Boeing 747-8

The Boeing 747-8 is a commercial airliner using the same engine and cockpit technology as that of the 787.
The largest-ever plane, officially announced in 2005, has lengthened fuselage, redesigned wings and improved efficiency. As of 2009, the first 747-8 freighter will be delivered in the 4th quarter of 2010, with the passenger model programmed for 2011.
In January 8, 2010, 108 Boeing 747-8 aircrafts were on order; 32 of the passenger version and 76 of the freighter version. On February 8, 2010, the 747-8 airplane flew for the first time. 

Boeing 747-8 Exterior

 

Boeing named the new airliner the 747-8 because of the technology it will share with that aircraft. Before the official launch of the 747-8, Boeing had plans to develop other variants of existing 747 models under the names 747X (Experimental) and 747-400XQLR (Experimental Quiet Long-Range). These designations were dropped in favor of a "747 Advanced" program, which evolved into the 747-8.
In 2000, Boeing offered the 747X and 747X Stretch derivatives as alternatives to the Airbus A3XX.
This was a more modest proposal than the previous -500X and -600X. It would increase the 747’s wingspan to 229 ft (69.8 m) by adding a segment at the root.
After the 747X program, Boeing continued to study improvements to the 747. The 747-400XQLR (Quiet Long Range) was meant to have an increased range of 7,980 nmi (14,780 km), with better fuel efficiency and reduced noise. Changes studied included raked wingtips similar to those used on the 767-400ER and a sawtooth engine nacelle for noise reduction. Although the 747-400XQLR did not move to production, many of its features were used for the 747 Advanced.
In early 2004, Boeing announced tentative plans for the 747 advanced that were eventually adopted. Similar in nature to the 747-X, the stretched 747 Advanced used technology from the787 to modernize the design and its systems.
The 747-8 is a development of the Boeing 747, which takes advantage of improvements in technology and aerodynamics.

Boeing 747-8 Safety

On July 27 2010, Cargolux announced its desire to buy a minimum of ten 747-8F Freighters.On the launch day itself, Nippon Cargo Airlines ordered eight 747-8Fs. NCA currently operates 13 747 freighters, with six 747-400Fs currently on order."Boeing Launches New 747-8 Family." Boeing press release.   According to Bloomberg, Boeing is staking its position as the dominant maker of the biggest passenger planes on selling Pakistan International Airlines Corp. and other Asian carriers the first of a longer, more fuel-efficient version of its 747-8 model. After introduction, the range of the base 747-8I was boosted to 8,300nm (15,372 km) from 8,000nm. Potential customers Many airlines have shown interest in the new 747-8. However there have been no commitments for the passenger model. Cathay Pacific Airways’ chief operating officer, Tony Tyler, is quoted as saying his airline was "delighted with the 787’s launch because of what it means for the 747". Air New Zealand has also expressed interest, with an executive stating that "if Boeing launches the 747-8, we will probably buy it". Pakistan International Airlines has also shown interest in the 747-8I to replace their eight aging 747-300 aircraft. On April 26, 20010, a report on Economic Daily News stated that China Airlines intended to sign a deal for 10 747-8 Intercontinentals for US $2.5 billion by the end of June. The next day, China Airlines denied having such an intention, stating that they intend to announce whether they will order the A380 or the 747-8 by the end of the year. China Airlines’ intention to operate only three types of aircraft (Boeing 737-800, Airbus A330-300, and Boeing 747-400), however, makes an order for the 747-8 very likely.

Boeing 747-8 Engines

 

Using 787-technology engines the aircraft will be quieter, it will produce lower emissions, and achieve better fuel economy than any competing jetliner.
The 747 Intercontinental will provide nearly equivalent trip costs and 13 percent lower seat-mile costs than the 747-400, plus 26 percent greater cargo volume.
Operating economics will offer a significant improvement over the A380.
The 747-8 is more than 10 percent lighter per seat than the A380 and will consume 11 percent less fuel per passenger than the 555-seat airplane.

