Gordon C

Airbus is late to the party, but this could be a good airplane. Looks remarkably similar to a Boeing offering > http://www.airbus.com/en/airbuslive/...htm?state=news

Space Monkey

French Turds.... Or should I say FROG TURDS

WhiteH2O

That looks like a nice plane, a little like a 787, but I won't hold that against them. Looks like it will be a smaller version of an improved 380. Those French are coming up with some nice planes lately. Giving those "boeing" people a run for the money at least.

ironspud

"Froggots". Not f*ggots.

ryane946

The last Airbus plane that gave Boeing a run for their money was the A320. The A340, A350, and A380 need some serious help. Meanwhile, the 777 and 787 are selling very well.

777 VS. A340.
It is recognized that the A340 costs a lot more to operate than the 777. So much more that Airbus is now offering to pay airlines for the operating difference in price. What a joke. Imagine I sell you a gas guzzling car that gets 20mpg, and then Toyota comes out with a similar car that gets 40mph, so I give you $2,000 a year to make up for the difference in operating costs!!!
The 777 is outselling the A340 more than 10 to 1. If I were Airbus, I would cancel this aircraft. As bad as the A350 and A380 are doing, I would let these cover the void left in the A340 market.

A380 VS. 747-8
Where to start?? Billions upon billions of dollars to develope the A380. BILLIONS. Also billions more for airports to upgrade their runways/taxiways/gates to accomidate this beast. Repaving of runways. SFO is creating an exclusive A380 taxiway. Airbus created the A380 to reduce congestion at busy airports. But the fact is the A380 only holds about 1 1/2 times what a 747 holds. But the A380 needs 10 miles of separation behind it for wake turbulence (compared with 5 miles on the 747). So in effect, you are using 2 slots to land this A380. It failed a major stress test where the wings snapped!!! . And this was well below the projected break point. Airbus said it would fix the problem, but would not retest it????? The fact is the market for the A380 is tiny. Infact, with this new info on wake turbulence separation, there should almost be no market for it at all.

A350 VS. 787
Well, The 787 has about 400 orders. The A350 has about 100. The 787 is to enter service in 2008. The A350 is not due until 2012, and that is if they do not redesign it. The A350 weighs more and therefore is less efficient. Airbus was cheap when they build this plane (not making several key parts from lighter composites, instead using aluminum).


Airlines are losing confidence in the Airbus line. If your airline buys an A340, they are stupid! Time will show there is not much of a market for the A380. Sure they will sell some. And sure it will fly fine. But I don't see it solving the problem it was designed for (reduce congestion at crowded airports). The A350 needs some serious help!! Maybe this XWB is an improvment. But can airlines wait that long to get a new fuel efficient plane the way gas prices are rising today?

ryane946

Oh, some other facts I neglected to tell you about.

For the first half of 2006, Boeing racked up 480 orders for new airplanes. Airbus had only 117, including 0 A380's, 0 A340's, and only 13 A350's. Most of Airbus' orders are smaller A320's. Many of Boeing's orders are much larger and more expensive 777's and 787's.

Tinpusher007

Im a huge Boeing fan but saying sh!t like that just isn't necessary dude. Especially when we're just talking about business here...manufacturing airplanes.

WhiteH2O

Ryane946, I was being facetious. It was an exagerated post in responce to another somewhat extreme post. I must say, however, you have a fairly nice review of basic compirisons, although not completely correct.

CL65driver

... just another plastic airplane from France. Not many ScareBus fans on here, huh?

flyerNy

nope not here