Introduction
A well know engineering marvel Airbus A380, world's largest and luxurious aircraft. It has a widest body among all the airliners. In 1990 the Company Airbus announced the project to compete with Boeing 747. It's first prototype was tested in January 2005. Due it some technical issues in electrical wiring the production of A380 got further delayed and the first A380 was delivered to Singapore Airlines on October 15, 2007. This is how the world's largest passenger airliner came into the aviation industry.
The sad news for all the A380 fans is, company has announced the shut down of this project.
Research & Development
The research of this great engineering marvel started in 1988 when Airbus wanted to challenge the Boeing 747. After 2 years of study the company announced the project of making a largest aircraft in 1990. The main key of interest for the buyers was A380 has a 15% lower operating cost then that of Boeing 747.
The funds with the Airbus were not efficient for the development of A380. In year 2000 Airbus took loan of 3.5 billion euros from the government of Germany, UK and France.
Testing
April 27, 2005 was the day when A380 flew for the first time from Toulouse Blagnac Airport. The chief test pilot was Jacques Rosay and the crew was of six.
The high altitude test was conducted in 2006 for the first time and for the second time in 2009.
During the wing strength test it failed. Then Airbus did some modification and again tested it and this is how it passes the wing strength test.
Delivery
As of March 2019 the Airbus has 290 orders of A380 aircraft. The delivery of the A380 started in October 2007, first delivery was made to Singapore Airlines. Emirates is the largest customer of A380 as it ordered 123 units.
There are two places where the deliveries of the planes are given.
- Hamburg : Europe and Middle East customers
- Toulouse : Rest of the world
Accidents
A380 had 2 accidents but both reported no fatalities.
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Qantas Flight 32 : Uncontained engine failure was the reason for problems occurred during flight on November 4, 2010. This flight was from Singapore Changi Airport to Sydney Airport.
Due to this failure the flight made an emergency landing in Singapore. All the passengers, crew were safe after this accident. The debris from the plane's engine fell onto an island Batam, Indonesia.
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Air France Flight 66 : Uncontained engine failure was the reason for problems occurred during flight on September 30, 2017. This flight was from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport to Los Angeles International Airport.
Flight made an emergency landing in Goose Bay in Labrador, Canada. All the passengers, crew were safe after this accident.
Production End
Airbus A380's production will end by 2021 this is announced the Airbus in February 2019. The Airbus had 39 orders from Emirates but to end the production they offered Emirates 40 A330-900s and 30 A350-900s , Emirates agreed to this. Now, only 17 units of A380 will be made by Airbus before the closure of production line.
