Do You Know That? The Biggest Airliner Of The World

Nowadays, hardly anybody would be able to imagine holidays without travelling to the airport, all necessary procedures, followed by a flight (which could be modest way of transport as someting which could be fully and comfortably enjoyed). However, we can meet, in our airports, or in nearly all European airports, or during charter flights, the aircrafts of so called „old generation“, moreover, arranged in such way, to hold(involve) as many passengers as possible, who are preferring to land somewhere at the beach, as rather impressed knees from the seat in front of you which are disturbing you. In case of inter-continental flights, Boeing with Jumbo-Jets-747 type had the monopoly, as far as the first class comfort transfer is concerned. Anyway, the first flight wa effceted just in 1969. To tell the truth, this type of aircraft is serving quite well on long-distance routes, till now. In general, 1418 pieces (units) were manufactured totally, in different modifications (types), dimensions or arrangements. The American Government is using such crafts as their Air Force One… But even such gigant could become old-fashioned. The newest and most comfortable aircrafts of the latest generation are appearing on the market. We shall pay our attention just to its successor, from production of European Airbus. A satellite of Boeing 747 was, since 1990, Airbus A 340 - long-fuselaged four-engine aircraft with maximal capacity of 350-350 passengers, which got its popularity, first of all, with flags of Lufthansa, Air France and Iberia Airlines. However, such short-term cooperation of all these rivals did not brought much success. Boeing let their aircrafts modernized, and Airbus started to be specialized according to completely new conception of double-storey machine, which became most modern and biggest airplane at all for next two decades of the 21st century. So, after A 340, no A 350 was created but number eight became a symbol of double of 340-line, i.e. a symbol of the second full-valuable stage…

Airbus A-380 is really a „young man“ in the sky. Its first flight was realized just in 2005 Despite first problems, this aircraft became quickly very popular machine, especially for leading world carriers, such as: Emirates, Air France, Australian Quantas or Corean Air. Nevertheless, Singapore Airlines became its first user. So, this famous era of Boeing 747 terminated slowly, since October 2007. At that time, A 380 Aircraft serie was put into regular traffic. So, now, this type is really the greatest transfer airplane which could be noted. Regarding dimensionms, only Antonow 225, Russian gigant overcomes this type. From historical point of view, maybe, air-ship Hindenburg or experimental gigantic hydroplane Hughes H 4, known from film „Aviator“ could be bigger. The dimensions of A 380 aircraft are as follows: (in brackets, there are indicated the data regarding B 747-8): the length - 73 metres (76 metres), spread - 80 metres (68 metres), maximal capacity - 880 passengers (467 passengers), maximal speed - 1062 km/h (918 km/h), flying range: up to 15 100 kms (14 000 kms), maximal ascending weight - 600 tonnes: it is absolutely the heaviest aircraft of the history!

With its transfer capacity, relating to unreal 880 passengers, Airbus got with its lengthened second board (deck), and so, the biggest Boeing 747 was overcome nearly twice. Anyway, A 380 exists also in an exclusive version, where the passengers have on board even available their own cabins with a bed, social room, bar or drill-hall!

New Airbus will be also perceptibly quiet and more economical as its American competitor. These Airbuses are well known with its unique system - Fly by Wire - i.e. in such way that obsolete system of hydraulic, piston-rods and cables was fully substituted with electronical system of flying operation. So, this gigantic aircraft can be managed by means of small joystick instead of classical cniple.

However, the process of setting into operation was not managed without some delays. Final tests and handing over of the first machines were accompanied with much trouble. Despite of this, the orders were placed. Recent Air Festival, taken place in Berlin, brought Airbus the contracts for tens of other machines A 380, first of all for Asian carriers and customers from rich Arabian world. Even German Lufthansa did not stopped behind, ordering 15 machines ( on the other hand: the Emirates ordered 90 aircrafts!).

Except most modern electronics and comfortability in several passenger classes, the inside space of fuselage is constructed in such way that in low - i.e. main transfer board, there are 356 places-seats available, for main tourist class (334 seats) and the first class (22 seats), whereas in upper board (deck) are 199 seats available (second class has 96 seats reserved, and tourist class 103 places). Apart of this, you can find there small kitchens, two lifts, relax seats for crew, 17 toilets, and other necessary spaces, which make from A 380 absolutely unmatched aircraft as far as the volume and dimensions are concerned.

Nevertheless, these types of aircrafts share still with their smaller competitors from Boeing, especially on short distance routes (version 777 and A 330), but  on long distance routes, it is plane No. 1., for sure.

Within June 2011, this aircraft was planned to be presented also in Prague, however, this flight and its introduction was cancelled.  Nevertheless, it is still presumed that new term will be stipulated shortly, so it will be big chance for us, to admire such phantastic aircraft with your own eyes!

Text: Jan Chaloupka

Translation: ing. Jan Jonáš

Photo: wikipedia commons: Ingo Green , Imre Solt , WoSt01, S. Solberg J. a Ilookit