An Airbus A380 is on course to evolving into an airliner capable of carrying a commercially attractive multi-class payload non-stop in both directions between Melbourne or Sydney and London, writes Ben Sandilands.
Airbus A380
Airbus A380s take off globally
An order for six Airbus A380s by South Korean flag carrier Asiana Airlines today takes the total firm orders for the world’s largest passenger jet to 240. Asiana will not introduce the A380 until 2014 and says they will fly on premium routes to Europe and the US, explains Ben Sandilands.
Rolls-Royce under fire over A380 engines
Airbus is seeking compensation from Rolls-Royce for the additional costs it is incurring because of the serious issues that have emerged with the Trent 900 engine used by Qantas, Singapore Airlines and Lufthansa on their A380 fleets, reports Ben Sandilands.
A flying RAT means more strife for the flying ‘roo
Another serious problem has beset the Boeing 787 Dreamliner which is supposed to be the key to Qantas retiring its aging Boeing 767s, one of which was forced to turn back to Perth on Friday with an engine problem.
What another 32 A380s for Emirates could mean
The order of 32 more Airbus A380s by Emirates is about as many of the giant jets as it would need to operate all of its current flights between Australia and New Zealand and its Dubai hub, writes Ben Sandilands.
How to stuff as many passengers as possible into an A380
The Lufthansa A380, due for delivery to the carrier on May 19, seems to reflect the race for the bottom among European carriers. Just how many people can they squeeze in? asks Ben Sandilands.
Flying soon? Don’t look at these photos …
Photos of the damage done to a Qantas A380 at Sydney Airport on March 31 have fallen into Crikey’s hands. They show what happens to the world’s largest passenger jet when the anti-skid braking system fails.
The photo that Airbus doesn’t want you to see
The aviation world is aflutter with photos of a Swiss Air Force FA18 Hornet flying the Swiss Alps extremely closely with an Airbus A380. Are the photos showing Airbus breaking safety rules? asks Ben Sandilands.
Fright in wake: Airbus in scare with turbo-prop at Sydney
It was a scary case of big meets little at Sydney Airport on November 8 last year, when the wake turbulence from a giant Airbus A380 upset a tiny SAAB 340 turbo-prop as both were landing.
The shape of jets to come, maybe
Airbus have released some teasers overnight about the future of aviation. Are these the shapes of jets to come or just a whimsy on the part of Airbus?
Cooling down by opening up: AC, windows and petrol
Okay, so you’re probably wishing it was warm enough to even worry about. But with summer round the corner, does turning up the AC or opening the window save more petrol while driving? Slate investigates.
The airbus beast emerges French style
The real beast within the giant Airbus A380 airliner emerged overnight with plans for an obscure French colonial carrier to buy two of them, writes Ben Sandilands.
Qantas wakes up from a bad Dreamliner
Boeing’s plastic fantastic 787 Dreamliner and its biggest customer Qantas will get another wake up call later today when even further problems in its testing and production schedules are confirmed, writes Ben Sandilands.
Dead diggers and big jets: blurring the line at the SMH
Today Sydney Morning Herald editor Alan Oakley is expected to address his staff over a dispute that blew up last Thursday afternoon, whenice sub-editors were asked to process a four page wraparound to Friday’s paper the arrival of the Singapore Airlines Airbus A380 in Sydney, writes Maragret Simons.
Green with envy: A380 secrets revealed
Who better to give a commentary on the “secrets” of the Singapore Airlines’ first A380 in Toulouse this week than resident Qantas engineer Paul O’Donohue, writes Ben Sandilands.
Boeing delays a boon for Qantas
Qantas has a lot riding on the overnight announcement of a six months delay in deliveries of the “plastic fantastic” Boeing 787 Dreamliner. It is the biggest customer for the jet, with 65 on order and another 50 optioned or available under purchase agreements., writes Ben Sandilands.
The new Qantas logo: the roo survives
Qantas unveils its new-look logo. But there’s more to the story, writes Ben Sandilands.
