[Deepblue]

When are they going to take Airbus off government subsidies? It's not really fair for Boeing, though I much prefer the idea of flying on a 787 rather than that monster...

Still, the question is, do airlines want to cram as many passengers on to one big fat plane, or do they want to fly economical planes that are more comfortable and already ready to be used at airports. They would have to adjust nose docks and test the effect on airstrip integrity for A380.

[achtung]

The problem with a lot of small airliners is that it is a heck of a lot harder to keep track of, perform maintenence, fuel, and staff a large number of smaller airplanes than it is to do this on one large one.

[Swamp_Thing]

Originally posted by Deepblue
When are they going to take Airbus off government subsidies? It's not really fair for Boeing,  

As if Boeing wasn´t getting federal help neither...

[Nuke]

its a shabe boeing scraped the blended wing-body concept. that would have been a cool plane. to allow better passenger capacity without increasing wingspan or runway requirements.  such a shame.

as for airport security, they are going about it all wrong, get rid of metal detectors and securigy gaurds and issue every passenger a 9mm.

[Omniscaper]

Remember, the bigger they are, the harder they.....

Great, a bigger weapon jihadists can now use.  They better install them new bullet proof doors for the cabin. I bet a plane this big can take out a skyscraper bigger than WTC. That Taiwanese tower perhaps?

Sorry, 9/11 memories still fresh in the head of this eye witness.

[Flipside]

You know, it really is shining through that this plane is European.

No offence Omni, but I find it interesting that you  find the Abu Ghraib photos funny and the 9/11 ones horrific.

Edit : After all, how long do you think it will be till Boeing make something even bigger.... you just know it's gonna happen

[Omniscaper]

Originally posted by Flipside

No offence Omni, but I find it interesting that you  find the Abu Ghraib photos funny and the 9/11 ones horrific.
 

Interesting isn't it? I also find it interesting that those handfull of Iraqi POW's are still alive while 3000+ WTC folks are dead. A bit of an unbalanced comparison don't you think?

Amazing who the main stream media would attempted to focus our sympathies for. Though I do not agree with the behavior of the US military folks responsible, those Iraqi POW's get no sympathies from me, considering their history of mass rape/holocaust of Kurds and Sunnis. I presonally see it as more "poetic justice" then "tragic irony".

[Flipside]

Actually, quite a few of those POW's were tortured to death, and, whilst counting bodies is horrible thing to have to do for either side, I think you've had you blood-debt in citizens by now, but I'm not condoning 9/11 any more than you are condoning Abu Ghraib

Anyway, I'm not here to start an argument, I think we've all stated our cases now, and I don't want to derail the thread

[Omniscaper]

Peace

Sorry for the de-railment folks. Now to get back to topic.... imagine joining "The Mile-high Club" in that thing!!! Sign me up!

[Flipside]

LOL I still find the Pool Table funny, the you could go get a coffee and let the game finish itself

[Fineus]

Shame there's no mention of PCs or Playstations being built into the back of seats though... that'd be quite neat.

[Crazy_Ivan80]

Originally posted by Swamp_Thing
Equipped with a gymnasium, a dance floor, and many other perks.
 

that would be the luxury version with 500 or so passengers.

The economy version will pack 800 peeps.

plenty of people

[Omniscaper]

Forget the video games...

Imagine how large the lobsters and steaks being served in 1st class will be!? Of course that will also entail fullsized restrooms, with FULL-sized toilet seats.

[Wanderer]

I watched the maiden flight form the BBC World and there some Airbus expert claimed that this version of A380 is just the one with shortest hull and longer designs based on the A380 design are going to be produced...

[aldo_14]

Originally posted by Deepblue
When are they going to take Airbus off government subsidies? It's not really fair for Boeing, though I much prefer the idea of flying on a 787 rather than that monster...

Still, the question is, do airlines want to cram as many passengers on to one big fat plane, or do they want to fly economical planes that are more comfortable and already ready to be used at airports. They would have to adjust nose docks and test the effect on airstrip integrity for A380.

To be fair, Boeing receives subsidies as well (http://www.guardian.co.uk/airlines/story/0,1371,1323657,00.html).  I would tend to agree with the 'both will win' arguement, because IMO there's a market for both planes.... I think the A380 might go in the sort of 'luxury long haul' market with some airlines, though; I know Virgin Atlantic were talking of private rooms with proper beds and bars, etc.

However, what I would like to see would be one with a 5-a-side footie pitch.  That'd kick arse.......

[Mongoose]

Yeah, until you hit turbulence. I can see it now..."He shoots...oh no, we've hit a bump!  The shot goes wide!"

[Clave]

I'm not knocking it in any way, BUT we (UK + Europe) should have been building and competing when the 747 first flew - simple as that.

BTW, I miss Concorde...

[achtung]

All I know is that I would really hate to see one of those big fella's crash. 500+ people sounds like a tragedy for the airline industries of the world to me.

[Edit] Well really a tragedy for the whole world.

[Flipside]

It's a question of utilitarianism over competition I think Clave, for a long long time the 747 was perfect for the role it performed. I cannot knock Boeing for the design, it is a work of functional genius, so there was no need to create a plane to replicate that. However, demands and air traffic are rising.

The idea is bigger planes means fewer in the air, means less chance of collision. Whether that works remains to be seen.

[Roanoke]

Originally posted by Clave
BTW, I miss Concorde...

I heard they reckon the next super sonic plane would be a small private, Lear Jet style thing.