A380 Production Thread Part 17

EK413 · Wed Jun 11, 2014 11:11 am

Hello All,

With Part 16 becoming quite long it was time to have it locked & feel free to continue your discussion in this thread.

Part 16 can be found here:

A380 Production Thread Part 16 (by SA7700 Mar 5 2014 in Civil Aviation)

Enjoy the journey!

EK413

Aircellist · Wed Jun 11, 2014 7:21 pm

Impressive how the A380 dwarfs the Transall on Karel's last photo in the preceding thread.

KarelXWB · Wed Jun 11, 2014 7:31 pm

Few updates to share:

> MSN117 AF #10 acceptance flight today above Hamburg today
> MSN130 KE #9 currently on its way to TLS to prepare its delivery
> MSN137 QF #1 delivery now scheduled for the end of June
> MSN153 EK #49 acceptance flight imminent
> MSN156 KE #10 finished cabin fit and painting in XFW
> MSN166 EY #1 runway tests in TLS, should ferry to XFW soon

poolkeeper · Wed Jun 11, 2014 7:58 pm

Quoting KarelXWB (Reply 2):

I guess QF is really QR

N14AZ · Wed Jun 11, 2014 7:59 pm

Quoting KarelXWB (Reply 2):
MSN137 QF #1 delivery now scheduled for the end of June

Everybody interested in the A 380-production will immediately understand that you meant Qatar Aw. Just for safety reasons and to avoid that someone might think QF has scrapped all their existing A 380's and are starting all over again from #1.: it's QR no. 1

By the way, what is the official delivery date for QF's next A 380?

KarelXWB · Wed Jun 11, 2014 8:08 pm

Quoting poolkeeper (Reply 3):
I guess QF is really QR

Quoting N14AZ (Reply 4):
Everybody interested in the A 380-production will immediately understand that you meant Qatar Aw.

Oops, I meant QR indeed.

Quoting N14AZ (Reply 4):
By the way, what is the official delivery date for QF's next A 380?

No idea, I believe the previous date of 2016 was postponed again.

EK413 · Wed Jun 11, 2014 10:00 pm

Quoting N14AZ (Reply 4):

Quoting KarelXWB (Reply 5):

I believe postponed till 2017 and eventually is say cancelled...

EK413

jumpjets · Thu Jun 12, 2014 6:29 am

Quoting EK413 (Reply 6):
I believe postponed till 2017 and eventually is say cancelled...

Maybe they are in competition with VS to see who can defer the longest before finally admitting they are cancelling.

Someone83 · Fri Jun 13, 2014 10:22 am

Skymark's first A380 may be delayed up to six months due to interior issues

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-0...or-specifications-don-t-match.html

KarelXWB · Fri Jun 13, 2014 10:29 am

MSN167 BC #2 in the FAL few nights ago:

MSN167 A380 Skymark by DigitalAirliners.com, on Flickr

MSN173 BA #9 in body join.

MSN173 G-XLEI A380 British Airways by DigitalAirliners.com, on Flickr

KarelXWB · Fri Jun 13, 2014 10:54 am

Airbus released more information about the 11-abreast Y option during the Innovation Days this week.

Quote:
The A380's current layout is for 10 across economy seating with a seat width from 18.5 to 19 inches, but this would be reduced to 18 inches in the 11-abreast configuration.

...

Airbus says its revised floorplan makes full use of the A380’s width by reducing the space between the window seats and the cabin walls for seating on the lower or main deck.

http://www.ausbt.com.au/airbus-a380-...s-11-across-economy-seating-option

EPA001 · Fri Jun 13, 2014 11:18 am

Quoting KarelXWB (Reply 10):
Airbus released more information about the 11-abreast Y option during the Innovation Days this week.

Still with 18" seats it looks like a very reasonable offering, even though the middle seat in a 5-abreast layout will never be popular. But it gets the job done combined with the raised floor on the main deck. And many competitors can't deliver 18" seats in their seating configurations on long(er) haul aircraft........

mffoda · Fri Jun 13, 2014 12:51 pm

Skymark is delaying A380 service by as much as six months due to problems fitting interiors.

