Airbus A380: World’s Largest and Most Advanced Airliner
[audio:http://aviationenglishblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Airbus_A380_-_Worlds_largest_and_most_advanced_airliner.mp3|titles=Airbus_A380_-_Worlds_largest_and_most_advanced_airliner]Airbus A380: World’s Largest and Most Advanced Airliner
The largest airliner in the world, the A380 is a double-deck, widebody airliner from the house of Airbus. Its success is attributed to cutting edge technology and innovation which is evident from the fact that more than 380 applications filed for various technology patents that went into making the world’s most advanced aircraft.
The engineers of Airbus had been working secretly on developing an ultra-high-capacity airliner since 1988 but the project for A380 was formally announced in 1990. The primary focus of the company was a 15% reduction in operating costs. Dubbed by the media as the Gentle Giant, the A380 is now not only in regular service but has become extremely popular with airlines as well as passengers.
While the width of the A380-800 is similar to other widebody aircraft, its floor space is 49% more than its nearest competitor, Boeing’s 747-400. This is mostly due to the fact that its upper deck extends along the entire main body section or the fuselage. It can seat between 525 passengers (in three class setting) and 853 passengers (in all-economy class setting).
Included in the technologies for which patents were filed was the Zero Splice inlet that is integrated into A380’s engine nacelles. It is a 360 degree composite piece instead of several panels spliced together that is normally used. It is this innovation that has resulted in 50% less cabin noise (as compared with current Boeing 747 models) in A380 despite the huge size that it has.
There are also plans for improving maximum take-off weight by optimizing the electrically-signaled control system or fly-by-wire laws to reduce flight loads. There are also plans afoot for an enlarged variant, the A380-900 which will be slightly longer and have a seating capacity of between 650 and 900.
Questions and Answers
1. What is responsible for noise reduction in A380?
a) Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic for large primary structures
b) Electrically signally controlled systems
c) Electrical Back-up Hydraulic Actuator
d) Zero Splice inlet technology
2. How many patents were filed for technologies used in A380?
a) Less than 380
b) More than 380
c) Approximately 100
d) Between 150 and 300
3.What is the number given to enlarged version of A380?
a) A380-800
b) A380-900
c) A380-760
d) A380-1000
4. How much more floor space does the A380 have than 747-400?
a) 25%
b) 39%
c) 49%
d) 53%
5. What will purely electrically-signaled control system result in?
a) Improve seating capacity
b) Faster speed
c) Reduce cabin noise
d) Improve maximum take-off load
Answers
1) d
2) b
3) b
4) c
5) d
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