8 November 2005
 
The A380, the world’s newest and largest airliner, is leaving Toulouse, France to tour major hubs in Asia and Australia. The aircraft will fly to Singapore then Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne in Australia, finally landing in Kuala Lumpur, before returning to Toulouse.
 
The A380 will then go to Dubai where it is taking part in the flight demonstrations at the air show.
 
The visits, which mark the first time that the A380 will be seen outside Europe, give customers a chance to see the aircraft at first hand, and airports an early opportunity to check their preparedness to handle it in commercial service.
 
Designed to use existing airports, the Airbus A380 takes off and lands in less distance than today’s largest airliner. While it is heavier because it carries more passengers, the A380 has more wheels to spread its weight, and thus has less impact on runways. In response to airport recommendations, the length and wingspan of the A380 have been limited to less than 80 m, making it easier to integrate the world’s largest airliner into their existing facilities.
 
The A380 on this tour is the first aircraft to fly and one of five that will take part in the flight-test campaign. It is equipped with Rolls-Royce’s Trent 900 engines. Its cabin is fitted with extensive flight-test instrumentation, measuring equipment and ballast tanks that can be filled with water to simulate the weight of a full load of passengers and cargo.
 
Three aircraft are now participating in the certification campaign. With more than 120 flights and some 440 flight-hours performed to date in an extensive flight-test programme that already shows a sound and mature design, the A380 is on track to deliver on its promises.
 
These include 15-20 per cent lower operating cost per seat, wider seats for all passengers in economy class, and less environmental impact through the generation of lower emissions and only half the noise of the largest aircraft in commercial service today.
 


 

8 November 2005
 
The first landing of the A380 in Hamburg, Germany, was welcomed by thousands of Airbus employees and spectators massed along the length of the runway.
 
As the first A380 landed at Airbus' Hamburg site, thousands of employees on the company site and further thousands of spectators outside applauded enthusiastically as the double-decker aircraft touched down safely in Finkenwerder. The aircraft, which has only performed its first flight on 3 November, will be the first A380 whose cabin is to be fully equipped in Hamburg for passenger operations.
 
The A380 was flown from Toulouse to Hamburg by pilots Wolfgang Absmeier and Harry Nelson. Also on board were test flight engineer Bruno Bigand and the flight test engineers Wolfgang Brüggemann and Jean Piatek.
 
After the landing, Airbus employees had a closer view of the aircraft, which still displays its protective green coating. Gerhard Puttfarcken, General Manager Airbus Deutschland and Chairman of the Board of Management of Airbus Deutschland said: "For everyone, this first landing of an A380 here in Hamburg is the visible reward after our long years of commitment to this flagship of the 21st century. At Airbus in Hamburg alone, these efforts have led to the creation of 2,300 new jobs, which will also enable us to master the tasks that now lie ahead in the A380 programme. With our highly-qualified staff and technical expertise we will continue to conquer the world in the future."
 
The aircraft is one of five A380 test aircraft. During the first four days after its arrival, the A380 will be prepared for the further tasks to be carried out on the Hamburg site. This will include towing into the static test facility, post-flight check and de-icing tests.  After test docking in the new paint shop erected on the Mühlenberger Sand site extension, the aircraft will be towed into the equipment hall, where a luxurious three-class cabin and completely new interior fittings will be installed over the coming weeks.
 
"Airbus is fitting out the A380 with the best passenger cabin in the world, developed and tested here in Hamburg. We offer hitherto unmatched comfort with a wide range of equipment options," said Gerhard Puttfarcken.
 
Once it has completed its first long-range flight with passengers on board, the aircraft will be re-equipped and then handed over for regular service with an airline.