Double-decker Airbus - fookin MASSIVE

[Scarface]

Isn't the US equivalent going to be able to fly for a very long time, meaning no stopovers?

They both have similar ranges, about 15,000km so both could fly to Oz non stop. But the US one is smaller so can fly to smaller regional airports.

 

[Lammy]

Isn't the US equivalent going to be able to fly for a very long time, meaning no stopovers?

There is no equivalent. Boeing are building smaller but longer range as you say. I suspect the seats will be more expensive though due to the lack of capacity.

This thing is going to have a BAR for christ's sake!

 

[Barnet Seagull]

Good to see the yanks getting dicked.

 

[looney]

Multi-national was it?

The French built the legs and ears, the Germans built the massive body, the Italians built the tusks and trunk and the British painted it white...

lol Concorde part Deux!

 

[Superseagull]

There is no equivalent. Boeing are building smaller but longer range as you say. I suspect the seats will be more expensive though due to the lack of capacity.

This thing is going to have a BAR for christ's sake!

Unusual for the Yanks not to go down the build it bigger than before route. Seems to have been their standard way of doing things for years?

I think Boeing are taking a gamble that hopefully won't pay off. Airbus are just taking things to the next logical step. I would like to see Airbus go from strength to strength because a huge number of UK jobs are dependant on it.

 

[Tom Bombadil]

Isn't the US equivalent going to be able to fly for a very long time, meaning no stopovers?

It is. They are gambling that the airline customer of the future will want to travel non-stop, i.e quicker.

Airbus think increased capacity will drive down cost and therefore make flights cheaper.

 

[Hunting 784561]

Its already on its way to becoming a commercial success. They need to sell 300 aircraft in total to break even, with an anticipated life span of around 30-40 years, and they have 149 forward orders already.

Boeing have already lost this argument.

 

[Bluejuice]

Personally I can't see the point.

The 747 has been king of the skies for the last 30 years not because nobody could build a bigger plane but because nobody had need to.

Different airlines will order it in different configurations so it is unlikely many will make use of the maximum capacity as it would mean the entire craft being configured for Economy class.

As for the walkway here at Gatwick, it's not going to be a problem as there's plenty of room for it at Pier 2 and the new Pier 6 extension should be able to accommodate it too.

What is going to be a problem however is getting the new airbridges in for it, as they need to be two-storey for easy boarding. Now whilst replacing the jetty's is one thing, they can hardly build a new storey onto the piers as they've already got seperate arrivals and departures levels for segregation and thus the passengers can use two levels of loading bridge but will still have to get down from the upper level to where the bottom level is attached to the gate, so if anything, loading/unloading time will be even longer with the two tiers.

I should imagine they will be mostly configured with one level full of cattle class and the other mostly exec'd up with the various luxuries included.

Big bastards though aren't they

 

[looney]

Boeing have already lost this argument.




I doubt that.
I would hedge both will be viable unless one type keeps crashing.

 

[The Large One]

As long as it can land at Shoreham I don't really care.

Perseus: This fucker's coming your way - clear the newts and other assorted pondlife, and prepare for landing.

 

[Easy 10]

Its already on its way to becoming a commercial success. They need to sell 300 aircraft in total to break even, with an anticipated life span of around 30-40 years, and they have 149 forward orders already.

Boeing have already lost this argument.

Don't bank on it.
In theory prices will be driven down on the Airbus if you're flying "cattle class" (ie they pack 800+ passengers on board), but that will inevitably mean longer queues for checking in, longer queues at immigration, longer delays for luggage...the airports at either end could be a nightmare.

Add to that the fact that once you arrive in the country you are flying to, the liklihood is that you'll have to take another regional/internal flight to your final destination, as few airports in the world will be equipped to handle an aircraft the size of the Airbus.

The new Boeing (capacity about 250) will have the range, but without all the problems the Airbus will have. It'll be interesting to see how this pans out.

 

[Hunting 784561]

Boeing have already lost this argument.




I doubt that.
I would hedge both will be viable unless one type keeps crashing.

I bet you hate seeing Johnny Frog and those other pansy Europeans getting one over on the Americans dont you ?

Of course there both viable, but Airbus seems to have taken the lead in THIS PARTICULAR commercial battle.

 

[looney]

Assuming theres a market for it, what with gov investment its a bit early to squeal victory.

 

[Hunting 784561]

Don't bank on it.
In theory prices will be driven down on the Airbus if you're flying "cattle class" (ie they pack 800+ passengers on board), but that will inevitably mean longer queues for checking in, longer queues at immigration, longer delays for luggage...the airports at either end could be a nightmare.

Add to that the fact that once you arrive in the country you are flying to, the liklihood is that you'll have to take another regional/internal flight to your final destination, as few airports in the world will be equipped to handle an aircraft the size of the Airbus.

The new Boeing (capacity about 250) will have the range, but without all the problems the Airbus will have. It'll be interesting to see how this pans out.

As you say it will be interesting to see how it pans out. I still cant work out where the bowling alley and multiplex will go in the new Boeing though ?

 

[Easy 10]

As you say it will be interesting to see how it pans out. I still cant work out where the bowling alley and multiplex will go in the new Boeing though ?

Same here. I still can't get my head round the "70 cars parked on each wing" thing either.

 

[Ex Shelton Seagull]

"Cattle Class". Is that for executives on Indian Airways?

 

[Bluejuice]

Interesting fact:

The Wright brothers first powered flight could take place in the space of the upper deck of the A380

 

[Marc]

What I dont get is the Bar...ok its a GREAT idea but what happens if you get barred? are you thrown from the plane with parachute?
What if you need to throw up quick? Do you pop out onto the wing and puke over the windows for the 2nd class scum then return to your JD & Coke?

its all to confoooooooosing for me

 

[Marc]

Interesting fact:

The Wright brothers first powered flight could take place in the space of the upper deck of the A380

Interesting Fact:

The Wright Brothers were not (apparently) the first Powered Flight experts, there was a bloke in New Zealand who flew 50metres or something but crash landed instead of landing safely like the Wright duo.

FACT (supposedly)

 

[CHAPPERS]

I've seen bigger.