Topspeed=614 mph

That translates into a trip-cost reduction of 21 percent and a seat-mile cost reduction of more than 6 percent, compared to the A380. Both the 747-8 Intercontinental and 747-8 Freighter can use the existing infrastructure and ground equipment at most airports worldwide.
The 747-8 Freighter will be longer than the 747-400F by 5.6 m (18.3 ft) and have a maximum structural payload capability of 140 metric tonnes (154 tons) with a range of 8,130 km (4,390 nmi). Also powered by 787-technology engines, it will achieve the same environmental benefits as the 747-8 Intercontinental.
The 747-8 Freighter will have nearly equivalent trip costs and 16 percent lower ton-mile costs than the 747-400, plus 16 percent more revenue cargo volume than its predecessor. The additional 120 cu m (4,245 cu ft) of volume means the airplane can accommodate four additional main-deck pallets and three additional lower-hold pallets. Operating economics of the 747-8 Freighter will be significantly superior to the A380F. The 747-8F’s empty weight is 80 tonnes (88 tons) lighter than the A380F, resulting in a 24 percent lower fuel burn per ton, 21 percent lower trip costs and 23 percent lower ton-mile costs than the A380F.

Space Shuttle Separation Anxiety

On February 18, 1977 the Space Shuttle flew for the first time. It didn’t go into space, and it never left the back of the 747 carrying it. But it was an important step in a program that would take American astronauts to space on a somewhat regular routine.
The first flight of any aircraft is always a bit nerve-wracking. Even after all the modelling and testing, the real thing makes the heart race, blood pressure to rise, and the breath to get short. All of these are classic symptoms of anxiety.
But, she flew. She did alright, too. After four more “captive-inactive” flights, NASA felt comfortable enough to put a crew of two in the Space Shuttle Enterprise for three more flights piggybacked on the 747.
The ALT program was the next step. Beginning in October 1977, the Enterprise was released from the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft between 19,000 and 26,000 feet. The prototype shuttle would then glide back, much like it would during reentry, to the landing facility at Edwards Air Force Base. Making sure the Space Shuttle could land was probably important to NASA.

NASA 747 pilot shares experience carrying the space shuttle

"NASA 747 pilot shares experience carrying the space shuttle
Read the detailed experience of the NASA pilot who flew the 747 carrying the space shuttle ATLANTIS back to the KENNEDY SPACE CENTER. A bit lengthy, but trust me... worth every second reading! You will feel that you were there!!! Very good narrative of what it was like!

