A-380 whens it gonna fly

[siucavflight]

Does anyone here know when the A-380 will make its first flight? I thought that it was supposed to be March, but I did not hear that it did fly.

 

[Flyin Tony]

I read the 9th, but someone posted that on here so who knows

 

[cforst513]

airbus' website is less than helpful, to say the least. the latest RUMOR i heard is that they arent publishing a date to fly b/c they are having trouble getting it airworthy. as soon as they think it can safely fly, they'll release/leak something.

 

[Jon-Kyle Mohr]

*gasp* Its going to fly!??!?

 

[siucavflight]

It seems like the French really enjoy hooking it to a tug and parading it around the airport. I want to see the dam thing fly already, this way I can see the airplane in the air that will put airbus out of business.

 

[urflyingme?!]

It seems like the French really enjoy hooking it to a tug and parading it around the airport. I want to see the dam thing fly already, this way I can see the airplane in the air that will put airbus out of business.

HAHAHAHAH. Airbus isn't going anywhere, even though many of us wish they would! Didn't you hear? Airbus IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR LOANS! Gotta love those socialists.

 

[EagleRJ]

I read somewhere that the A-380's flight control software is going to have soft limits like Boeing products, instead of the hard limits of previous Airbus products. I wonder if that's right?

If that's the case, it is huge news, although I'm sure Airbus will try to let it pass with as little notice as possible. It wouldn't be good for sales to admit that their philosophy of not letting the pilot be the final authority has failed!

 

[cforst513]

what's the difference between soft and hard limits (for those of us not privileged with flying the big, shiny jets).

 

[bocefus]

"what's the difference between soft and hard limits (for those of us not privileged with flying the big, shiny jets)."

In a nutshell, it is a control Philosophy. Soft limits gives the pilot cues, or targets for attitude, etc that can be exceeded if the pilot so decides.
Hard limits are just that, a cue that cannot be exceeded. Rotation for takeoff for example. Aircraft with hard limits will only pitch, or rotate to the angle allowed by the computer regardless of the yoke, or errr sidestick controller position.

 

[EagleRJ]

Hard limits refers to the flight control computer setting absolute limits for what the pilot is allowed to do. For instance, in prior Airbus aircraft, if you roll into too steep of a bank, the plane will stop at 60 degrees, and a voice will say "Roll!.... Roll!" There are numerous ways the computer tries to keep the aircraft within the flight envelope by ignoring pilot inputs at a certain point. The protections can be inhibited, of course, but normal operations have them in effect.

When a plane is designed with soft limits, the plane will do whatever the pilot tells it too, but envelope exceedence will be marked by increased control force, alarms, etc.

This will probably turn into another Boeing vs. Airbus thread, but there's no question that hard limits have caused problems with pilots in the past, including numerous accidents where they were a factor. If Airbus has done away with hard limits, it is big news.

The last I heard, April 1 was a widely publicized date for a first flight. I'm sure Airbus will never tell the world why the plane is delayed, but doing so only encourages the plane's detractors. The plane includes so much experimental technology, I'm not surprised they're having problems getting it into the air.

 

[cforst513]

thanks for the clarification, fellas!

 

[Pugh]

The last I heard, April 1 was a widely publicized date for a first flight. I'm sure Airbus will never tell the world why the plane is delayed, but doing so only encourages the plane's detractors. The plane includes so much experimental technology, I'm not surprised they're having problems getting it into the air.

What kind of experimental technology is in it? Besides a more advanced cockpit, it seems like it's just a double decker Airbus.

 

[bocefus]

Nothing much, it hardly qualifies as "experimental, or radical other than it's size. About the only thing new is expanded use of composites and a new structural material, "GLARE", which is a combination of aluminum and composites. Now B-787, that is radical!

 

[EagleRJ]

The extensive use of GLARE, as well as a 5000 PSI hydraulic system (only other aircraft to have that is the V-22 Osprey). Add in a bunch of other "biggest ever" components, and there is a steep learning curve here.

 

[Steveair]

The A380; A Face only a mother could love

The real question is when will the first A380 crash. I'm guessing it will be shortly after it's first flight control system malfunction which leads to a major crash that kills a lot of people.

Airbus; where Rudders aren't required!