Bigger Than A Jumbo.

Englishman

The Airbus A 380 was unveiled today.

It's a European joint venture. The wings, undercarriage and engines are British. The UK sections are made locally and should create over 100,000 jobs.

I wonder if Boeing will respond?

alt

Englishman.

prophecor

With a wing span nearly the size of an entire American football field, truly must be something to behold.

Dustin

Very cool. My father in law will want to check that out.

Dustin

jst2laws

Hey Englishman,

Been too long since we talked. Here is an answer to your question.

The 7E7 DreamlinerBoeing's answer to the A380 is the 7E7 Dreamliner, an airplane developed with a focus on efficiency, and on Boeing's belief that future demand will be for medium-sized jets for point-to-point travel, rather than for giant, high-capacity airliners. Boeing has been losing a significant share of the commercial airliner market to Airbus in recent years, so the Dreamliner could represent Boeing's last chance to recover lost ground and remain in the business. The 7E7 will accommodate 200-300 passengers if the plane is divided into three classes (coach, business, and first-class) and more than 350 if one class is used. Although not nearly as large as the A380, the 7E7 will be able to travel as far as bigger jets, allowing for more direct flights between far-flung cities.

This is from http://www.pbs.org/wnet/innovation/episode5_essay1.html

I'm glad to see the Airbus has almost 50% more floor space but only 35 % more seating. The Boeing stuff is ussually too crowded.

Steve

The 7E7 is not really an answer to the A380 span for span. It seems Boeing is banking on a different trend in air travel that would allow the 7E7 to fill what they hope will be a larger market. They may suspect the larger planes are limited to intercontinental flights.

it could make the A380 a popular choice for long, intercontinental flights. However, some flight and travel analysts see drawbacks to the A380's large size. How long will it take to screen and board more than 500 people? Will it be difficult to increase the amount of food for serving, or the number of restrooms? Perhaps the biggest potential problem is the prospect of stranding that many passengers if a flight gets canceled or diverted.

Whatever the case I'm glad Airbus is competing in the R & D.

Steve

Tigerman

That's a beautiful airplane, but I really think they could have come up with better name than Airbus. I don't know about any of you , but I'm not inclined to spend a whole bunch of money and travel on a bus . . . even if it is in the air.

Special K

Airbus bets on building largest commercial plane: The Airbus A380 is set to be unveiled next month. It will be the largest passenger plane in history.

Its wings stretch nearly the length of a football field, about 50 feet longer than any plane in the air today. Nose to tail, it is longer than two blue whales. Inside the cabin, it has room for at least 550 passengers &mdash and as many as 1,000.

Englishman

I shall watch the proceedings with great interest, Steve!

The first test flight is scheduled for mid-March. I used to watch Concorde fly over my house en-route from London to New York, so I look forward to seeing a new bird in the skies.

Englishman.

ScoobySnax

E-Man

I got all excited about this, call me a nerd. and I bloody hate flying, scares the crap out of me. Maybe I might get an anorak and just watch from the sidelines up at Gatwick.

Scoob

stillajwexelder

Yes it is envisioned that the Airbus will do a lot of Major Hub to Major Hub work - so Heathrow to Chicago ; Paris De Gaulle to New York ; Amsterdam to Detroit etc. Boeings offering is for USA popular routes and others where the fule economy and efficiency will drive down costs - I still think Boeing will try and compete though they never tried to compete with Concorde

Bigger Than A Jumbo.

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