OldAeroGuy From United States of America, joined Dec 2004, 3206 posts, RR: 66 Posted (6 years 9 months 3 weeks 1 day 6 hours ago) and read 13356 times:
Has the first flight of the A380 with GP7200's been made yet? The last FI article on this topic said Airbus was shooting for this event before the end of July. I haven't seen anything since then.
Airplane design is easy, the difficulty is getting them to fly - Barnes Wallis
NYC777 From United States of America, joined Jun 2004, 5160 posts, RR: 49 Reply 1, posted (6 years 9 months 3 weeks 1 day 4 hours ago) and read 13240 times:
Quoting OldAeroGuy (Thread starter): Has the first flight of the A380 with GP7200's been made yet? The last FI article on this topic said Airbus was shooting for this event before the end of July. I haven't seen anything since then.
I haven't heard anything but I supposed that since EKs A380s are going to be delayed by the wiring issue anyway they're probably not feeling too much pressure to start the GP7200 test flights anytime soon.
Leelaw From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 2, posted (6 years 9 months 3 weeks 1 day 3 hours ago) and read 13149 times:
Quoting OldAeroGuy (Thread starter): The last FI article on this topic said Airbus was shooting for this event before the end of July. I haven't seen anything since then.
Here's a link to the aforementioned FI article (June 21):
The Engine Alliance GP7200-powered Airbus A380 flight test aircraft (manufacturer’s serial number 009) – pictured below at the Airbus plant in Toulouse last week - is expected to take to the air next month.
The aircraft (F-WWSF), which was rolled out of the production plant earlier this month, is being prepared for handover to Airbus’s flight-test department. The GP7200-powered aircraft was due to begin flight-testing by May, but Airbus says it now expects the aircraft to fly in July...
NYC777 From United States of America, joined Jun 2004, 5160 posts, RR: 49 Reply 3, posted (6 years 9 months 3 weeks 1 day 3 hours ago) and read 13094 times:
Quoting Leelaw (Reply 2): The GP7200-powered aircraft was due to begin flight-testing by May, but Airbus says it now expects the aircraft to fly in July...
Now it's August. Stil no word from Emirates which could mean that they're not worried. However Airbus has said that there may be more schedule and financial risk in the A380. We have to wait and see.
Leelaw From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 4, posted (6 years 9 months 3 weeks 1 day 3 hours ago) and read 13056 times:
Quoting NYC777 (Reply 3): Stil no word from Emirates which could mean that they're not worried. However Airbus has said that there may be more schedule and financial risk in the A380. We have to wait and see.
IIRC, there have been no comments whatsoever reported with attribution on any subject issuing from Mr. Clark since before Farnborough...very unusual for him.
AMSSFO From Netherlands, joined Feb 2005, 952 posts, RR: 10 Reply 5, posted (6 years 9 months 3 weeks 1 day 3 hours ago) and read 13002 times:
it will fly soon, very soon. Airbus is not in any hurry with this one. No need for.
FI 25 Jul http://www.flightglobal.com/Articles...s+for+rejected+take-off+tests.html
"Meanwhile, the first flight of the Engine Alliance GP7200-powered test aircraft has slipped into August.
......
Meanwhile, the GP7200-powered A380 (MSN009) is expected to be handed over to Airbus's flight test department by the end of the month, says Engine Alliance president Bruce Hughes: "There's no real big hurdle left before it moves to flight test," he says."
Leelaw From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 6, posted (6 years 9 months 3 weeks 21 hours ago) and read 12735 times:
Quoting AMSSFO (Reply 5): it will fly soon, very soon. Airbus is not in any hurry with this one. No need for.
Hopefully your prediction is correct. However, given the past history of the A380 program, I don't think it's unreasonable for eyebrows to raise slightly when yet another "slip" creeps into the process.
Crownvic From United States of America, joined Oct 2004, 1595 posts, RR: 6 Reply 7, posted (6 years 9 months 3 weeks 14 hours ago) and read 12618 times:
Has anyone seen the nacelle design on this engine vs. the RR version? Is it basically the same?