Seems like a very long time for simple seat issue?

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/...lines-airbus-idUSL4N0OU2TN20140613

KarelXWB · Fri Jun 13, 2014 1:03 pm

Quoting mffoda (Reply 12):
Seems like a very long time for simple seat issue?

The interior is more than seats alone. The company who designed the Skymark interior (Tokyo-based LIFT Strategic Design) made an error, they need to address the issue and the parts needs to be manufactured again.

[Edited 2014-06-13 06:04:50]

petera380 · Fri Jun 13, 2014 1:54 pm

Quoting KarelXWB (Reply 13):
The company who designed the Skymark interior (Tokyo-based LIFT Strategic Design) made an error, they need to address the issue and the parts needs to be manufactured again.

Is this the problem with the interior of the first Skymark A380 and for the up to 6 month delay?

KarelXWB · Sun Jun 15, 2014 7:11 pm

MSN175 LH #13 confirmed on convoy 15.

Stitch · Sun Jun 15, 2014 9:35 pm

Quoting KarelXWB (Reply 10):
Airbus released more information about the 11-abreast Y option during the Innovation Days this week.

So looks like they are taking a page from Boeing on the 777X and reducing the sidewall thickness.

I wonder how this affects noise insulation on the A380? The aircraft is extremely quiet inside now.

( And yes, this is more an issue for Economy Class as the other classes I assume would keep the same sidewall thickness - another incentive to keep the premium cabins on the upper deck.

)

EPA001 · Sun Jun 15, 2014 11:13 pm

Quoting Stitch (Reply 16):
So looks like they are taking a page from Boeing on the 777X and reducing the sidewall thickness.

The picture does not show a reduced thickness of the sidewall if I interpret the picture correctly. It only shows the beginning of the sidewall in the second picture. I have not read or heard of Airbus reducing the thickness of the sidewalls on the A380.

What it does show is an elevated mounting of the seats (5 cm/2 inches) to make better use of where the A380-cabin is wider

Aircellist · Mon Jun 16, 2014 1:44 am

Quoting EPA001 (Reply 17):
What it does show is an elevated mounting of the seats (5 cm/2 inches) to make better use of where the A380-cabin is wider

Or rather a recontouring of the seat base? Simple and elegant solution… much simpler than raising the floor.

Stitch · Mon Jun 16, 2014 1:47 am

Quoting EPA001 (Reply 17):
The picture does not show a reduced thickness of the sidewall if I interpret the picture correctly.

Well the upper picture shows thick protrusions above and below the window belt. Those protrusions are missing on the lower picture.

N14AZ · Mon Jun 16, 2014 5:27 am

Quoting EK413 (Reply 6):

Quoting N14AZ (Reply 4):
Quoting KarelXWB (Reply 5):

I believe postponed till 2017 and eventually is say cancelled...

EK413

Cancellation is an option if they don't want to increase their A 380-fleet. I ask myself, however, if in such a case it would be better to sell the oldest A 380's and to replace them with more efficient airframes. ThatKs what a good housewife would do...

KarelXWB · Mon Jun 16, 2014 8:23 am

Quoting N14AZ (Reply 20):
replace them with more efficient airframes

And the 575t A380 would allow QF to fly SYD-DFW without blocking off seats.

hloutweg · Mon Jun 16, 2014 8:24 am

Quoting Stitch (Reply 19):
Those protrusions are missing on the lower picture.

I believe those protrusions are in not really there, but they're mistaken by inner and outer wall shown in the diagram. The second picture only shows the inner wall. Geometrically there's no change to the inner wall.

Also the bottom of the seat cushions on the second picture is shown above a kink at the lower end of the wall. The first picture shows it barely under. It's barely perceptible with the smaller scale diagram of the original cabin cut.

masi1157 · Mon Jun 16, 2014 10:57 am

Quoting hloutweg (Reply 22):
I believe those protrusions are in not really there, but they're mistaken by inner and outer wall shown in the diagram. The second picture only shows the inner wall. Geometrically there's no change to the inner wall.

The first diagram shows a section of the sidewall through the middle of the windows, while the second is a section along a frame, i.e. exactly in the middle between the windows. That makes the contours look so different, and probably was to done to make them look different. To my knowledge the wall thickness will not be changed.