Well, it's been 48 hours since I landed the 747 with the shuttle Atlantis on top and I am still buzzing from the experience. I have to say that my whole mind, body and soul went into the professional mode just before engine start in Mississippi, and stayed there, where it all needed to be, until well after the flight...in fact, I am not sure if it is all back to normal as I type this email. The experience was surreal.
Seeing that "thing" on top of an already overly huge aircraft boggles my mind. The whole mission from takeoff to engine shutdown was unlike anything I had ever done. It was like a dream...someone else's dream.
We took off from Columbus AFB on their 12,000 foot runway, of which I used 11,999 1/2 feet to get the wheels off the ground. We were at 3,500 feet left to go of the runway, throttles full power, nose wheels still hugging the ground, copilot calling out decision speeds, the weight of Atlantis now screaming through my fingers clinched tightly on the controls, tires heating up to their near maximum temperature from the speed and the weight, and not yet at rotation speed, the speed at which I would be pulling on the controls to get the nose to rise. I just could not wait, and I mean I COULD NOT WAIT, and started pulling early. If I had waited until rotation speed, we would not have rotated enough to get airborne by the end of the runway. So I pulled on the controls early and started our rotation to the takeoff attitude. The wheels finally lifted off as we passed over the stripe marking the end of the runway and my next hurdle (physically) was a line of trees 1,000 feet off the departure end of Runway 16. All I knew was we were flying and so I directed the gear to be retracted and the flaps to be moved from Flaps 20 to Flaps 10 as I pulled even harder on the controls. I must say, those trees were beginning to look a lot like those brushes in the drive through car washes so I pulled even harder yet! I think I saw a bird just fold its wings and fall out of a tree as if to say "Oh just take me". Okay, we cleared the trees, duh, but it was way too close for my laundry. As we started to actually climb, at only 100 feet per minute, I smelled something that reminded me of touring the Heineken Brewery in Europe...I said "is that a skunk I smell?" and the veterans of shuttle carrying looked at me and smiled and said "Tires"!
I said "TIRES??? OURS???" They smiled and shook their heads as if to call their Captain an amateur...okay, at that point I was. The tires were so hot you could smell them in the cockpit. My mind could not get over, from this point on, that this was something I had never experienced.
Where's your mom when you REALLY need her?
The flight down to Florida was an eternity. We cruised at 250 knots indicated, giving us about 315 knots of ground speed at 15,000'. The miles didn't click by like I am use to them clicking by in a fighter jet at MACH .94. We were burning fuel at a rate of 40,000 pounds per hour or 130 pounds per mile, or one gallon every length of the fuselage. The vibration in the cockpit was mild, compared to down below and to the rear of the fuselage where it reminded me of that football game I had as a child where you turned it on and the players vibrated around the board. I felt like if I had plastic clips on my boots I could have vibrated to any spot in the fuselage I wanted to go without moving my legs...and the noise was deafening. The 747 flies with its nose 5 degrees up in the air to stay level, and when you bank, it feels like the shuttle is trying to say "hey, let's roll completely over on our back"..not a good thing I kept telling myself. SO I limited my bank angle to 15 degrees and even though a 180 degree course change took a full zip code to complete, it was the safe way to turn this monster.
Airliners and even a flight of two F-16s deviated from their flight plans to catch a glimpse of us along the way. We dodged what was in reality very few clouds and storms, despite what everyone thought, and arrived in Florida with 51,000 pounds of fuel too much to land with. We can't land heavier than 600,000 pounds total weight and so we had to do something with that fuel. I had an idea...let's fly low and slow and show this beast off to all the taxpayers in Florida lucky enough to be outside on that Tuesday afternoon. So at Ormond Beach we let down to 1,000 feet above the ground/water and flew just east of the beach out over the water. Then, once we reached the NASA airspace of the Kennedy Space Center, we cut over to the Banana/Indian Rivers and flew down the middle of them to show the people of Titusville, Port St.Johns and Melbourne just what a 747 with a shuttle on it looked like. We stayed at 1,000 feet and since we were dragging our flaps at "Flaps 5", our speed was down to around 190 to 210 knots. We could see traffic stopping in the middle of roads to take a look. We heard later that a Little League Baseball game stop to look and everyone cheered as we became their 7th inning stretch. Oh say can you see...
After reaching Vero Beach, we turned north to follow the coast line back up to the Shuttle Landing Facility (SLF). There was not one person laying on the beach...they were all standing and waving! "What a sight" I thought...and figured they were thinking the same thing. All this time I was bugging the engineers, all three of them, to re-compute our fuel and tell me when it was time to land. They kept saying "Not yet Triple, keep showing this thing off" which was not a bad thing to be doing. However, all this time the thought that the landing, the muscling of this 600,000 pound beast, was getting closer and closer to my reality. I was pumped up! We got back to the SLF and were still 10,000 pounds too heavy to land so I said I was going to do a low approach over the SLF going the opposite direction of landing traffic that day. So at 300 feet, we flew down the runway, rocking our wings like a whale rolling on its side to say "hello" to the people looking on! One turn out of traffic and back to the runway to land...still 3,000 pounds over gross weight limit. But the engineers agreed that if the landing were smooth, there would be no problem. "Oh thanks guys, a little extra pressure is just what I needed!" So we landed at 603,000 pounds and very smoothly if I have to say so myself. The landing was so totally controlled and on speed, that it was fun. There were a few surprises that I dealt with, like the 747 falls like a rock with the orbiter on it if you pull the throttles off at the "normal" point in a
landing and secondly, if you thought you could hold the nose off the ground after the mains touch down, think again...IT IS COMING DOWN!!!
So I "flew it down" to the ground and saved what I have seen in videos of a nose slap after landing. Bob's video supports this! :8-)
Then I turned on my phone after coming to a full stop only to find 50 bazillion emails and phone messages from all of you who were so super to be watching and cheering us on! What a treat, I can't thank y'all enough. For those who watched, you wondered why we sat there so long.
Well, the shuttle had very hazardous chemicals on board and we had to be "sniffed" to determine if any had leaked or were leaking. They checked for Monomethylhydrazine (N2H4 for Charlie Hudson) and nitrogen tetroxide (N2O4). Even though we were "clean", it took way too long for them to tow us in to the mate-demate area. Sorry for those who stuck it out and even waited until we exited the jet.
I am sure I will wake up in the middle of the night here soon, screaming and standing straight up dripping wet with sweat from the realization of what had happened. It was a thrill of a lifetime. Again I want to thank everyone for your interest and support. It felt good to bring Atlantis home in one piece after she had worked so hard getting to the Hubble Space Telescope and back.

