So I decided to skip the gym and drive out to the airport after work and see if the A380 was still there.

Yup, it was.

Unfortunately I could only grab a crummy pic with my phone while waiting to turn.

I must say I was underwhelmed. It's a lot shorter than I imagined. And while I know that's probably becuase it's a double decker and relatively makes it not seem so long . . . it still does not have the presence of a 747. Not even close.

It has a big wingspan but that also makes the plane itself seem small. Only one thing stands out and that is the tail.

That's one really TALL tail.



Another intresting thig isthat here at LAX they rebuilt a runway just for this plane (made the southern most runway longer and wider) and they didn't use it.

An interesting plane, but not what the hype makes it out to be. Honestly, with that many people on one plane . . . well, I have no desire to fly it. If you had to fly coach can you imagine how long it will take to board and de-board that sucker.

No thanks.

And now, it's time to watch 24

 

You want big, check out that Antonov transport. I see one every now and then, and that is a BIG plane.

Ive been on a 747 and I dont want to board anything bigger than that, takes forever.

 

I can not blame you for not wanting to ride an A380. Not only are you crammed in there with 500+ other people, there have been numerous technical issues. Just off of the top of my head I know that the landing gear has had problems, the wings failed the maximum load test and the wiring has been a nightmare and has caused something like 18+ months of delay. Factor in the rudder problems that have plagued Airbus in the past and count me out.

 

Well that ruined it for me. I envisioned a monster. The radio was reporting wing spans as wide as a football field. Heck I imagined being awed by its size. Oh well.

 

I'd take my chances with a A380. I flew two DC9's in the last week. A plane that was introduced in the late 60s, only god knows when NorthWest first put them into service. Judging by the creaks and moans on my last flight, I'm guessing it been in service as long as I've been on this planet. Give me the new technology baby!

 

I'm not afraid of the new technology; it is how bad Airbus has bungled this airframe.

 

Nope, bigger. Wingspan of the A380 is 261'-8", roughly 112' wider than a football field. By comparison a 747 spans 213', still wider than a football field.

Length:
747: 229'-2"
A380: 238'-7"

If below is crammed with 500 people, pack 'em in!




The way I see it, bring the A380 on! More business for my company.

 

I don't care what I fly....just get me there safely! But I think I'd be nervous on such a huge plane in terms of passenger capacity. Good point about the time it would take to get seated and get your baggage.

 

Check out this landing at LAX (first video in the list)

I guess it was a cross-wind type of landing, I dunno. It just looks a little sketchy...

video here - http://www.cnn.com/

 

Per the A380 and 747 characteristics manual, here is the rundown of deplaning and boarding times:

A380/747-400
People deplaning: 13/11 minutes
People boarding: 26/18 minutes

Baggage unloading: 31/24 minutes
Baggage loading: 37/24 minutes

Total turnaround time from gate arrival to departure is 126/60 minutes.

Obviously these are design numbers and for comparison only. Real world will likely be drastically different.

 

Wildcat...is that what that thing really looks like on the inside or is that only for 1st class passengers. To have all that room would be crazy!

 

I think they are first class, here is what I assume to be coach passengers. Still, not too shabby with the legroom.

 

As I said, it's got a big wingspan . . . and let me modify that statement . . . it's got (yeah, I know, poor Engrish skills) a VERY big wing span. I am also sure that such a large wingspan made the fuselage "SEEM" small. And like you I imagined an awesome sized thing. In fact I imagined a MONSTER GIGANTIC aircraft so of course there was no way I could have been anything but let down.

As for Wookie's statement, I've heard horror stories about this plane. In fact, there is one thing about new planes (and not just this plane, and not just Airbus) I am not keen on, and that is the use of composites on such a large scale on commercial aircraft . . . NOT. A. GOOD. THING.

As for the pix equating to 500 passengers . . . hardly.

With first class and business set up like that you're probably looking at a 350 to 450 passenger configuration. I remember when the 747 was first announced and Boeings artists renditions and then the mock ups . . . side ways facing seats, coffee tables, couches, a full bar and a piano. The reality . . . cram as many seats as tightly as possible. And, the first class in those pictures doesnt impress me. Looks a lot like the 777's first class just more people . . . which would suck. One of the things I like about FC is that there are fewer people there. Big seats - always nice - a lot of morons around you . . .not good.

As for the time stats . . . yeah, right. Think back to any time you're boarding a real aircraft with real people who can't find their seats, can't walk an aisle without taking an hour to put their oversized carry-on in the bin, who have thier spawn running around and not being where they are supposed to be, and on and on . . . then think of how eveyone stand up all at once fighting to get their carry ons and waiting for the jetway to reach the door . . . now picture 700 of them . . .

THen think of the ground crews you've seen and baggage people you've seen . . . what, you think those slow moving bums are suddenly going to become faster just because a 380 pulled up?

Sorry . . . don'y buy it.

This puppy, while and impressive engineering feat, and I just love planes, I've grow to hate flying and this just represents more dehumanizing, more compressed cattle attitudes of commercial air srvice.

Time to start looking at alternatives.

 

there's always this "speedy" mode of transportation...

 

Which is the point I was trying to convey, thank you Kobi for having more time to waste than I.

Think about boarding a 747. Now picture that taking 44% (by design) longer for an A380. I've never boarded a 747 so I don't have a feeling for this, but I don't imagine receiving any joy out of it.