| Formerly known as the A3XX, Airbus'
double-decker passenger jet, the
A380, will be the largest airliner
ever built. Lengthwise, it would
nearly stretch from goal line to
goal line of a football field while
its wing tips would hang well beyond
the sidelines. Three full decks
will run along the entire length
of the plane. Upper and main decks
will serve as passenger areas, and
will be connected by a grand staircase
near the front of the plane and
by another smaller staircase at
the back. Although the lower deck
will be reserved primarily for cargo,
it could be outfitted for special
passenger uses such as sleeper cabins,
business centers or even child care
service. In a one-class configuration,
the A380 could accommodate as many
as 840 passengers. The more likely
three-class configuration will still
offer an unprecedented 555 passenger
seats. Either way, the A380 would
offer 30% - 50% more seating than
its direct competition, the Boeing
747-400. Although the A380 will
be able to fly a distance of over
10,000 miles, the plane's usefulness
will not be limited to long-haul
flights. For instance, many flights
within Japan are among the highest
in passenger capacity and would
be well suited for A380 service,
despite their short distances.
Whatever the flight distance,
a new breed of engines will be
required to lift the plane's 1.2
million pounds into the air. Rolls
Royce and GE/Pratt & Whitney
are both working on engines to
provide thrust that will max out
at 75,000 pounds. By comparison,
the first American jet airliner
in service, the Boeing 707, was
powered by only 10,000 pounds
of thrust.
As amazing as it will be for
this behemoth to take off into
the air, the A380 faces significant
challenges on the ground as well.
To integrate into existing airports,
the A380 must fit the standard
airport-docking plan. The plane's
nearly 262-foot wingspan meets
this requirement by about 18 inches.
Its outer-most engines, however,
would hang just beyond the standard
150-foot runway width, requiring
upgrades at many airports. The
plane's weight will be distributed
to 20 landing gear wheels, actually
producing less weight per wheel
than the 747. The cockpit location,
between the main and upper decks,
is designed to give pilots a vantage
point on the runway similar to
that of current airliners.
Due to recent technological advances,
Airbus claims the A380 will be
a more efficient plane than its
rival, the 747. Airbus states
the A380 will use 20% less fuel
and will fly quieter, cheaper
and more environmentally friendly
than the 747. Airlines seem to
be impressed. So far, ten carriers
have declared their interest in
the plane, placing options to
order a total of 66 planes. The
first A380 may enter commercial
service as early as October of
2005. |
