Airbus A380: The Death Watch Begins

The 747 will carry on in freight. Boeing should make a 2 engine version of it.

The 320/321 definitely could benefit from bigger engines and a double bogey gear. The thing is a Pig heavy and miserable hot and heavy.


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skypilot6 said:
Seats? Pretty soon it will be standing room only with grab bars like the subway. Cram them in!
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You only think you are joking about that... It is being discussed in planning meetings.
 
bike21 said:
Saw a Korean 747-800 the other week in SFO, at least someone is keeping the 747 alive. Agree that seeing the demise of the Whale is sad.
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Worked one out of atl today. Was nice to see them using it.

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Bandit_Driver said:
The 747 will carry on in freight. Boeing should make a 2 engine version of it.

The 320/321 definitely could benefit from bigger engines and a double bogey gear. The thing is a Pig heavy and miserable hot and heavy.


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What thrust raiting does your 321s have?
 
It's just too niche of an aircraft because of its size for most airlines.

Air France and Lufthansa have both stated they can't find enough routes for something as big as it is. I hibk Air France even went as far to say they regret purchasing them. Qantas also had to delay, and will ultimately probably cancel, the remaining A380s they have on order for that very reason.

And once Emirates gets rid of their initial aircraft, it will destroy any new build market for them when you can pull gently used examples out of the desert for pennies on the dollar vs a new one.

Damn thing is just an albatross.
 
I may be alone on this, but I don't enjoy flying on them as a passenger simply because you're unable to lean your head against the window due to the wide gap between the window seat and the fuselage. It's probably a good design for those who prefer the extra arm space, but it diminished the advantage of having a window seat for me. Not to mention, good luck seeing anything out of the window with that massive wing obscuring nearly everything (unless you're up front, I guess).

My first world complaints for the day.
 
Avgirl said:
I like the plane even if it is unrealistically sized for most passenger needs, but a clear example of poor planning on the part of Airbus. Sometimes, you do time things right, and in this case, they just missed the opportunity entirely. With 747's being dropped, it was never a surprise that this was going to follow suit. The delays with production, etc. only saved the bottom lines of all the airlines waiting for planes.
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It's a plane before it's time. The theory that airport and airspace infrastructure; landing slots; etc will require larger aircraft in the future is a very good theory. It's really just common sense. The are more and more passengers worldwide, but not much more airspace and not many new runways to accommodate the increased travel demand. So eventually these larger aircraft will be necessary in order to support continued growth of the world air travel market. I just don't see enough new airports/runways being built or enough airspace efficiency gains that the eventuality could be otherwise.

That said, Boeing wins this round because their bet was that a highly efficient smaller aircraft could serve primary-secondary and secondary-secondary international city pairs with enough profit margin that the airlines would buy it. Look at all the new routes that UAL is starting with the 787, and they are just one airline doing it. That will continue to work for the foreseeable future since those can later be replaced with larger B777X as demand increases, but what happens when the demand fills up all the 777Xs and the airports are at capacity?


Typhoonpilot
 
I took a ride on the upper deck of the 747 in business elite or Delta One, whatever it's called. It kind of felt like a very nice 737 with lieflat seats and a window I really couldn't use. I had to use my "FO BE GOOD" pen/stabber to open and close the window shade.

It's a beautiful airplane, however. But certainly not worth wrecking the economics of your business plan to keep them around for notoriety.
 
Derg said:
I took a ride on the upper deck of the 747 in business elite or Delta One, whatever it's called. It kind of felt like a very nice 737 with lieflat seats and a window I really couldn't use. I had to use my "FO BE GOOD" pen/stabber to open and close the window shade.

It's a beautiful airplane, however. But certainly not worth wrecking the economics of your business plan to keep them around for notoriety.
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Funny, I just did the same in March. Booked it on purpose to get what might possibly be one last ride on the upper deck of the 747 (DTW-NRT). Forgot that the best place on the 747 is actually the forward lower deck.

The A380 upper deck is really nice by comparison, especially in Emirates First Class. That's the one thing I really miss about that previous job.


TP
 
Derg said:
I took a ride on the upper deck of the 747 in business elite or Delta One, whatever it's called. It kind of felt like a very nice 737 with lieflat seats and a window I really couldn't use. I had to use my "FO BE GOOD" pen/stabber to open and close the window shade.

It's a beautiful airplane, however. But certainly not worth wrecking the economics of your business plan to keep them around for notoriety.
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Are you a pilot? Did you demand a window seat?
 
scooter2525 said:
Yes but did you ask the customers around you and tell them that you are a pilot and need a seat by the window because you circumnavigated your way around thunderstorms?
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Ha! :)

I'm usually so afraid of anyone knowing I'm a pilot, I'd almost like a different rollaboard for the days I'm in civilian clothes! :)
 
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