Biofuel-powered passenger jets take flight

Yesterday marked a huge first step toward the future of aviation as both Lufthansa and Airbus launched the world’s first-ever daily passenger flights using sustainable biofuel.

Yesterday marked a huge first step toward the future of aviation as both Lufthansa and Airbus launched the world’s first-ever daily passenger flights using sustainable biofuel.
Flying four times daily between Hamburg and Frankfurt, the flights use a biofuel blend made up of 50% Hydro-processed Esters and Fatty Acids (HEFA).The daily Airbus 321 flights will initially continue for six months as part of the ‘Burn Fair’ R&T project to study the long term impact of sustainable biofuels on aircraft performance.
“Lufthansa is the world’s first airline to utilise biofuel in daily flight operations,” said Christoph Franz, Lufthansa CEO. “This is a further consistent step in the sustainability strategy, which Lufthansa has for years been successfully pursuing. We want to secure future sustainable mobility by conducting research and development work today.”

Adhering to standards

The renewable aviation biofuel – provided by Finland-based Neste Oil – along with all of the renewable raw materials used to produce it (NExBTL) comply with the EU’s stringent sustainability criteria and are fully traceable back to their source.
“Fuel quality is a critical issue in aviation. Neste Oil’s NExBTL technology is very well-suited to producing aviation fuel that meets the aviation industry’s toughest quality standard,” says Matti Lievonen, Neste Oil’s President and CEO. “Being a pioneer in this area, we are very proud to co-operate with Airbus and Lufthansa. We believe that renewable aviation fuels have real potential for the future.”

Social responsibility

Airbus is working to make aviation biofuel a reality by working with stakeholders to speed up its commercialization in a socially responsible way. By providing technical expertise and data collected from a series of alternative fuel flights, Airbus has been at the forefront helping obtain today’s 50% biofuel approval.
Airbus has helped set up five value chain projects with airlines, stakeholders and refiners around the world to help speed up the commercialization of aviation biofuels with a target to have one in every continent by 2012.

Delta Airlines Passenger Arrested After Trying to Leave Plane 30,000 Feet Up

LAS VEGAS (CBS Las Vegas) — One man was arrested after attempting to change his travel plans midflight — by leaving the plane through an emergency exit.

Richard Joel Garber, 60, of Atlanta, Ga., was seated on board Delta Airlines Flight 1702 on Oct. 23 when he tried to open one of the cabin doors after the plane had reached cruising altitude, which for commercial flights can be anywhere above 30,000 feet.

“Mr. Garber attempted to open the emergency exit door over the wing while the aircraft was in flight,” FBI Special Agent Patrick Turner told CBS Las Vegas. ”(He) was detained by fellow passengers and the aircraft returned to Las Vegas … without further incident.”

Lorie Dankers, public affairs officer for the Transportation Security Administration in Las Vegas, told CBS Las Vegas that around 1:50 p.m., they were alerted about the disruptive passenger and the pilot’s decision to return the plane to Las Vegas for Garber’s removal.

“The flight continued on to Atlanta (after he was arrested), and landed there safely at 7:05 p.m. ET,” she added.

Garber will face charges of committing a crime aboard an aircraft — specifically, interfering with a flight crew.

According to Turner, Garber was seen in front of the U.S. Federal Magistrate on Oct. 24.

Turner added, “(He) was released on his own recognizance with a condition that he does not travel by air pending a resolution to his case.”

No one was able to comment as to Garber’s motives in trying to exit the plane.

Southwest Airlines pilot holds plane for murder victim’s family

It’s easy to be an airline industry critic in an era of “no waivers, no favors” and fees on top of fees. It’s easy to paint airlines as heartless corporations that treat us like self-loading cargo.

