Building A Giant: The Story Of The Airbus A380

Whether you love it or hate it, the A380 is a true engineering feat. Its development was motivated by the possibilities of high capacity long-haul travel, but it has not worked out as well as hoped for Airbus - or airlines. Despite its operating challenges and relatively quick decline, carrying so many passengers long-haul is undoubtedly one of the most significant aviation milestones. But… How and why did this superjumbo come to be?
Article link: simpleflying.com/airbus-a380-...
Video and photo sources link: bit.ly/3v6S0RW
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[@VDHFilms]

I remember following every bit of media about the A380 back in the mid to late 2000s. Literally from reading articles, to watching any engineering tv show, and collecting books about it. Man, time flies~ I'm really hoping one day I'll be able to fly it before the airlines completely retire it.

[@ByExot]

Love how everyone tought they will never be back, even Lufthansa is bringing them back. King of the skies.

[@cskvision]

It’s ironic how the A380 is loved by passengers and disliked by airline CEOs

[@fuelthegreat]

Which makes the CEOs hesitate removing it from their fleet 😂

[@moekitsune]

To be fair it's really only economical on hub to hub routes

[@SiegfriedPretsch]

I don't care who says what, but as a passenger it is the most comfortable way of flying.

[@Gamer-oh4tj]

Yes I definitely agree with that

[@anonymusmaximus1560]

Agree 100 %

[@ES_Spotter]

Yep quiet and extremely spacious

[@TheBeteljuice]

What a beautiful bird. I would never have believed that you could make a high capacity double decker aircraft that had grace and beauty.

[@DeltaDarbyLiberator]

@Long Haul by Simple Flying It looks like ya forgot Qantas’ order and fleet there! Don’t worry I’ve already spoken to Alan. We’ve checked the facts and done the numbers. So Qantas has ::checks notes:: 12 A380-800 aircraft and all still numbered within their fleet, but currently mothballed. However 7 of them are due to return to operation within 2022. Also the third most (delivered) orders of the plane were made by, you guessed it: Qantas*. *The number of firm orders by Qantas is actually tied with British Airways, it just reads better as shown above.

[@randomstuff9322]

Love to fly on the A380. It's sad that most carriers are stopping services on it.

[@cameronbenfell7401]

Where’s Qantas?!

[@CarlsVlogs]

They are reinstating their A380s.

[@nurrizadjatmiko21]

Of the 248 A380s are delivered, at least 24 A380s are retired : 10 Air France 6 Lufthansa 1 Emirates 1 Hifly ex SIA and 6 Singapore Airlines ( 3 retired 3 years before covid, 1 retired 2 years before covid and 2 more on October 4 2021)

[@mirzaahmed6589]

You're counting one twice. HiFly's aircraft was previously retired by Singapore Airlines.

[@nurrizadjatmiko21]

@@mirzaahmed6589 yes. Only one of 5 retired A380s from SIA has given a second-hand market for 2 and a half years until it was retired for the last time in December 2020

[@pocketdynamo5787]

It's just sad to see it going so early. Flew on it once from AKL via MEL to DXB. Great experience, I'm just glad I did that once.

[@abdirisaq03]

literally i didn't know much about it back then in 2018 when i flew it with Etihad but it was the best flight I've had.

[@Ananth8193]

A380 is actually an engineering marvel..Due to the lack of interest in the program ended..

[@neilrenavikar3585]

?? Wasn’t it much more inefficient than dual engine aircraft? Nothing to do with disinterest.

[@craigmcalpine1922]

Where was Qantas on the orders list? Did I miss something there?

[@helenjackson2736]

Absolutely fabulous to fly in the A380, it is my Favourite plane by far. ......I have had several very relaxing and most enjoyable flights mainly with Emirates. With this Plandemic still raging around the world, it is hard to imagine when International Tourism will start again, and how many people will be brave enough to head overseas again, so we may not see the A380 in our skies a lot now. Pity. They look sooo graceful.

[@groovefam]

It is the most comfortable aircraft that I have ever flown, space, space, space in whichever class you travel.

[@RoshanMenon90]

Quad jets are always a money burners for the airlines. Efficient twin jets are the way forward. However, if Airbus could figure out a way to convert these to freighters, it would be a game changer

[@TheGalonator]

I seriously hope they do, but don't think they will...

[@thomastharun8085]

Unfortunately because of twin deck design we will never see ir

[@matthewdavidshaw]

Love it. That’s for the upload!

[@mastergun57]

Love the a380 it is so beautiful😍 It's even beautifuler than a sunset😅

[@ysbrand1114]

I'm gonna fly it tomorrow 😁. Really exited

[@slypear]

Thank you for addressing the second-hand market! I was just about to ask about this when you mentioned it later in the video~

[@ryankadigamuwa74]

correct me if I was wrong, there was no mentionof Qantas in the orders

[@izzathaikal7526]

Youngest A380 to be scrapped was 11 years old.. The aircraft was register as F-HPJB and formerly owned by Air France.. They scrapped it at Knock Island West Airport, Ireland

[@warhead_beast7661]

I enjoy watching A380 here at DRS they come here for Wing overhaul and technical checkups. They also build the A330 cargo prototype here.

