# Airbus A380 Super Jumbo arrives at Dulles Airport & it's a monster plane! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 5, 2014, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airbus-a380-super-jumbo-arrives-at-dulles-airport-its-a-monster-plane/700441 "2014-10-05T05:55:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2014, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airbus-a380-super-jumbo-arrives-at-dulles-airport-its-a-monster-plane/700441/1 "2014-10-05T05:55:46Z")
[Story here with video](http://www.washingtonpost.com/posttv/national/super-jumbo-a380-draws-plane-nuts-to-dulles/2014/10/02/57fb7a92-4a9c-11e4-a4bf-794ab74e90f0_video.html) It was interesting how much the wings flexed in the video when it landed. [Specs here](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airbus_A380) > [@](#): > > The Airbus A380 is a double-deck, wide-body, four-engine jet airliner manufactured by Airbus. It is the world’s largest passenger airliner, and the airports at which it operates have upgraded facilities to accommodate it. It was initially named Airbus A3XX and designed to challenge Boeing’s monopoly in the large-aircraft market. The A380 made its first flight on 27 April 2005 and entered commercial service in October 2007 with Singapore Airlines. > > The A380’s upper deck extends along the entire length of the fuselage, with a width equivalent to a wide-body aircraft. This gives the A380-800’s cabin 478 square metres (5,145.1 sq ft) of usable floor space, 40% more than the next largest airliner, the Boeing 747-8,[4] and provides seating for 525 people in a typical three-class configuration or up to 853 people in an all-economy class configuration. The A380-800 has a design range of 15,700 kilometres (8,500 nmi; 9,800 mi), sufficient to fly nonstop from Dubai to Los Angeles, and a cruising speed of Mach 0.85 (about 900 km/h, 560 mph or 490 kn at cruising altitude). ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2014, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airbus-a380-super-jumbo-arrives-at-dulles-airport-its-a-monster-plane/700441/2 "2014-10-05T06:02:16Z")
Those things are nutz. I rode one on Air France from JFK to CDG once. (Sadly I was not able to score an upper-level seat.) The crazy thing is when it starts accelerating down the runway, you barely feel it. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2014, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airbus-a380-super-jumbo-arrives-at-dulles-airport-its-a-monster-plane/700441/3 "2014-10-05T06:03:09Z")
They are amazing machines. I think the B747 is a much prettier beast though. The A380 looks like a dugong. I don’t get what the story is about though. Is the A380 a rare sight in Dulles? If so, why did it go there? ---
**Author:** ![lawoot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/35a633/32.png) [@lawoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lawoot)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2014, 8:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airbus-a380-super-jumbo-arrives-at-dulles-airport-its-a-monster-plane/700441/4 "2014-10-05T08:47:27Z")
My guess is inaugural A380 British Airways Washington/London service, based on the video. ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2014, 8:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airbus-a380-super-jumbo-arrives-at-dulles-airport-its-a-monster-plane/700441/5 "2014-10-05T08:52:34Z")
> [@Richard\_Pearse](#): > > They are amazing machines. I think the B747 is a much prettier beast though. The A380 looks like a dugong. I feel that Boeing makes prettier planes overall. The Airbuses look like, well, busses. ---
**Author:** ![williambaskerville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f14d63/32.png) [@williambaskerville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/williambaskerville)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2014, 9:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airbus-a380-super-jumbo-arrives-at-dulles-airport-its-a-monster-plane/700441/6 "2014-10-05T09:31:21Z")
> [@Terminus\_Est](#): > > I feel that Boeing makes prettier planes overall. The Airbuses look like, well, busses. Go look at some videos of the A350. That’s a beautiful plane. ---
**Author:** ![Isilder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@Isilder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isilder)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2014, 10:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airbus-a380-super-jumbo-arrives-at-dulles-airport-its-a-monster-plane/700441/7 "2014-10-05T10:05:07Z")
Btw air france has been flying A380 to Dulles for a while now. [http://www.metwashairports.com/3943.htm](http://www.metwashairports.com/3943.htm) The first was 2007 ? Well I guess you prove this is MPSIMS… 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2014, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airbus-a380-super-jumbo-arrives-at-dulles-airport-its-a-monster-plane/700441/8 "2014-10-05T11:58:19Z")
The A 380 is a lovely plane to ride in- it is so smooth. Give me one over a jumbo any day. (I acknowledge the jumbos are now quite dated). ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2014, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airbus-a380-super-jumbo-arrives-at-dulles-airport-its-a-monster-plane/700441/9 "2014-10-05T19:30:20Z")
They’re still making 747s, and they’re still great. ---
**Author:** ![EmilyG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emilyg/32/364_2.png) [@EmilyG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmilyG)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2014, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airbus-a380-super-jumbo-arrives-at-dulles-airport-its-a-monster-plane/700441/10 "2014-10-05T20:37:43Z")
It was a big news story the first time an A380 landed in Montreal. Unfortunately, A380s no longer land in Montreal, and I didn’t get to see one. Anyone know if it’s fairly inexpensive to ride in one? (In the most inexpensive seats, that is.) ---
**Author:** ![PaulParkhead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@PaulParkhead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PaulParkhead)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2014, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airbus-a380-super-jumbo-arrives-at-dulles-airport-its-a-monster-plane/700441/11 "2014-10-05T21:00:56Z")
> [@EmilyG](#): > > It was a big news story the first time an A380 landed in Montreal. Unfortunately, A380s no longer land in Montreal, and I didn’t get to see one. > > Anyone know if it’s fairly inexpensive to ride in one? (In the most inexpensive seats, that is.) I don’t suppose it’s any more expensive to ride in than any other airliners but of course it’s designed for very long distance flights, which tend to be costly. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2014, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airbus-a380-super-jumbo-arrives-at-dulles-airport-its-a-monster-plane/700441/12 "2014-10-05T22:55:31Z")