But every now and then, you hear a story that turns you into an adoring fan. Like Nancy’s story.
Before I continue, I should mention a few things: Nancy is a faithful reader of this site, and I agreed to use only her first name because of the brutal nature of the crime and the age of the victim. Second, I’m not an emotional, John Boehner-type, but I can’t read her story without getting a little teary.

Antonov-158 to Join Iran Passenger Fleet

Iran will purchase a fleet of the new Ukrainian Antonov-158 passenger planes to modernize its very old passenger fleet of US, European and Russian aircraft. An-158 is a 99-passenger variation of An-148 regional twinjet, with a range of 2,500km.

“Studies have shown that Antonov-158 suits Iran's climatic conditions and has been test-flown in certain parts of the country,” said Manouchehr Manteqi, the Managing director of Iran's Aviation Industries Organization (IAIO).

The safest passenger aircrafts in the world

Only twelve passenger planes around the world can be boasted of zero accidents which haven’t caused the death of any of those on board.

Four planes are of European origin in these top five are Russian or former Soviet, only two are produced American and one is of Canadian provenance.
There are many statistics and much controversy regarding the safest passenger aircraft in the world. If we however consider a single criteria, the one according to which the plane has not been involved in any accident that have killed any of the passengers or crew members, then only twelve types of aircraft can enter the top.
Surprisingly, the U.S. doesn’t dominate the top, but the European and Russian (or ex-Soviet Federation) dose. Given that all these planes can be proud of zero passengers loss in air accidents, I ordered them in a hierarchy by the criteria of number of aircraft produced. Were we have taken into account only planes with a capacity of at least 50 people that have been operated, at least one year, on a passenger schedule.
Such a ranking based on, zero casualties as the single criteria looks like this:

1. Boeing B777 – long haul aircraft, high capacity (between 301 and 550 passengers), in operation since 1994 and produced until now in not less than 923 copies. Many aviation experts say it deserves the title of the safest ever manufactured passenger aircraft.

2. Bombardier CRJ700/900/1000 - warrior despite its name, is a medium capacity aircraft, short haul, produced in Canada since 2001. It can carry between 66 and 104 passengers. So far, 584 such devices have been delivered.
3. Airbus A340 – also a high capacity airplane, used since 1993 and still in production, numbers 375 copies.
4. Boeing B717 – medium haul aircraft produced between 1999 and 2006 in 156 copies, capable of carrying between 100 and 117 passengers.
5. Ilyusin IL86 – medium haul high-capacity aircraft produced in the former USSR (including cooperation with Poland) between 1977 and 1992. There were a total of 106 IL86 machines delivered. Most are now in service. Interesting to note, this aircraft has established in his time, not less than 18 world records. Even more interesting, 12 of which have not yet been overcome.

6. Airbus A318 – Airbus youngest range is a medium-haul aircraft that can carry between 107 and 132 passengers. Produced from 2003 to present in 74 copies, four of them are in the Tarom fleet and operate on a daily international scheduled.
7. Tupolev TU204/214 – medium capacity aircraft, in operation since 1994. Still in production, in 70 copies and counting. Other 100 204 airplanes were ordered by airlines Russian, South American and Asian.

8. Airbus A380 - the biggest airliner in the world can carry between 550 and 843 passengers. It is inn service since 2007, and numbers 69 copies.

9. SAAB 2000 – Swedish plane, only the top propeller absolute safety, no longer produced since 1999. It is the fastest passenger plane with propellers in the world. In total, 64 aircraft were produced. Currently, the largest company operator of SAAB 2000 is Carpatair Timisoara Romanian-Moldovan, 12 such planes are in its fleet.
10. Ilyusin IL96 – long haul high capacity aircraft, can carry up to 486 passengers. It is in service since 1993 and still produced, only 28 copies were made, most are operated by the Russian company Aeroflot. Another 10 machines were ordered and are in the stage of execution. One such plane is currently used by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, for foreign travel.

