Big Bird Takes Off (and lands safely)

27-04-2005, 11:10

It got off the ground.

Didnt weigh 3 times as much as it should have like the initial 747 did! Mind you that was probably to compensate for a plane full of americans

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4488361.stm

27-04-2005, 11:11

There's nothing finer than putting one over on our American cousins

Simon M · 27-04-2005, 11:19

Quote:

He added that the plane was flying with its wheels down as a safety measure, and that the A380's hydraulics and electrics had all been tested while it was on the ground.

erm .... how did they test the undercarriage on the ground ?????

Salu · 27-04-2005, 11:27

Sounds like they have a lot Toulouse on this.....

Ramrod · 27-04-2005, 11:36

I was amazed that it flew from Tolouse..........thats a piddly little airport

27-04-2005, 11:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nemesis

erm .... how did they test the undercarriage on the ground ?????

You put body jacks under the plane and then merrily run the undercarriage up & down.

Bifta · 27-04-2005, 11:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ramrod

I was amazed that it flew from Tolouse..........thats a piddly little airport

If it's got the runway length then surely the quietest airport you can find would be best? You wouldn't want to test an aircraft at somewhere like Heathrow.

27-04-2005, 11:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by dilligaf1701

I don't think it did...

'The A380 took off from its production site in Toulouse with a crew of six and about 20 tonnes of test equipment.'

Their production site is adjacent to the very BIG airport at Toulouse. OK - the terminal may not be that big, but the rest - i.e. the bit that handles planes - is certainly BIG.

**Jefferson T** · 27-04-2005, 11:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScaredWebWarrior

Their production site is adjacent to the very BIG airport at Toulouse. OK - the terminal may not be that big, but the rest - i.e. the bit that handles planes - is certainly BIG.

I realise that - which would be why I deleted my post.

Roy MM · 27-04-2005, 11:46

looks very impressive i must say.

**Chris T** · 27-04-2005, 11:48

So the thread's nothing to do with this geezer then.

Simon M · 27-04-2005, 11:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris T

So the thread's nothing to do with this geezer then.

There's always one ...... typical

27-04-2005, 11:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris T

So the thread's nothing to do with this geezer then.

As if that was ever going to fly

Just a bit worrying that someone went to Paris to see Big Bird!!

Ramrod · 27-04-2005, 11:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bifta

If it's got the runway length then surely the quietest airport you can find would be best? You wouldn't want to test an aircraft at somewhere like Heathrow.

Absolutely, I'm just amazed it had the runway length.
__________________

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScaredWebWarrior

Their production site is adjacent to the very BIG airport at Toulouse. OK - the terminal may not be that big, but the rest - i.e. the bit that handles planes - is certainly BIG.

Ah.....It's not apparent if you've been there............

SMHarman · 27-04-2005, 12:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScaredWebWarrior

Their production site is adjacent to the very BIG airport at Toulouse. OK - the terminal may not be that big, but the rest - i.e. the bit that handles planes - is certainly BIG.

Tolouse has a very nice new terminal building nowdays, after all it is where Airbus bigwigs meet and greet the great and the good of the airline world when they pick up the keys to their shiney new aircraft.