[@JoloNavarro]

A380 ❤️

[@scpatl4now]

Qantas wasn't listed on the airlines that had ordered the A380, and I know they were flying them at one time.

[@marc-andreborloz6079]

You forgot to mention Qantas 12 A380 in your doco

[@randomyoutuberthotslayer8247]

I hope one day we see RR ultrafan powered twin engine a380

[@TheSheiban]

I guess its flying days are few and far between. It'll become a novelty IMO like as a hotel, restaurant, or artificial reef...

[@johnchristmas7522]

As good as the A 380 is , its always been a personnel target for Jean Roeder to beat the 747. Personally I always thought it was a huge leap, which was achieved by Airbus but at huge cost. I would have thought, a much better target to improve upon was the 777 not the 747. Its easy in hind sight, but Boeing had always been very good at its market assessments, always building what customers wanted. The A380 was a whole new ball game and massive risk-If I had been in Airbus's shoes, I think targeting the 777 made better sense. Which the A350-1000 proved.

[@magnustan841]

Skymark Airlines of Japan also ordered it for ambitious plans to expand into the US, but hit financial trouble and ditched all those plans. I believe the A380s built for them went to Singapore Airlines and ANA. I’ve only had 4 A380 flights to date, all with SIA. Once i’m allowed to travel, i’ll make sure to get on as many A380s as possible, Korean Air and Asiana are target number one, as they are retiring within 5 years. She will have her place in the future market, just limited to high capacity routes into the UK and Asia. The fact Airbus developed an app to allow flyers to search for A380 flights shows that flyers really like the aircraft, so not a failure in the slightest.

[@rajr5936]

Can you please make a video on A380 operational cost? It seems to be the biggest reason to retire for airlines. Please differentiate.

[@stejer211]

Sky pool! Remove lower deck and fill with water, install diving boards and water slides on upper deck. Also, tax free cocktail bar. Exciting: In-flight opening door allowing passengers to dive into the ocean (full body wetsuit required). EDIT: And before anyone asks: And before anyone asks, the pilots get scuba gear.

[@theshadowman1398]

Most comfortable plane I ever traveled on. 747-8 doesn’t even come close

[@sc1338]

The 74 is better

[@lars7935]

@@sc1338 A 380 flies calmer and quieter and the fuselage is wider with the same number of seats per row.

[@Jet-News.]

I Think (and really hope) that a twin engine dooble decker Will be Created. So The efficiency of The twin engine, and The pasenger and Cargo capacity, Will be emplemented🛫

[@klyplays]

a380 is the true "airbus"

[@thredbo99]

How could you forget the 12 Qantas A380s? Blasphemous

[@jonathanmayor3942]

Even talking about it after ...

[@lamaatmahmood238]

I was thinking the same

[@CEOpaschal]

bcos Australia locked down their borders.. and banned international travels.. so it makes sense that they were ignored in the video

[@thredbo99]

@@CEOpaschal Good point, although they spoke about several other carriers such as Lufthansa whose fleet of A380 has also been grounded for most of the pandemic.

[@LoFIJak]

My favourite plane 😍 Much nicer to fly on that the triple 7.

[@martingustafsson1837]

Didn’t you forget Qantas?🤭

[@CEOpaschal]

yes they didn't bother bcos Australia is on a lockdown and an absentee on international flight market... so when Australia agree to lift their ban on foreign travels, then their Qantas airline can be taken seriously

[@mitchh3879]

@@CEOpaschal they were talking about orders of the A380. Locked down borders have nothing to do with orders.

[@CEOpaschal]

@@mitchh3879 there are no longer any orders beyond February 2022..

[@josesantizo4432]

I remember when the A380 first landed at LAX

[@efone3553]

the a380 is the best aircraft for passengers bar none. I always try to fly on an a380 if one is available.

[@AAa-cf1oe]

💚

[@paulajason-tb7kz]

The best airplane in the world is the king of the skies A380

[@EG-0611]

What about combi version? Top floor passenger and bottom floor freight.

[@josefmprable]

you forgot to mention Qantas in the orders :/

[@CEOpaschal]

when Australia agree to lift their ban on foreign travels, then their Qantas airline can be taken seriously

[@neilpickup237]

We are already hearing that the 777x is possibly too big for the current passenger market, so the retirements of the A380 (and 747) should not come as much of a suprise. Unfortunately for the A380, unlike the 747, it doesn't appear to have a clear cut life as a freighter once it's passenger days are over. As for running costs, I wonder how it would have stacked up with the latest generation of engines and a few aerodynamic tweaks etc. (ie the dropped NEO version)?

[@arjungopal2365]

Where is Qantas in the A380 order list🙄🙌🏻

[@kingsleydawes7244]

You missed out Qantas who had 10 or 12 units. And is bringing them back in 2022!!