11. Sukhoi SuperJet SU100 – regional aircraft of medium capacity can carry between 68 and 103 passengers. It is made by the famous producer of military aircraft from Russia since 2007. So far, ten such planes are operating, but no less than 219 SU 100 devices have already been ordered. Six of them, ironically, by an American company.
12. Tupolev TU334 – medium haul aircraft, medium capacity, produced in Russia in only two copies, in 1999. TU334 project was abandoned, but two planes made 12 years fly by, operated by Russian Aviation Company, to be registered without the slightest incident.
Of course, there are many observations made on this safety top. It can be said that Boeing B777 is much safer than other planes of the top, thanks to the higher number of machines in operation. However, zero remains zero, regardless of how it is multiplied.
On the other hand, is definitely the more impressive former Soviet and Russian aircraft that should be better, considering the harsh operating conditions as well as sometimes rough maintenance, they hand planes good there. Overall, you can travel peacefully with any of these planes. No one has yet died on board any of them, as a result of any plane crash.

Passenger Aircraft C-NM5 by Mahindra Aerospace and Indian Govt.

The long over due desire of the Indians to see India manufacture its own Passenger Aircrafts, initiative by CNM5 designed by India and assembled in Australia. It is a small beginning from a Government lab and Mahindra Aerospace a Private Company. CSIR-NAL.

The C-NM5 is a 5-seat all-metal aircraft powered by a Lycoming IO-540 engine, and features non-retractable landing gear and a spacious cabin with large access doors, it said.
“The 45-minute first flight on September 1 2011,  tested basic handling of the aircraft. Subsequent flights have evaluated aircraft stability and control in different flight regimes,” the company said.
With demand steadily increasing for cheap flights between small towns in India, the country is trying to make its own passenger planes. Designed in India and made in Australia, the CNM5 is the first Indian plane jointly developed by CSIR-NAL

It can fly five people or serve as an air ambulance or goods carrier. You could buy one for about two crore. “We can connect our North East.
We can connect Jorhat to Silchar. Silchar to Agarthala. We can go across Brahmaputra. We can go to Andaman Nicobar. We can really make a big difference to the country. Specially to transport light goods, 500-600 kg of material.
And the maintenance cost of this aircraft will not be too much,” said Dr Samir Kumar Brahmachari, Director-General, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, CSIR.
Another is the SARAS. Originally designed as a fourteen seat civilian passenger plane, it flew first in 2004 and hundreds of times after that. But a crash in 2009 killed all three crew members and almost grounded the project.
According to Dr Shyam Chetty, Director, National Aerospace Laboratories, NAL, “The committee which investigated the 2009 crash has ruled out any technical defects or shortcomings.
It is just a matter of time before the plane is back in the air.” A new SARAS prototype will be ready late next year and the plane is to start commercial production in 2014. But this time, it will serve the military. The Indian Air Force wants fifteen planes, to train their transport pilots.
Our air force pilots have to use big aircraft for training straight away.
Whereas this will be the first small transport aircraft training that they can use. So, there is an immediate use for them, said Brahmachari.
A separate ninety-seater regional transport aircraft for civilians is currently being designed. It will cost more than seven thousand crore rupees to perfect and is to be made in collaboration with private industry. “We are entering a space which is already crowded, where giants exist. However, India, with 1.2 billion people who would like to move, it is important that we have an indigenous industry. How do we make it fuel efficient, least carbon footprint, how can we make it run on a shorter runway – these are the challenges we are trying to design for,” added Brahmachari.
Chetty believes that one thing India has, which others don’t have to a large extent, is software. All modern aircraft are software intensive. Today, a lot of software for India and abroad, is being developed in the country. It is possible that we will be able to leverage these skills to develop a cost effective aircraft.
But made in India won’t always mean cheap. The SARAS in its civilian avatar cost almost 40 crore per plane when comparable foreign machines cost 12-26 crore. While both China and Indonesia made regional transport jets ten years ago, they guzzled fuel and failed because of rising fuel costs.