Gruß, masi1157

KarelXWB · Mon Jun 16, 2014 11:11 am

MSN166 EY #1 first and ferry flight to XFW.

Etihad Airbus A380 by Rami Khanna-Prade, on Flickr

insightAVIATION · Mon Jun 16, 2014 1:50 pm

Landing in XFW:

F-WWSS / Etihad Airways / Airbus A380-861 / MSN 166 von insightAVIATION auf Flickr

KarelXWB · Mon Jun 16, 2014 3:15 pm

The XFW flightline today:

A380 Etihad in the flightline by XFW-Spotter, on Flickr

KarelXWB · Tue Jun 17, 2014 2:08 pm

MSN170 EY #2 was moved to the next phase of assembly.

Change of station A380 msn 170 Etihad Airways by Jujug Spotting, on Flickr

hloutweg · Tue Jun 17, 2014 2:39 pm

Quoting masi1157 (Reply 23):

The section on both is through the windows as shown in the diagram. A plan cut through a diagram or a dram doesn't matter anyway because the interior cabin width doesn't change along a certain specific area of the main cabin. The idea is to bring the seats up to the wider level of the cabin.

Quoting masi1157 (Reply 23):
To my knowledge the wall thickness will not be changed

Exactly!

In other words, first diagram shows wall thickness, the second doesn't.

Although Airbus has been quoted as saying that the floor would be raised, this diagram only shows the seats bring raided.

KarelXWB · Tue Jun 17, 2014 2:50 pm

Quoting hloutweg (Reply 28):
Although Airbus has been quoted as saying that the floor would be raised, this diagram only shows the seats bring raided.

I believe they have ditched plans to raise the floor because a better solution has been found.

hloutweg · Tue Jun 17, 2014 5:12 pm

Quoting KarelXWB (Reply 29):

I believe they have ditched plans to raise the floor because a better solution has been found.

It makes sense to me if they opted to just stretch the seats' legs than to raise the floor. Less weight, less work, more flexibility for operators, etc. How high did they say they raise the seats? a couple of inches I guess.

par13del · Tue Jun 17, 2014 5:38 pm

Quoting hloutweg (Reply 30):
It makes sense to me if they opted to just stretch the seats' legs than to raise the floor. Less weight, less work, more flexibility for operators, etc. How high did they say they raise the seats? a couple of inches I guess.

Hopefully the seat OEM will design them with adjustible legs or you will end up with a production run of seats which can only be used on one type a/c which can also be costly.
As for how high it is raised, kids and short people are the only concern, foot not touching the floor when sitting.
Could create an impression of more space

KarelXWB · Wed Jun 18, 2014 2:33 pm

The next Korean Air (MSN130) was towed to the delivery center to prepare the acceptance flight.

Korean Air Airbus A380 by Rami Khanna-Prade, on Flickr

KarelXWB · Thu Jun 19, 2014 10:24 am

Quoting KarelXWB (Reply 32):
The next Korean Air (MSN130) was towed to the delivery center to prepare the acceptance flight.

MSN130 now airborne for its customer acceptance flight.

http://fr24.com/AIB04SD

Korean Air Airbus A380 by Rami Khanna-Prade, on Flickr

KarelXWB · Mon Jun 23, 2014 8:24 am

MSN117 AF #10 (F-HPJJ) will be delivered today.

A380 AirFrance F-HPJJ by XFW-Spotter, on Flickr

KarelXWB · Mon Jun 23, 2014 5:11 pm

Quoting KarelXWB (Reply 34):
MSN117 AF #10 (F-HPJJ) will be delivered today.

Few more updates from today:

1) MSN153 EK #49 has been applied with its final registration, suggesting delivery is imminent.

a380 Emirates A6-EEW by XFW-Spotter, on Flickr

2) MSN130 KE #9 made another customer flight above TLS.

Acceptance Flight (ter) msn130 F-WWSD 23/6/2014 by A380_TLS_A350, on Flickr

3) MSN155 OZ #2 finished painting and cabin fit.

