800-Passenger A380 Airliner Begins Flights

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

The Air France Airbus A380 -- the largest airliner to ever part with the pavement -- has begun flights between Paris and New York's JFK Airport. The plane can hold 800 passengers, six bars, an electronic art gallery and cost the airline $300 million.

Posted by rcade at 07:36 PM | 36 COMMENTS | permalink | Comment on This Entry

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rcade

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That's a lot of farts.

#1 | Posted by Ron_Karate at 2009-11-24 07:42 PM | Reply | Flag:

Dumbest idea ever as far as air travel in History. You have the potential of killing 800 folks at once without batting an eye. DUMB DUMB DUMB DUMB SHITS.

Larry

#2 | Posted by LarryMohr at 2009-11-24 07:53 PM | Reply | Flag:

Hopefully this works. Air travel is pretty congested; putting up one plane that can replace 3, at least for the busiest routes, seems like a no-brainer.

#3 | Posted by rightisright at 2009-11-24 07:57 PM | Reply | Flag:

One crash of this cattle car, and Airbus as well as the 380, is history

#4 | Posted by goatman at 2009-11-24 07:59 PM | Reply | Flag:

"You have the potential of killing 800 folks at once without batting an eye."

True, but you could knock down two of them and still not catch Titanic, and a LOT of eyes would be batted.

#5 | Posted by REDIAL at 2009-11-24 08:00 PM | Reply | Flag:

In other news:

Yuneec Chinese Electric Airplane Info & First Flight

www.youtube.com

Gotta get me one.

#6 | Posted by Zatoichi at 2009-11-24 08:06 PM | Reply | Flag:

"putting up one plane that can replace 3, at least for the busiest routes, seems like a no-brainer."

That's exactly right. There are only about a dozen runways in the world that can accommodate this behemoth. The plane will operate on the big trunk lines between hubs, and then the smaller planes can take you to your destination.

Memphis International spent $106 million to build a runway just for the A380. FedEx planned to use the plane for long-hauls from Asia. And it makes Memphis more attractive as an international hub for passenger flights.

memphis.bizjournals.com

#7 | Posted by vernon at 2009-11-24 08:08 PM | Reply | Flag:

#2 "You have the potential of killing 800 folks at once without batting an eye."

Wonder how long it will take for some peace loving middle eastern men to learn how to fly this baby on flight simulator. Not to worry, we can always put those responsible on trial.

#8 | Posted by Kspeck3 at 2009-11-24 08:30 PM | Reply | Flag:

Hollywood Approves!

The A380 has probably already "inspired" a whole new bunch of "Diaster" movie scripts in Hollywood!!!

#9 | Posted by AntiCadillac at 2009-11-24 08:36 PM | Reply | Flag:

Good God, how many hours before takeoff does it take to board that beast?

#10 | Posted by hawk at 2009-11-24 08:52 PM | Reply | Flag:

Good God, how many hours before takeoff does it take to board that beast?

I understand when it is configured for cattle car usage (no first class) there are four jetways -- two top, two bottom, front and back, so it's not as long as one would think.

#11 | Posted by goatman at 2009-11-24 08:55 PM | Reply | Flag:

I'm sure the same things were said every time a new, bigger passenger plane came out in the past.

#12 | Posted by LIVE_OR_DIE at 2009-11-24 09:05 PM | Reply | Flag:

Wonder how long it will take for some peace loving middle eastern men to learn how to fly this baby on flight simulator.

I'm sure some God-fearing American flight school would be glad to oblige (for cash, of course) again.

#13 | Posted by northguy3 at 2009-11-24 09:14 PM | Reply | Flag:

Yet another reason to not have checked baggage...

#14 | Posted by northguy3 at 2009-11-24 09:14 PM | Reply | Flag:

Can You imagine landing THIS thing on the Hudson?? Makes Me doing a cannonball off of the top diving board seem trite in comparison.

Larry

#15 | Posted by LarryMohr at 2009-11-24 09:20 PM | Reply | Flag:

"Not to worry, we can always put those responsible on trial."

What would you propose???
Hey, I got a good idea, first let's swear allegiance to our rights, then let's have someone attack us, then let's pretend we never cared about rights.
If something is a right then it extends to even the most reprehensible, most murderous, most evil or don't call them rights.

#16 | Posted by danni at 2009-11-24 09:23 PM | Reply | Flag:

We don't have rights. We have allowances.

#17 | Posted by dxlingr at 2009-11-24 10:54 PM | Reply | Flag:

Good God, how many hours before takeoff does it take to board that beast?

#10 | Posted by hawk at 2009-11-24 08:52 PM | Reply | Flag:

Maybe that's why it has six bars?

#18 | Posted by vernon at 2009-11-24 11:25 PM | Reply | Flag:

how many hours before takeoff does it take to board that beast?

Southwest should buy it and show how it is done.

#19 | Posted by eberly at 2009-11-24 11:31 PM | Reply | Flag:

Does this thing happen to have a "Laundry shute" for Unruly passengers?? I mean if a passenger gets unruly they can afix some sort of parashute on the dude/dudette and summarily eject them from the plane from whatever altitude they may happened to be at?? We could even affix a radio beacon to it so the closest LEO/Coast Guard can come by and pick them up and take them to the closest jail.