Two passenger jets collide in USA

The wing of a Delta jet clipped the tail of an aircraft that provides regional air service for the carrier while both planes were on the taxiway and preparing to fly out of Boston on Thursday evening. one person is complaining of neck pain after the crash. There were no other injuries. The incident involved Delta Flight 266 from Boston to Amsterdam which hit the vertical stabilizer of Atlantic Southeast Airlines Flight 4904, also on departure from Boston to Raleigh-Durham, The Associated Press reports All photos: Splash/All Over Press

NASA eyes tomorrow's passenger planes

 

From Northrop Grumman comes another clever acronym, SELECT, for Silent Efficient Low Emissions Commercial Transport. If it looks too much like the run-of-the-mill aircraft of today, not to worry, according to the company, which says the 120-passenger aircraft design would be "revolutionary in its performance, if not in its appearance."
It'll be different, Northrop Grumman says, through the use in its airframe and "ultra high bypass ratio propulsion system" construction of ceramic composites, nanotechnology, and shape memory alloys. Like the GE entry, the SELECT would help alleviate congestion at overcrowded hub airports through its ability to make use of smaller, regional airports--on runways, according to Northrop Grumman, as short as 5,000 feet.

RAF jets escort passenger plane to Stansted Airport after allegedly drunk passenger makes bomb threat

• 

FIGHTER jets escorted a passenger plane into Stansted yesterday after a drunk passenger sparked a mid-air terror alert.
Two RAF Typhoons were scrambled after a British man allegedly threatened to bomb the flight from Abu Dhabi.
The captain of the Etihad Airbus told passengers shortly before midday he was diverting from London Heathrow as a precaution.

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His alert sparked fears of a terrorist attack at the Essex airport, which in 2000 saw a four day siege on a hijacked jet from Afghanistan.
A 37-year-old man was arrested when cops boarded the aircraft after it landed.
Paul Child, who was sitting in front of the suspect, said: “The cabin crew said he had made a bomb threat.”
Essex police added: “The pilot reported a man making threats. The airport has been operating normally.”

Blue abstract background with passenger plane and world map imag

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Airbus Imagines An INVISIBLE Passenger Plane

What will airplanes look like in 2050?
Airbus' vision for the future of flight presents planes that are eco-friendly, self-cleaning, and see-through.
At the Farnborough International Airshow earlier this year, Airbus unveiled the Airbus Concept Plane, an "engineer's dream about what an aircraft could look like in the long term future," explained Charles Champion, executive vice president of engineering.
The company's engineers have imagined a plane that could become invisible with the push of a button.
"The extraordinary design would allow travelers to look down on cities and landscapes thousands of feet below or gaze up at the heavens, giving them the sensation of floating unassisted through the sky," imagines the New York Post.
It would be lighter and slimmer than current planes, with semi-embedded engines, trim wings, and a U-shaped tail designed to "improve environmental performance or 'eco-efficiency,'" according to Airbus.
The plane would also be outfitted with anti-turbulence sensors, "morphing seats made from ecological, self-cleaning materials, which change shape for a snug fit," and cabins that could "transform" into offices, gardens, or bedrooms using holographic projections.
It would be quieter than other aircraft, and, writes Der Spiegel, "If the Airbus engineers have their way, future passengers may contribute to reductions in fuel costs themselves [...] Passengers' body heat would be collected and fed into onboard systems using heat exchangers."

Don't get your hopes up, however: "It's not a real aircraft and all the technologies it features, though feasible, are not likely to come together in the same manner," Champion notes.
Still, Axel Krein, head of research and technology for Airbus, told Der Spiegel, "What emerged were completely realistic visions of flight in the year 2050. Our people are grounded in reality, after all. And most of the necessary technology already exists."
Check out renderings of the Airbus Concept Plane, as well as other "planes of the future," in the slideshow below.

Passengers react to aircraft's smell after bird strike

Photograph: AirSpace user Goose

We acknowledge engine failures, hydraulic problems, and the like can be minor, everyday occurrences that do not require mention. But an exception should be made to last Saturday's jetBlue flight 757 from New York JFK to Aruba.

The A320 experienced a bird strike and safely returned to Kennedy, where passenger comments were, surprisingly, not of the scare mongering kind but rather reflections on today's in-flight service.

As passenger Gina Vicinanza said: "Suddenly the plane smelled like chicken...I thought, 'Wow! They have hot food on this plane.'"

Types of Aircrafts

Private charter jets are typically divided up into size categories light, medium, and heavy. Knowing your approximate passenger count and your travel distance before inquiring about a booking will help the charter company better accommodate your needs.