Leelaw From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 8, posted (6 years 9 months 3 weeks 13 hours ago) and read 12555 times:
Quoting Crownvic (Reply 7): Has anyone seen the nacelle design on this engine vs. the RR version? Is it basically the same?
Not sure. Unfortunately, in the photograph illustrating FI's June 21st article (see link in Reply #2), the two visible engine nacelles of MSN 009 are completely shrouded by protective covering. On June 19, FI described the status of this aircraft as: "Stored outside at Toulouse awaiting start of Engine Alliance GP7200 flight-test programme." That description seems entirely consistent with the "condition" of the aircraft depicted in the photo published in FI on June 21st. If MSN 009 (F-WWSF) has been out and about at TLS since then, it certainly hasn't been documented in a publicly available photograph as yet.
Actually, the first aircraft which will be delivered to EK, MSN 011 (F-WWSG), was first photographed in February without any engines installed:
Leelaw From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 10, posted (6 years 9 months 3 weeks 13 hours ago) and read 12498 times:
Quoting Overcast (Reply 9): Here is another Photo, it is now registered F-WWEA
Do you have a URL for that photo, it's not opening for me in your reply?
Edit: Thanx for the link to the photo. Given the rear angle of the photo and the open cowlings, its hard to tell whether the nacelles of EA equipped aircraft have a noticeably different appearence than the RR model.
Leelaw From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 13, posted (6 years 9 months 3 weeks 3 hours ago) and read 11628 times:
Quoting EGNR (Reply 12): s F-WWEA an A380-841 because it will be re-engined with RR Trents and delivered to Etihad? Engine Alliance powered A380s should be A380-861
It will be re-engined to RR upon completion of flight-test and delivery to EY.
At an earlier point of the program, MSN 007 was scheduled to be re-engined from RR to EA during flight-test as well, then back to RR for delivery to EY; I'm not sure if this remains part of the plan after the second program delay?
Leelaw From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 14, posted (6 years 9 months 2 weeks 8 hours ago) and read 11413 times:
Picture: Airbus begins engine runs on Engine Alliance GP7200-powered A380 in Toulouse
Airbus has begun engine ground runs of the Engine Alliance GP7200-powered Airbus A380 test aircraft at its facilities in Toulouse...
...The aircraft (now registered as F-WWEA) was rolled out of the production plant in June and had initially been scheduled to start tests last year, which was later revised to May and then July...
Crownvic From United States of America, joined Oct 2004, 1595 posts, RR: 6 Reply 16, posted (6 years 9 months 1 week 6 days 13 hours ago) and read 11079 times:
I could be wrong, but it looks like the the second stage hot section on the EA engine extends further aft?
Leelaw From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 21, posted (6 years 9 months 1 week 4 hours ago) and read 10493 times:
Engine Alliance A380 to fly soon
The first flight of an Engine Alliance-powered Airbus A380 is expected by the end of August, following the start of ground runs on the test aircraft last week.
Airbus says aircraft MSN009 has been handed over to the flight test division, which began ground-running the GP7200 engines on 14 August. The first start-up was particularly smokey as oil burned off that had accumulated while the engines were in prolonged storage. The GP7200 shipset had been "sitting around for 11 months", says Engine Alliance president Bruce Hughes.
Although Airbus will not give a precise date for the first flight, saying only that "it will be shortly - as soon as everything is ready for it", Hughes says the provisional window is 25-30 August. The first GP7200-powered A380 was originally expected to fly in November 2005 but, although the engines were delivered on time, issues with the nacelle and other parts slowed the programme...
Leelaw From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 22, posted (6 years 9 months 6 days 6 hours ago) and read 10243 times:
Airbus A380 test aircraft MSN009 will be workhorse to bear brunt of Engine Alliance GP7200 certification programme
Airbus A380 test aircraft manufacturer's serial number 009 (MSN009) is set to perform around 95% of the Engine Alliance GP7200-powered A380 certification testing...
