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03/19/2007: "Brand X In My Backyard"
If you're an aviation buff, then today's a big day in LA. In about a half hour, an Airbus A380 - the newly-crowned largest airliner in the world - will touch down at LAX for the first time. The test flight is one of two demonstrations today (the other is in New York) that are intended to show off the new supersized airliner for the US public.
I have mixed feelings about the A380. As a airplane fanatic, I think it's a great event - a first time occurance many in the LA media are comparing to the first arrival for the Concorde back in 1974. As a Boeing employee, however, I have to remember that it's an Airbus - or as we them here, Brand X. Airbus is the mongoose to the Boeing cobra; for years, the two have squared off for supremecy in commercial airliners. On a more personal note, the software I'm working to implement is the same program Boeing intends to use to build the new 787 Dreamliner, whose primary purpose is to kick the A380's ass. So while I can respect the technological triumph, there's a part of me who hopes it bellyflops into Santa Monica Bay ...
Up to this point, the A380 has had a star-crossed evolution. I'm pretty sure these are the only two planes in existance, and production problems required that they were essentially hand built. Production delays have pushed back the first delivery by two years, and have cost two successive Airbus CEOs their jobs. And, best of all, customers are dropping their initial A380 orders in favor of Boeing 777s and 747s. Their troubles are our triumphs.
That said, it should make for an interesting event. The beast will actually be parked about 300 yards away from where I'm currently sitting. I may even sneak over for a peek - once I remove my badge, of course ... 
UPDATE: Looks like it made it ...
As a loyal Boeing employee, I was at my desk, but several made the trip to the north side of the airport to see it land. They were surprised by several things - the wingspan (really wide) and the noise (really quiet). They also noted that it was flying in Airbus livery, which makes you think it was probably the original prototype. The initial plan was to fly a single A380 to New York - a Lufthansa version - but LAX pitched such a bitch - reminding them that it will be the first US home for A380 flights - that they scheduled the second flight only a couple of weeks back. Looks like they had to pull out the test plane for the run.
All told, an impressive achievement by The Other Guys, and worthy of a grudging "well done" ... 
Replies: 7 Comments
On Monday, March 19th, Ravelling Tangler said:
See if you can get a look at it in the air - one flew around a lot over where I work a few months back and it was extremely quiet.
That coupled with the fact it was flying so slowly you could almost swear it was just "hanging in the sky" gave it an air of unreality.
In the short term (next five years) Airbus/ EADS are going to lose a lot of money over that model.
In the longer term it all depends on whether airlines decide a "super jumbo" will make more financial sense than a number of 787s
And maybe what the politicians get up to on "global warming (aviation contribution)" taxes & plans.
On Monday, March 19th, Steve Mras said:
I can't believe that LAX spent $43 million on upgrades to accomodate this plane. This plane has already cost Airbus $6.3 billion in write downs. It will never be hugely successful as few are willing to sit with 550 other idiots for 12 hours.
On Tuesday, March 20th, RavTan again said:
"It will never be hugely successful as few are willing to sit with 550 other idiots for 12 hours."
There speaks a man who has not seen a Cricket test match LOL !
On Tuesday, March 20th, RavTan retracts said:
Oh No ! me & my big mouth.
I've just realised that if that comment gets read on another continent I won't be allowed to visit Oz or NZ - ever ! 
On Tuesday, March 20th, MarlinNut said:
I think LAX spent the money to keep the A380 - and all those tourist dollars - from going to SFO instead ...
On Wednesday, March 21st, I_bet_Stan_has_read_these_before said:
===NOT REALLY THE RIGHT PLACE, BUT I CAN'T RESIST===
P=pilot S=Service engineers
P: Left inside main tire almost needs replacement.
S: Almost replaced left inside main tire.
P: Test flight OK, except auto-land very rough.
S: Auto-land not installed on this aircraft.
P: Something loose in cockpit
S: Something tightened in cockpit
P: Dead bugs on windshield.
S: Live bugs on back-order.
P: Autopilot in altitude-hold mode produces a 200 feet per minute descent
S: Cannot reproduce problem on ground.
P: Evidence of leak on right main landing gear.
S: Evidence removed.
P: DME volume unbelievably loud.
S: DME volume set to more believable level.
P: Friction locks cause throttle levers to stick.
S: That's what friction locks are for.
P: IFF inoperative in OFF mode.
S: IFF always inoperative in OFF mode.
P: Suspected crack in windshield.
S: Suspect you're right.
P: Number 3 engine missing.
S: Engine found on right wing after brief search.
P: Aircraft handles funny.
S: Aircraft warned to: straighten up, fly right, and be serious.
P: Target radar hums.
S: Reprogrammed target radar with lyrics.
P: Mouse in cockpit.
S: Cat installed.
And the best one for last..................
P: Noise coming from under instrument panel. Sounds like a midget pounding on something with a hammer.
S: Took hammer away from midget.
__________________
On Thursday, March 29th, Rav...associated subject said:
on a neighboring subject, Stan;
I read recently that Airbus are having difficulty with Airlines repeatedly demanding changes to the spec of the Airbus 350VX (their intended competitor to the 787).
Did they request a lot of changes to the 787 or EITHER
did Boeing get it bang-on right first time
OR
are the airlines trying toget something 'a little' (or a lot) different in that 350VX rather than a direct competitor ?
