Does the Airbus A380 have the best efficiency for future long distance air travel?

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Does the Airbus A380 have the best efficiency for
future long distance air travel?
Photo courtesy Airbus

• Mercer University School of Engineering
• Professional Practices, Dr. Davis
• J. Dunlop

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Statistics of the A380

• The plane is 239.5 feet long, 79 feet tall, and
  has a wing span of 261.8 feet.
• The Airbus A380 has two passenger decks that can
  hold a maximum of 840 passengers when configured
  to a single economy class.
• The plane is usually configured to have a first
  class, a business class, and an economy class.
  With this configuration the plane can hold 555
  passengers.

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Statistics cont.

• Engines Four 302 to 374kN (68,000 to 84,000
  pounds of thrust) Rolls Royce Trent 900 or 363kN
  (81,500 pounds of thrust) Engine Alliance
  (General Electric-Pratt Whitney) GP-7200
  turbofans. Special dampeners reduce the noise
  produced by the engines.
• Wings They are Manufactured in one length, which
  decreases component weight. Creep forming reduces
  the amount of stress on the wings. They are
  sculpted with a cross-section that changes shape
  from one side to the other which promotes maximum
  efficiency.
• With the four engines the plane has a maximum
  cruising speed of M 0.88 while the long range
  cruising speed is M 0.85.
• The plane has a range of 8,000 nautical miles.

Courtesy Johan
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Statistics cont.

• Fuselage Roughly 25 percent of the fuselage is
  constructed of light weight materials, including
  titanium and carbon-fiber, which allow for the
  plane to be lighter than if it were constructed
  out of the typical steel.
• The Airbus A380 has a maximum take off capacity
  of 1,234,600 pounds and operates empty at 610,700
  pounds.
• The preferred altitude for maximum efficiency is
  43,000 feet above sea level.
• The Airbus A380 provides a 15 to 20 percent
  decrease in per-passenger operating costs.
• Also the plane has numerous backup systems which
  allow for minimal mechanical failure.

Courtesy Airbus
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Video

• Airbus A380 Promotional Video

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Efficiency of the plane

• Since the Airbus A380 can carry 555 passengers in
  its three-class configuration, it burns 17
  percent less fuel per passenger than a Boeing 747
  (used in comparison with the A380), which can
  only carry 416 passengers.
• The engines used for the Airbus A380 are
  high-efficiency engines, which use updated
  technology to better fuel efficiency and minimize
  effects on the environment. The special dampeners
  used on the engines reduce the output noise of
  the engines to about half that of other jumbo
  jets.
• Production of the Airbus is also very efficient.
  Airbus uses new, cleaner technologies that have
  less impact on the environment.

Courtesy Flug Revue
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Airbus A380 vs. Boeing 747
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Airbus A380 vs. Boeing 747 cont.
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Social Impact

• The Airbus A380 not only carries more passengers,
  but it also uses cleaner technology which helps
  reduce the amount of emissions.
• By burning 17 percent less fuel per passenger,
  the Airbus A380 has a smaller impact on the
  environment.
• With more people on a single plane, we will be
  able to reduce the number of airplanes in the
  sky, thus decreasing air pollution and air
  traffic congestion.
• With only minor renovations, airports will be
  able to accept the Airbus A380, making it a
  perfect substitute for the out dated Boeing 747.
• Not only is the A380 more efficient than the 747,
  it also provides more comfort to passengers. The
  quieter engines allow for a quieter cabin which
  passengers can benefit from.

Courtesy Anvari.org
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Public Review Pros

• The Airbus A380 is a great aircraft for today's
  interconnected world. Having the Airbus A380
  available when the "Open Skies" agreement goes
  into effect next year between the US and Europe
  will make it possible for millions of people to
  safely cross the Atlantic in a modern, spacious
  and comfortable Airbus A380 at very competitive
  fares.
• In response to number 2, bear in mind that most
  Boeing's are more than 20 years old, and are
  fairly outdated. the Airbus's however, tend to be
  easier to maintain, with more modern functions,
  and from what i have heard, much more reliable.
  granted, i do love Boeing, but when was the last
  time you heard of an airbus crash due to a
  technical or mechanical failure?
• I just took the A380 from Sydney to Singapore in
  Business Class and I must say it was one of the
  best flights ever! Super quiet, quick take-off
  and landing, more spacious than ever before,
  fresh air all along, continuously running water
  in the bathrooms (No more juggling the tab with
  one hand!!), no signs of the usual fatigue and
  the best service you can expect from Singapore
  Airlines! Love this bird, looking forward to
  flying back to Sydney with it in 2 weeks!

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Public Review Cons

• If it ain't Boeing, I'm not going!
• You say 'The rest of us will enjoy the big
  thrill of flying on such a titanic vessel.' No
  way! It takes way too long to board and deplane
  from a much smaller airliner. I can't imagine
  ever voluntarily flying on this monster.
• Ten across seating over the ocean? Just say
  no... And does anyone really think that the
  airlines will opt in the long term for giving
  coach passengers more room, over shoving in a
  couple of extra seats? This is a demonstrator
  flight, showing what could be--not what will be
  after the bean counters get a hold of it.
• The plane looks great, however I noticed an
  awful lot of flex on the wings when it lands. I
  wonder how that will play out in the stress
  factor?

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So what

• With all of the information presented, it is
  clear to me that the Airbus A380 is the best
  plane for long distance traveling. With the
  planes technology and seating capacity, it is
  able to reduce the percent of fuel burned per
  passenger. This leads to a decrease in emissions
  which are harmful to the environment.
• The Airbus A380 truly is Greener. Cleaner.
  Quieter. Smarter. (quote from Airbus).

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References

• Airbus. (2008). Airbus A380. See the bigger
  picture. Retrieved March 18, 2008, from
  http//www.airbus.com/en/aircraftfamilies/a380/ind
  ex2.html.
• Aircraftinfo. (2006). Airbus A380. Retrieved
  March 18, 2008, from http//portal.aircraft-info.n
  et/article8.html.
• Bennett Associates. (2007). Airbus A380 Creep
  forming tools for wing skins. Retrieved March 24,
  2008, from http//www.bennettmg.co.uk/Project_MD_A
  irbus.aspx.
• Federal Aviation Administration. (2006).
  Exemption No. 8695 (Docket No. 2005-20139).
  Renton, WA Department of Transportation.
• Frawley, G. (2005). The Airbus A380. Retrieved
  March 18, 2008, from http//www.airliners.net/info
  /stats.main?id29.
• Grabianowski, E. (2008). How the Airbus A380
  works. Retrieved March 18, 2008, from
  http//travel.howstuffworks.com/a380.htm.
• Peterson, B. (2007). Airbus A380 Taking the
  largest passenger jet for a test drive. Retrieved
  March 18, 2008, from http//www.popularmechanics.c
  om/blogs/science_news/4213543.html.
• Pierce, A. (2005, December). The Airbus A380.
  Tech Directions, 65(5), 11-11. Retrieved March
  18, 2008, from Academic Search Complete database.
• Popular Science. (2005). Airbus A380 The
  biggest airliner ever built takes flight.
  Retrieved March 24, 2008, from http//www.popsci.c
  om/military-aviation-space/article/2005-11/airbus-
  a380.