Knoxibus From France, joined Aug 2007, 111 posts, RR: 9 Reply 9, posted (3 years 5 months 3 weeks 1 day 1 hour ago) and read 32193 times:
Everybody here believes it's a fake.
The end of this runway is pretty close (the aircraft is already in front of the Clement Ader final assembly line), and its attitude (incidence) is quite high.
It must have performed a quick and tough stop.
Secondly, a friend expert at photoshop said that the luminosity around the cockpit is too different from the rear part of the aircraft, which could imply a fake.
I personnally find it weird to have such a test prior to first flight (high incidence, in comparison with a simple nose landing gear small lift-off which is more usual).
Also, I find the wing landing gear a bit too much in the same line of the fuselage (axis wise) whereas it just lifted off the ground.
Just my 2 cents.
Edit: also it rained this night in TLS, and still no water jets?
[Edited 2005-04-18 16:10:34]
No matter what anybody tells you, words and ideas can change the world.
Airplanepics From United Kingdom (England), joined Jun 2003, 2693 posts, RR: 49 Reply 13, posted (3 years 5 months 3 weeks 1 day 1 hour ago) and read 32050 times:
Quoting Knoxibus (Reply 9): Everybody here believes it's a fake.
The end of this runway is pretty close (the aircraft is already in front of the Clement Ader final assembly line), and its attitude (incidence) is quite high.
It must have performed a quick and tough stop.
Secondly, a friend expert at photoshop said that the luminosity around the cockpit is too different from the rear part of the aircraft, which could imply a fake.
I personnally find it weird to have such a test prior to first flight (high incidence, in comparison with a simple nose landing gear small lift-off which is more usual).
Also, I find the wing landing gear a bit too much in the same line of the fuselage (axis wise) whereas it just lifted off the ground.
Just my 2 cents.
Edit: also it rained this night in TLS, and still no water jets?
Richierich From United States, joined Nov 2000, 2890 posts, RR: 4 Reply 14, posted (3 years 5 months 3 weeks 1 day ago) and read 31970 times:
I have no reason to think its a fake. There is nothing obvious about the picture that would make one think that, other than the location on the runway which is something I admit knowing nothing about at TLS.
WE all know that the first flight is probably only a week or two, if not a few days, away. So it is quite conceivable to me that the aircraft is doing performance tests on the runway. I don't know about a full tail strike test though, as it is my understanding that this test could cause a lot of damage. This will probably not be done until well after first flight (as part of the normal new aircraft certification).
Just my 0.0154 Euros (at current conversion rates).
Flyabunch From United States, joined Nov 2004, 459 posts, RR: 4 Reply 15, posted (3 years 5 months 3 weeks 1 day ago) and read 31873 times:
I agree with Knoxibus, I think it is fake. First, I don't think high incidence tests are done to there is more flight data. Second, I think the undercarriage looks funny. And third, I don't see a skid plate, a large block of wood or something else to drag on the ground and prevent damage as they drag down the runway.
If its real, its a great shot. If its fake, what a tease! I cannot believe that Airbus would take this kind of a chance with a plan that has not even flown yet...especially one with so much riding on its success.
N737MC From Canada, joined Oct 2000, 648 posts, RR: 17 Reply 16, posted (3 years 5 months 3 weeks 1 day ago) and read 31774 times:
Also noting how it is fake. Look at the outer main landing gear that is off the ground. That gear is supposed to (ARTICULATE) or hang when off the ground. Notice how it is still laying flat. This is the same outer main gear design as the A330/340 and it is not doing it.
Well what do you want me to say, there's is always one that has the flight test line planning for the whole week (RTO + 5th engine run tomorrow, RTO again Friday, preparation for first flight Saturday).
There's always some to not see any water being washed from the runway, there's always some to agree with me that the landing gear looks weird.
I will receive tomorrow the official newletter from the test line (everyday), and I will confirm it to you.
Wait and see...
No matter what anybody tells you, words and ideas can change the world.
RayChuang From United States, joined Jun 2000, 6869 posts, RR: 6 Reply 18, posted (3 years 5 months 3 weeks 1 day ago) and read 31546 times:
The picture is fake for a number of reasons:
1. You'll see a trail of sparks behind the fuselage during a Vmo (Velocity minimum unstick) test, mostly because they put a wooden "sled" on the back of the rear fuselage so such a test can be conducted safely.
2. Airbus has only done a relatively small number of runway RTO tests so they want to carefully protect the plane.
3. If the test was done on a wet runway you'll see the water spray from the engines.
NAV20 From Australia, joined Nov 2003, 6007 posts, RR: 21 Reply 19, posted (3 years 5 months 3 weeks 1 day ago) and read 31508 times:
This thing keeps us all guessing, don't it? Â
My first thought was ,'Great, it won't be long now, we'll all finally see how this thing flies, which is what counts.'
But then I thought that the rotation angle was just too high, that the undercarriage looked plain wrong - and also that the camera must have had a helluva fast shutter speed, no evidence of panning, like blurring of the background.
Four possibilities:-
1. It's straight - just part of the testing procedure, and a 'miracle' shot for the lucky photographer.
2. It's straight - but evidence of a near-accident, something going wrong on test, 'pilot error' - in which case the photographer is even luckier.
3. It's an unofficial fake, done with models and 'montage'. In which connection, 707CMF, did someone give you the photograph, or are they being sold? I expect that there's a big market for A380 photographs at the moment.
4. It's an 'official' fake - taken and leaked on behalf of Airbus. I can't quite think my way round the implications of that yet.......
[Edited 2005-04-18 16:53:52]
"Once you have flown, you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards.." - Leonardo da Vinci
Manzoori From Christmas Island, joined Sep 2002, 1499 posts, RR: 30 Reply 20, posted (3 years 5 months 3 weeks 1 day ago) and read 31389 times:
LOL! Nice one Antoine!
I just passed it round the guys at work and several of them rang me with words to the effect of " Hang on!!! It's not supposed to fast Taxi till Wednesday!"
Cheers!
Rez
Flightlineimages DOT Com Photographer & Web Editor. RR Turbines Specialist
Keta From Italy, joined Mar 2005, 341 posts, RR: 0 Reply 21, posted (3 years 5 months 3 weeks 1 day ago) and read 31337 times:
It could be, but I don't think it's a fake. I don't know how the test are programmed, but you're right I thought that VMU test were performed well after the first flight. It's maybe that the pilot pulled from the stick too much...
Quoting Flyabunch (Reply 15): And third, I don't see a skid plate, a large block of wood or something else to drag on the ground and prevent damage as they drag down the runway
"As the largest civilian aircraft, the A380 was unable to adopt the traditional form of tailbumper system – essentially involving reinforcing the interior and exterior of the tail cone with steel beams - so an alternative solution had to be found"
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