The official unveiling of this so called super-airplane has been held in January at the manufacturer's headquarters in Toulouse, the ceremony resembling in opulence to the one held every four years at the Olympic Games.
The angels were flying up above, reaching with their wings the ceiling of the huge hangar under a character's "paternal surveillance", the biggest of them all impersonating Divinity, which, from time to time, used to look at all the European officials present at one of the greatest moments in European history.
As a result, Goethe, Einstein, Goya, Gaudi, Hugo, Shakespeare and Beatles have been chosen as symbols of "the main players" of this dangerous game which, over night, gained ostentatious proportions and an apparent permanence which promises eternity to all who see the steel bird for the first time.
But this giant is, in fact, a thorn in Boeing's foot and, also, a castle made out of playing cards which can tumble down over airports, ten year efforts and foreign affairs of an European Union without a 'lucid law' trying to gain power over the world's giant - the United States.
Some critics said that this project is a kind of instigation directed to America and, also, the first European Union's Constitution.
In order for you to understand the risks implied by this project, you should know that the investments sum up billions of dollars.
Consequently, Airbus invested about $16 billions, two more than the sum stipulated in the project, adding up to another $4.3 billions invested by the European Union. This is why Airbus should dispatch more than 100 airplanes, besides 149 already bought by different airline companies, just to cover its expenses.
"We will
sell more than 250 airplanes. We will sell 700-750. This is an airplane which will fly for 30-40 years without being technologically surpassed," stated Noel Frogeard, Airbus CEO.
"Did they build another Concorde? Has Airbus built an airplane more for its image than for the future to come passengers?" wondered Boeing's spokesman for Europe, Charles Miller.
The United States vs. The European UnionAirbus 380 represents one of technology's miracles, even if it features only 35% more space for passengers' seats. Nevertheless, this airplane was built to become "air's Ritz Hotel", with 49% more space just for luxury services like conference rooms, aerobics classes, shops and libraries, besides cabins that resemble to a five star hotel suite.
Another problem was created by Airbus challenger - Boeing - and United States' officials who made a complaint at World Trade Organization accusing the European Union of financing the project by using money from the countries' budgets.
The answer came with no delay. The European representatives said that the United States also financed from the states' budget the Boeing's 747 Dreamliner project.
After this episode, both powers initiated a long series of never-ending negotiations.
Airbus is part of the European Aeronautic Defense and Space Company Group (EADS), which surpassed Boeing's profits for the first time in 2004. From that moment on, the company thought of a strategy in order to become the leader of the airline market. This is why the manufacturer produced a giant aircraft, the strategy being taken over from its challenger who has built in the '70s another large airplane - 747 - which didn't prove to be a success.
Airbus estimates a demand of 1.250 airplanes, with a capacity of more than 400 sits, for the next 20 years, as Boeing stated that the company prefers to build medium seized airplanes which will benefit from an estimated demand of 300-400 aircrafts for the same period of time.
A third problem was brought up by the director of the European Center of Social Studies in Bruxelles, Daniel Gros: "The success of this project resides in the manufacturer's power to surpass all these problems (the estimated demand for Airbus 380 and the diplomatic issues). But the greatest danger inhabits in the European states, as the officials might see the airplane as a European champion and try to build replicas in their own countries."
However, in order for the airports to host this huge aircraft, several adjustments have to be made. These changes will need $2.3 billions in total; the sum will be "shared" depending on the airport's capacity, meaning that some of them could host the plane in the future without needing many transformations.
History of Airbus A380 1991- Airbus demands several projects from its partners in order to create a large airplane
January 1993 - Boeing announces a similar project to the one Airbus intends to materialize
June 1993 - Boeing decides to build the aircraft, and Airbus initiates its own project - A3XX (the soon to be A380)
1996- Airbus Craft Division starts to manufacture the engines for the upcoming airplane
2000 - The worldwide marketing campaign for the soon to be A3XX starts
2002- Over 15 facilities start production for the airplane's parts
February 2004 - Rolls-Royce ships to Toulouse the first engines; the first wing is manufactured in Wales
Mai 2004 - The final stage of production starts; the airplane's parts are assembled
April 2005 - A380's maiden flight
2006 - The first airplanes will be delivered to Singapore Airlines, Quantas and Emirates
DetailsPerformances (A380-800 and A380-800 HGW)
Speed limit- 0.89Mach
Speed limit for long distances - 0.85 Mach
Distance limit - 15.100 km
Capacity Standard number of passengers - 555 (2 levels and three classes)
Quantas Airlines - 523 sits and 3 classes
35% more space for seats than Boeing 747 and 49% more room for luxury services
Cargo capacity - 38LD3
Maximum weight at launching- 560 t
Maximum weight at lending - 386 t
Maximum weight without gas - 361 t
Production 149 orders
Estimation- 1.235 aircrafts with 400 sits until 2020
First deliveries- 2006
MeasurementsLength - 73m
Height - 24,1 m
Fuselage's size- 7,41 m
Cabin's length -50,68 m
Cabin's maximum width (first level) - 6,58m
Cabin's maximum width (upper level) - 5,92 m
Distance between wheels- 30,4 m
Wings' size- 79,8 m
EnginesElectric Generators for A380-800 - four manufactured by Rolls Royce Trent 900 or Engine Alliance (General Electric-Pratt Whitney) GP-7200
Electric Generators for A380-800HGW - four 311Kn Trent900 or GP-7200
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