A380 Asiana HL7626 by XFW-Spotter, on Flickr

4) MSN143 QR #2 started runway tests in preparation of its cabin test flight.

A380 Qatar A7-APB by XFW-Spotter, on Flickr

A380 Qatar A7-APB by XFW-Spotter, on Flickr

5) Tail fin for MSN175 LH #13 is ready for Beluga transport.

A380 Fin LH D-AIMM by XFW-Spotter, on Flickr

KarelXWB · Mon Jun 23, 2014 7:20 pm

Quoting KarelXWB (Reply 34):
MSN117 AF #10 (F-HPJJ) will be delivered today.

Delivery flight to CDG can be tracked here:

http://fr24.com/AFR374V

KarelXWB · Thu Jun 26, 2014 8:04 am

MSN137 QR #1 currently in the air above Hamburg, it's the first flight after QR requested cabin changes in May.

http://fr24.com/AIB137H

In addition, MSN143 QR #2 made its first cabin test flight a few days earlier, it seems there is some progress again.

[Edited 2014-06-26 01:09:18]

KarelXWB · Thu Jun 26, 2014 10:51 am

Quoting KarelXWB (Reply 35):
2) MSN130 KE #9 made another customer flight above TLS.

Final registration has been applied, indicating delivery is imminent:

HL7627 Korean Air Lines Airbus A380-861 - cn 130 by Flox Papa, on Flickr

petera380 · Thu Jun 26, 2014 11:50 am

Quoting KarelXWB (Reply 38):
Final registration has been applied, indicating delivery is imminent:

Arrival Seoul Incheon Int'l Airport (RKSI/ICN) at June 28 AM11:20 GMT+8/KST (Using Summer Time)

Flight Number KAL904D/KE904D (D: Mean Delivery)
Origination Toulouse Blanac(LFBO/TLS)
Destination Incheon Airport(RKSI/ICN)

Someone83 · Thu Jun 26, 2014 12:54 pm

MSN177, LH's #14, is being confirmed on convoy 16/2014 arriving in TLS this week

[Edited 2014-06-26 06:08:51]

sassiciai · Thu Jun 26, 2014 1:00 pm

Quoting someone83 (Reply 40):
MSN177, LH's #14, is boeing confirmed at convoy 16/2014 arriving in TLS this week

OMG! Since when did Boeing confirm component planning for the A380?

MEA-707 · Thu Jun 26, 2014 1:46 pm

Quoting KarelXWB (Reply 10):
its revised floorplan makes full use of the A380’s width by reducing the space between the window seats and the cabin walls

I think this floorplan is actually more comfortable for the windowseats. I had three A380 flights in the window seat so far and I hated the big gap to the cabin wall, I couldn't sleep with my head leaning on it, even with two pillows and a sweater which kept falling on the floor. I gladly give up a slice of floorspace in exchange for a cabin wall closer to my seat.

KarelXWB · Fri Jun 27, 2014 9:29 am

MSN153 EK #49 (A6-EEW) will be handed over today.

KarelXWB · Fri Jun 27, 2014 11:57 am

Korean Air HL7627 (MSN130) will also deliver today.

KarelXWB · Fri Jun 27, 2014 3:20 pm

Quoting KarelXWB (Reply 43):
MSN153 EK #49 (A6-EEW) will be handed over today.

Delivery flight to DXB http://fr24.com/UAE7380

Quoting KarelXWB (Reply 44):
Korean Air HL7627 (MSN130) will also deliver today.

Delivery flight to ICN http://fr24.com/KAL904D

KarelXWB · Mon Jun 30, 2014 8:37 pm

First delivery for Qatar Airways now set for mid-July

ek17 · Mon Jun 30, 2014 9:14 pm

Quoting KarelXWB (Reply 46):
First delivery for Qatar Airways now set for mid-July

2015??

KarelXWB · Thu Jul 03, 2014 8:50 am

There's a nice photo of MSN148 in the database:

View Large View Medium
Click here for bigger photo!

KarelXWB · Thu Jul 03, 2014 3:36 pm

> MSN154 EK #50 delivery scheduled for July 9
> MSN156 KE #10 flew to TLS today to prepare its delivery

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