[@CEOpaschal]

when Australia agree to lift their ban on foreign travels, then their Qantas airline can be taken seriously

[@kingsleydawes7244]

@@CEOpaschal This isn't a story about border closures, its the history and usage of the A380. Let's keep comments constructive.

[@bludocc1]

...........you missed the qantas fleet of 12 A380's a significant exclusion to your aircraft operating list ?

[@donaldmcbain]

You didn't include Qantas' aircraft in your tally of airlines operating the A380

[@CEOpaschal]

when Australia agree to lift their ban on foreign travels, then their Qantas airline can be taken seriously

[@faizanjoyia]

Qantas also has some A380 you forgot about it

[@CEOpaschal]

when Australia agree to lift their ban on foreign travels, then their Qantas airline can be taken seriously

[@sebastianlim2499]

Singapore Airlines had 19 + 5(all 5 retired) so in total 24

[@janenapravitra1751]

You forgot to name Qantas.😂🤣😂😅

[@larryhou968]

Delta

[@aviafan7335]

make a video on the rise of indigo and the air india privatisation

[@crashtestrc4446]

Hi

[@mpdcuk]

Qatar Airways will be flying the A380 again to London from December 2021.

[@richarddastardly6845]

Personally I prefer the A330 ✈️

[@cjmcc1995]

WHERE'S QANTAS?!

[@Nicolas-ol7jl]

Why emirates ceo get called Sir but other airline ceos arent? For examol qatar ceo akbar al baker

[@gonzalosuarez4728]

He has the title of “Sir”

[@Nicolas-ol7jl]

@@gonzalosuarez4728 thanks for the reply. Is he a knight?

[@elliott7268]

How the fuck could you hate it

[@robshipway2269]

In time I think conversions companies will come up with a way to convert the A380 to be a cargo plane, in a similar form to the Beluga planes.

[@grigandy]

The narrower the fuselage is and the fewer engines it has, the more efficient a plane is and this will mean more profit for companies. As the 777X will replace the 747, the A220 with A320 so will the A350 replace the A380.

[@GeneralGayJay]

The A380 has too many engines. Wasn't it possible to build it with only 2?

[@stejer211]

The engines at the time were simply not large enough. Check the development history of the Boeing 777, which grows with the size of newly developed engines.

[@harrypotter1091]

here because i have to write a report on it. i just gave you a viewer long haul, now write my report

[@mwroysan]

Sadly days are numbered

[@nightshark1156]

I'll buy one for $3.50, if any airlines are interested.

[@jatxemo6156]

A380 has better casm than a330ceo

[@ausbjmcd]

Second use...? Well I don't see this pandemic going away anytime soon. As it continues to bounce around the world there should be a fleet of a380 flying hospitals/ICUs to assist capacity wherever they can land. Then after the pandemic they should be used for aid work/disaster relief. Equipped with surgery wards etc

[@ausie7of9]

It is the very definition of a failure! Billions of dollars in losses for Airbus to make it, this is how companies go bankrupt. It may be the best plane for passenger experience and an engineering marvel but is is at its very heart a failure.

[@TheGalonator]

Maybe if they make a freighter version of the A380 it'll be a bit more of a success?

[@ausie7of9]

@@TheGalonator it will still never be a success, as Airbus has finished production there is now no way of them to recover the billions they lost on its development

[@peteconrad2077]

By the time they retire the last one they will likely break even. They’ve already recovered most of the investment.

[@ausie7of9]

@@peteconrad2077 what do you mean "they retire"? Airlines and leasing companies will retire the plane, that has nothing to do with Airbus. Airbus sells the a380 they don't own nor lease them so as the a380 is handed over at delivery Airbus no longer gets any money for the plane. Also no, Airbus has not already recovered most of the investment, they have failed to repay several government loans given for the development of the a380

[@peteconrad2077]

@@ausie7of9 airbus continue to receive money for spares for years. It’s a lot of money and can add 50% or more to the revenue an airframe generates.

[@lieutenantift3110]

dang early

[@arefkr]

Those who retire A380 shall deserve a place in hell

[@thomastharun8085]

Can't blame them it is very fuel inefficient. Hard to fill, more pollution.

[@arleneracho5382]

Second!

[@alienbeef0421]

First!

[@MSRTA_Productions]

You deserve the nobody cares medal! 🏅

[@TP-1234]

speak louder

[@MarxBoi18]

Bruh just turn up the volume

[@TP-1234]

@@MarxBoi18 it’s full

[@victorsantiago886]

Engineering marvel, business flop.

[@gaittr]

If you're going to post KZbin videos about things to do with facts you need to get your facts straight. That's your responsibility. You missed some very important facts. I was previously subscribed but now have unsubscribed

[@hanssolos3699]

biggest aviation commercial failure. its like the fat mistress that u dont want anymore. party's over.

[@peteconrad2077]

It’s far from the biggest aviation commercial failure.

[@moekitsune]

The Mercure begs to differ

[@rayvonp]

It’s ugly