I’ve seen one at LAX, and one at MUC. Both were parked at a gate. Have never ridden one though. Monster airplane - I’d love to see one take off or land IRL, would be very cool. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2014, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airbus-a380-super-jumbo-arrives-at-dulles-airport-its-a-monster-plane/700441/13 "2014-10-06T00:29:43Z")
I mostly get to look from the terminal or taxi past 380s at JFK or on my occasional whirls to LAX. Seen Lufthansa’s, Air France’s, Singapore’s and Emirates’ . Impressive birds in the ground and in motion. And together with the 747 we get to still have big 4-engine airliners in production for when you want to impress people with your arrival. > [@friedo](#): > > They’re still making 747s, and they’re still great. Oh sure, but the sales have gone way, way down. Victim of its descendants’ success, I suppose, specifically the 777. Still, the Jumbo’s also on my list to get to fly on some time soon, though. ---
**Author:** ![PaulParkhead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@PaulParkhead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PaulParkhead)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2014, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airbus-a380-super-jumbo-arrives-at-dulles-airport-its-a-monster-plane/700441/14 "2014-10-06T00:40:30Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > I mostly get to look from the terminal or taxi past 380s at JFK or on my occasional whirls to LAX. Seen Lufthansa’s, Air France’s, Singapore’s and Emirates’ . Impressive birds in the ground and in motion. And together with the 747 we get to still have big 4-engine airliners in production for when you want to impress people with your arrival. And let’s not forget the A340 which has four engines and which, contrary to some complaints about Airbus aircraft being ugly, is actually quite beautiful. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2014, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airbus-a380-super-jumbo-arrives-at-dulles-airport-its-a-monster-plane/700441/15 "2014-10-06T00:53:44Z")
Enjoy the A340 while you can; their days are very numbered. They are MUCH more expensive to operate than the big twins. There won’t be but a handful in the air in 8 years. They’ll all have been replaced by A350s or 777s. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Vorlon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@The\_Vorlon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Vorlon)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2014, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airbus-a380-super-jumbo-arrives-at-dulles-airport-its-a-monster-plane/700441/16 "2014-10-06T01:07:47Z")
Biggest thing I have ever been on was a DC-10. Next biggest was a early L-1011–it seemed to be flying at a 30 degree climb the whole way to Florida. Most of the time I find a 737 at the far end of the jetway. ---
**Author:** ![PaulParkhead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@PaulParkhead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PaulParkhead)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2014, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airbus-a380-super-jumbo-arrives-at-dulles-airport-its-a-monster-plane/700441/17 "2014-10-06T14:32:11Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Enjoy the A340 while you can; their days are very numbered. > > They are MUCH more expensive to operate than the big twins. There won’t be but a handful in the air in 8 years. They’ll all have been replaced by A350s or 777s. You’re not the first person I’ve heard say that. I’m sure you are correct, but it is a shame. Still, neither the A350 nor the 777 are bad looking planes. ---
**Author:** ![si\_blakely](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@si\_blakely](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/si_blakely)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2014, 9:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airbus-a380-super-jumbo-arrives-at-dulles-airport-its-a-monster-plane/700441/18 "2014-10-08T09:44:29Z")
I’ve flown in A380 long haul a few times, I like it. Just a bit more roomy and comfortable than a 747 (in Economy, anyhow). I heard a story about the A380 - they do a mockups of planes for evacuation evaluation at a university in London. Students and locals get paid to sit in the “plane”, and then run evacuation drill, 3 times (with a small bonus for the fastest out the plane). The A380 was so high and the chutes so steep from the upper deck that for the first time ever some of the subjects refused to do the second and third runs. The upper deck exit chutes had to be redesigned. ---
**Author:** ![Iamnotivan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Iamnotivan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iamnotivan)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2014, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airbus-a380-super-jumbo-arrives-at-dulles-airport-its-a-monster-plane/700441/19 "2014-10-08T16:03:56Z")
I have flown the 380 on Singapore, Emirates and Thai. Emirates is the most interesting because it has a great camera at the forward top of its tail, and you can watch every minute of the flight in your seat. Singapore is the best for everything, as usual. Airbus is having trouble selling the 380s, and has slashed the price by almost half. There are too few airports and routes requiring such a huge plane. I read that in the decision to go big or med., Boeing opted for the 777 which has become the workhorse of the business. Interestingly, one of the airline (and leasing companies) concerns is that there is probably not going to be a market for used 380s, which is a significant problem for all concerned. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2014, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airbus-a380-super-jumbo-arrives-at-dulles-airport-its-a-monster-plane/700441/20 "2014-10-08T16:20:38Z")
According to Flightradar24, at the time of posting, there are 73 A380s in the air, 468 B777s, 181 B747s, 226 B767s, 420 A330s and 90 A340s. Am I missing any other widebodies? For reference there are 1408 A320s and 1500 B737s aloft. (assuming Flightradar 24 is accurate) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airbus-a380-super-jumbo-arrives-at-dulles-airport-its-a-monster-plane/700441.md?page=2)