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Aviation History
2002
2002 - 3242.PDF
Directory: world airliners aircraft making 500 flights. JAA certification was awarded in May and FAA approval followed in July. Virgin Atlantic put the -600 into service at the begin ning of August. Deliveries to the next customer, Cathay Pacific, have been delayed by two months as a result of production hold-ups and apparent specification changes requested by the airline. During testing it was established that the A340- 600's climb to initial cruise altitude performance at maximum take-off weight is "significantly better" than the target of FL 330 (33,000ft/10,000m). Airbus had to rerun its rejected take-off certifica tion tests for the -600, after many of the wheels suffered structural failure during the original test when tyre pressure rose dramatically because of brake heat. The wheels and tyres were redesigned and a second test was completed successfully. Early build A340-500/600s have weighed in heavier than the target, with the deficit believed to be around 850kg. This is largely thought to be asso ciated with the aircraft's wing. A weight-saving programme is expected to bring the new A340 mod els within 0.4% of the originally specified empty weight by aircraft number 23, which is the first A340- 500 for Singapore Airlines. Airbus UK's Filton plant is masterminding the weight-saving effort, which is understood to focus on reducing material used in various stringers and ribs in the wing as well as removing material from some of the larger forgings within the structure. R-R is also developing an enhanced perfor mance package for the Trent 500 which will include scheduling changes to the full authority digital engine control, reduced clearances in the intermedi ate-pressure compressor and alterations to increase the turbine exit temperature. The smaller, ultra-long-range A340-500 flew on 11 February this year and is completing its short flight-test programme. Airbus has delayed deliveries of the A340-500 to launch customer Air Canada by around four months, until March next year, as a result of post-certification changes. . A corporate A340-500 is being built for Qatar Airways, with delivery set for 2004. Meanwhile, Airbus is studying the development of a higher weight, extended-range version of the -600 for Emirates. The UAE airline wants to supplement its A340-500 fleet with a -600 capable of flying year- round from Dubai to the USA. The airline holds a letter of intent for eight aircraft, pending a decision by Airbus to go ahead with the new version. Flight testing of the improved CFM56-5C/P engine for the A340-300 Enhanced model is about to begin on the company-owned prototype. The air craft will complete 50h of performance and operability flight tests. Engine certification is due in the third quarter of next year. A short flight-test pro gramme will be flown on the first customer aircraft ahead of its delivery to South African Airways in February 2004. SAA ordered six of the A340-300 Enhanced earlier this year. Other enhancements, which will also apply to the A330, come from new developments for the A340- 500/600, including the fly-by-wire controlled rudder, improved flightdeck (including liquid crystal displays, updated cabin and a new rear crew-rest area option. AIRBUS A380 Length (m) Wingspan (m) Height (m) Cabin width (m) Max take-off weight (kg) MTOW option Max landing weight (kg) Operating empty weight (kg) Max zero fuel weight (kg) Max payload (kg) Option Powerplant Standard fuel capacity (I) Option Normal operating speed (Mach) Max cruisse speed (Mach) Max cruise speed (kt) Max cruising altitude (ft) Take-off field length (m, sea level/ISA) Landing field length (m, sea level/ISA) Accommodation (1-class) Accommodation (3-class) Design range with pax/load Design range with maximum load I A380-800 727 79.6 24.07 6.55 560,000 - 386.000 277,000 361,000 83,000 4 x 70,000lb GE-PW Engine Alliance GP7200 or R-R Trent 900 310,000 - 0.85 0.89 340 43,000 2,050 2,900 822 555 14,200km/555 - A380-800 Freighter 4 x 76,50( 72.7 79.6 24.07 6.55 590,000 600,000 427,000 252.200 402,000 150,000 158,000 )lb GE-PW Engine Alliance GP7200 or R-R Trent 900 •Mom 71 10,400km/ie 5.550km/16 310,000 352,000 0.85 0.89 340 43,000 2,900 1.900 containers Ot payload 5t payload Airbus promises that the CFM56-5C/P engine will provide 10% lower maintenance costs and a 1 % improvement in specific fuel consumption compared with the A340-300's present CFM56-5C4. The enhanced engine improvement package will also be available as an upgrade kit. The A340-300 testbed's next chore will be to test Messier-Dowty's noise-reducing components for A340 landing gear, beginning next September. The work is part of the European SILENCER noise- reduction programme. Add-on fairings have been designed for the nose, centre and main landing gear oftheA340-300. Production See A330. Ordered: 325 Delivered: 218 A380 The $10.7 billion A380 programme was formally launched in December 2000, but the aircraft had been under development since April 1996 under the "A3XX" designation. Launched with the backing of commitments from six customers for 48 orders, the total order book now stands at 95 aircraft from eight customers. The baseline 555-seat passenger version is designated the A380-800, and an -800 Freighter is also being developed. Future planned models include a longer-range version, the -800R, as well as a 650-seat stretch, the -900. and a 465-seat shrink, the -700. The four-engined A380 is available with a choice of powerplants in the 70,000-78,000lb- thrust bracket, with R-R offering the Trent 900 and the GE- P&W Engine Alliance the GP7200. The Trent 900 is the lead certification engine and has been selected by Lufthansa, Qantas, SIA and Virgin. Air France, Emirates and FedEx have chosen the GP7200. The Trent-powered A380 is to make its maiden flight in late 2004, and enter service with SIA in March 2006. Emirates will receive the first GP7200-powered A380 in July 2006. According to EADS, there is a market for 750 A380s through to 2015. Break-even will be around 250 aircraft. EADS is confident that the programme will be in the black by 2011. The freighter is due to enter service in June 2008 with Emirates. FedEx will also receive its first aircraft that year. The A380-800F will have strengthened structure and increased weights, giving it a standard payload of 150t. Airbus is offering various weight options which provide increased range and/or payload. These include a 10t MTOW increase and 8t more payload. A cen tre fuel tank is also being offered. The freighter's strengthened airframe will provide the basis for the stretched A380-900 model. The freighter will have a 4.27 x 2.87m cargo door on its main deck and a 3.68 x 2.24m door on the upper deck. Total cargo volume will be 948m5. Airbus published the first of its series of A380 technical manuals this year. It covers aeroplane characteristics for airport planning for the pas senger and cargo models, enabling airports to plan manoeuvring areas, pavement strength, runway dimensions and loading gate design. Airbus estimates the freighter should be able to be turned around in 100-140min, and the passenger version in 80-123min. A380 manufacturing began in early 2002, with the first carbonfibre panels being made at the Airbus France plant in Nantes and the first metal cut at the French plant in Meaulte and the 46 5-11 NOVEMBER 2002 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL www.flightinternational.com
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