Atnight From United States of America, joined Dec 2005, 586 posts, RR: 1 Reply 23, posted (6 years 9 months 6 days 5 hours ago) and read 10151 times:
Quoting Leelaw (Reply 21): Hughes says the provisional window is 25-30 August.
Well, if that window is true, we are days away from the first flight... I hope everything goes well (no reason why it shouldn't), so hopefully we'll see pictures of this one in the air pretty soon. Does anyone know if Airbus or someone will videotape and show to the public the engine's first flight? BTW, what are the differences between the RR and the EA engines? (not looks, but performance)
thanks in advance!
Leelaw From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 24, posted (6 years 9 months 6 days 2 hours ago) and read 10047 times:
Pictures: Airbus A380 GP7200 test aircraft performs rejected take-off today ahead of Friday first flight
By Justin Wastnage
The Engine Alliance GP7200-powered Airbus A380 test aircraft has performed a rejected take-off (RTO) today ahead of a first flight scheduled for Friday...
25 AMSSFO: " target=_blank>http://www.flightglobal.com/Articles....html the article also states ""First flight is expected on Friday 25 August, in the morning,"
26 Knoxibus: Yep, according to the flight test schedule, they'll do the first flight Friday. It was quite a sight today for the "simple" RTO (not a real one as per
28 Knoxibus: MSN 009 took-off on his first flight this morning at 10.30 (orignally scheduled at 10). I could not confuse it with MSN 004 as they have a slightly di
29 Scouseflyer: So this is the 7th A380 to fly isn't it? 4 test planes, 2 for SN in Hamburg for fitting out and then this one?
30 Knoxibus: MSN 001, 002, 003 (SIA), 004, 005 (SIA), 007 & 009 have indeed already flown. I was next to MSN 006 during lightning strikes in a hangar, and it look
31 Leelaw: Picture: Engine Alliance GP7200-powered Airbus A380 test aircraft performs first flight http://www.flightglobal.com/Articles...+test+aircraft+performs
32 Joni: Here's a short Reuters article on the flight: http://yahoo.reuters.com/news/articl...09_L25687254&type=comktNews&rpc=44
33 FlySSC: Engine Alliance GP7200-powered Airbus A380 performed it first flight this morning August 25th 2006, out of Toulouse-Blagnac. Video can be seen here :
34 Atnight: I am sure that is an awsome sight! Can't wait to see these giants in service... the A380 has really made the biggest anticipation for commercial avia
35 Overcast: Knoxibus, Is WWOW back in test after the RTO, and do you have any info on the results of the test.
36 TaromA380: Seeing that video I was amazed by the wingtips dimensions. They seems to be larger than usual. Any other opinion ? http://www.lci.fr
37 Keesje: It landed after a first flight. http://www.flightglobal.com/Articles...d+Airbus+A380+MSN009+lands+at.html
38 Knoxibus: 6 RTOs were carried out so far between end of July and early August, including 3 at MTOW, and the report said RAS (Rien à signaler) so, looks like i
39 Overcast: Konxibus, Thanks for the info. I'm sure video of the tests will be available sometime.
40 OldAeroGuy: Thanks for everyone's contributions to answering my question and the "as it happened" information flow. Nice to have a civil thread.
41 A380Heavy: I spotted what I believed to R-R logos on the nacelles on the latter part of the video and then spotted the reg F-WWDD which is s/n 004!!! I am amazed
42 YULWinterSkies: Yes it has flown. And apparently the captain was fairly amazed by the performance under difficult weather conditions (they landed under heavy rain) De
43 Alessandro: According to http://www.airbus.com/en/presscentre...8_25_a380_EA_flight_completed.html they logged 4hrs and 10 minutes on the first flight.
44 Knoxibus: Everything is relative, believe me, these four suckers (no offence here, just meant air suckers) can be LOUD. Of course this is when you are standing
45 Atnight: Also, in the A380 Navigator you find the videos of the take off and of the landing made by this "first-flight" A380... I recommend checking it out....
46 Atnight: Since no response to my question, I thought I would ask again just in case someone has some information... What is the diameter of the EA engines and
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