Larry

#20 | Posted by LarryMohr at 2009-11-24 11:35 PM | Reply | Flag:

We don't have rights. We have allowances.

Well, I want a friggin' raise.

#21 | Posted by northguy3 at 2009-11-25 12:12 AM | Reply | Flag:

Air travel is pretty congested...

Yea? So is breast reconstruction surgery. Do we need bigger breasts?

#22 | Posted by RingMaster at 2009-11-25 03:53 AM | Reply | Flag:

Yea? So is vagina reconstruction surgery. Do we need bigger vaginae?

I just thought I would throw that in there.

#23 | Posted by RingMaster at 2009-11-25 03:55 AM | Reply | Flag:

Post number 23. Can You imagine Octomom's?? Just think if She delivered those babies Vaginally. It would be the kids first "Slipper Slide" all You would need would be Airbus's A380's safety slide and the babies would all slide down it giggling instead of crying. You could name this plane Octoplane or Octocannon.

Larry

#24 | Posted by LarryMohr at 2009-11-25 05:33 AM | Reply | Flag:

You have the potential of killing 800 folks at once without batting an eye.

How would that be any different than 300 passengers dying in an air accident? People who fly know there's an extremely small risk. These 800-passenger planes -- which currently are holding around 500 because of how they're configured -- are probably safer than most other jets flying today.

#25 | Posted by rcade at 2009-11-25 08:32 AM | Reply | Flag:

After the initial load of early pioneer travelers, how will they fill the seats? The airlines seem to be sending mixed signals-reduce the number of flights, fill the planes. Certain hours, days, times of the year-cut the fares. If they can cram 800 on one flight will they reduce the fare per passenger? Probably not, that would be too logical.

#26 | Posted by acommontater at 2009-11-25 08:53 AM | Reply | Flag:

I have to say I agree with Larry... The possibility to kill 800 people at once = the dumbest plane ever.

However if they sell the plane out and you have a conservative $350 per ticket each way... That's 280,000 gross each way.

#27 | Posted by GalaxiePete at 2009-11-25 09:28 AM | Reply | Flag:

The possibility to kill 800 people at once = the dumbest plane ever.

#27 | Posted by GalaxiePete

So what's your take on Royal Caribbean's new 6,296-passenger Oasis of the Seas, the longest, widest cruise liner ever built?

#28 | Posted by ZOT at 2009-11-25 09:47 AM | Reply | Flag:

Zot,

A Cruise ship is a bit different...

I think it is a ridiculous ship. But I don't think a collision with another ship or some other object is going to cause the instantaneous death of all on board.

However an airplane plummeting out of the sky is a different story. There is not a airliner I know of that hasn't crashed.

#29 | Posted by GalaxiePete at 2009-11-25 10:44 AM | Reply | Flag:

The possibility to kill 800 people at once = the dumbest plane ever.

So we should all fly everywhere in Cessnas? Or commuter planes like the one that crashed in Buffalo?

That'll work out well safety-wise.

PS Sell your mini-van and buy a scooter-less people on board means it's much safer.

#30 | Posted by northguy3 at 2009-11-25 12:40 PM | Reply | Flag:

Dumbest idea ever as far as air travel in History. You have the potential of killing 800 folks at once without batting an eye. DUMB DUMB DUMB DUMB SHITS.

Larry

You're an idiot Larry. Hey you know what we should do is tear down all skyscapers. Shit there's thousands of people in those and all it takes is someone to pull up next to it in a U-Haul and BOOM. Skyscpapers are dumb.

And we all should travel in Big Wheels.

(eyes rolling)

#31 | Posted by cjk85 at 2009-11-25 01:06 PM | Reply | Flag:

I think I would bat an eye.

#32 | Posted by MrFair at 2009-11-25 05:02 PM | Reply | Flag:

I have to say I agree with Larry... The possibility to kill 800 people at once = the dumbest plane ever.
However if they sell the plane out and you have a conservative $350 per ticket each way... That's 280,000 gross each way.

#27 | POSTED BY GALAXIEPETE AT 2009-11-25 09:28 AM | REPLY | FLAG

sounds like a good idea to me. more people, less flights, less fuel used, less air congestion. even if one goes down, it is infinitely safer than driving.

btw. your vagina is showing.

#33 | Posted by somoco at 2009-11-25 06:24 PM | Reply | Flag:

Dumbest idea ever as far as air travel in History. You have the potential of killing 800 folks at once without batting an eye. DUMB DUMB DUMB DUMB SHITS.

We MUST get this situation addressed NOW. It's UNAMERiCAN! I demand the FAA take IMMEDIate action to get this resolved.

Larry.

#34 | Posted by somoco at 2009-11-25 06:26 PM | Reply | Flag:

no thanks, staying home. on the ground.

#35 | Posted by Stickman at 2009-11-26 02:21 AM | Reply | Flag:

no thanks, staying home. on the ground.

#36 | Posted by Stickman

Reminds me of a guy I used to work with who had a ground job in the air force.

"this leg can fly where ever it wants,but the other leg stays on the ground"

#36 | Posted by bruceaz at 2009-11-26 02:33 AM | Reply | Flag: