United States of America, joined Sep 2004, 14968 posts, RR: 61 Reply 3, posted (7 years 3 months 3 hours ago) and read 4953 times:
Quoting RedFlyer (Reply 1): It reminded me of why I've always thought the 380 was not a market-driven aircraft. I remember how MD had trouble finding adequate backing in the financial markets to launch its fabled MD12. Obviously no one believed the market existed to justify the airplane. Yet Airbus, with government backing, went ahead and launched the 380. And people say its "launch aid" does not distort. - I'm sure I'll get flamed for this -
what I found rather cool was how the A380 looks almost exactly like the old MD12.....
in theory, you are correct, and I do agre with you, but what the A380 supporters would say is that what the A380 offers now is better economics than the MD12 did back then..........expecially with better/lighter/more cost efficient alloys and composites/better engines, etc.
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