Aircraft Type: Turbo Prop

Aircraft Models: King Air 90,
King Air 200,
King Air 350
Capacity: 6-8 passengers
Speed: 220-300 mph
Range: 1,500-2,000 miles

King Air 90

Aircraft Type: Light Jets

Aircraft Models: Beechjet 400,
Citation Bravo Citation, CJ1 Citation, CJ2 Citation, CJ3 Citation Encore Citation II Citation V/Ultra Hawker 400XP Learjet 31A Learjet 35A Learjet 40
Capacity: 5-8 passengers
Speed: 400-460 mph
Range: 1,600-2,000 miles

Beechjet 400

Aircraft Type: Medium Jets

Aircraft Models: Citation Excel/XLS Citation III/VI/VII,
Citation Sovereign Gulfstream G100 Hawker 700 Hawker 800/XP Learjet 45/XR Learjet 55 Learjet 60
Capacity: 6-9 passengers
Speed: 450-560 mph
Range: 2,200-2,800 miles

Citation Sovereign Gulfstream

Aircraft Type: Super Medium Jets

Aircraft Models: Challenger 300,
Citation X Falcon 2000,
Falcon 50 Series Gulfstream G200,
Hawker 1000
Capacity: 7-9 passengers
Speed: 400-525
Range: 3,200-3,600 miles

Aircraft Type: Heavy Jets

Aircraft Models:
Challenger 600,
Challenger 601,
Challenger 604,
Embraer Legacy,
Falcon 900 Series,
Global Express Gulfstream, G550 Gulfstream II,
Gulfstream III,
Gulfstream IV,
Gulfstream V
Capacity: 8-14 passengers
Speed: 500-560 mph
Range: 3,200-7,500 miles

Challenger 600

Is this the future of passenger planes? Airbus unveils plans for 'invisible' jets Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-1313645/Airbus-invisible-passenger-plane-plans-unveiled.html#ixzz1bJBGFHEJ

It sounds more like promotional material for a new rollercoaster ride but aircraft manufacturer Airbus's ambitious new dossier on the planes of the future includes a passenger jet with a completely transparent fuselage.

The design would give passengers the sensation of floating in the sky and would allow them to look down on cities and landscapes below or gaze up at the heavens above.

Futuristic: The engines on Airbus's "Concept Plane" are embedded in the plane's fuselage rather than attached to its wings to reduce engine noise

Airbus engineers believe that a plane could be manufactured with a hi-tech ceramic skin, which the captain could send an electrical pulse through at the press of a button. The cabin roof, walls and floor would then become see-through, giving passengers a 360-degree view of their surroundings.

Airbus' head of research and technology, Axel Krein, told German publication Der Spiegel: 'The planes of the future will offer an unparalleled, unobstructed view of the wonders of the five continents - where you will be able see the pyramids or the Eiffel Tower through the transparent floor of the aircraft'.

Scenic route: The 'invisible plane' will give passengers unobstructed views of famous landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower through its transparent floor

The plans were revealed in the company’s report entitled 'The Future, By Airbus' in which engineers at the European aerospace giant were asked to imagine what flights could be like in 2050.

It includes information about a 'Cryoplane', which would be fuelled by hydrogen, along with streamline engines that are embedded in the plane's fuselage rather than attached to its wings to reduce engine noise.

The streamline engines are shown in a computer-generated image of Airbus’ 'Concept Plane', which features a streamline design framed by curved wings that would reduce fuel consumption significantly.

Blue skies thinking: The Concept Plane's streamline design would reduce fuel consumption significantly

Other ideas in the report include an aircraft skin that can repair itself in the event of cracks using microscopic nano-capsules containing a high-tech adhesive to seal the fissure. The company claims nano-materials could also be used to enable seats to be 'self-cleaning'.

Krein told Der Spiegel: 'In the future each passenger will feel he or she is sitting on a brand new airplane about to take off on its maiden flight.'

Silent flight: A rear view of the Concept Plane's engines which would be embedded in the plane's fuselage

The report also suggests that 'morphing' seats will be able to adjust to the shape of the passenger for a snug fit and that holographic projections could be used in the cabin to create virtual decors.

'We told our engineers to give their imaginations free rein. What emerged were completely realistic visions of flight in the year 2050,' Krein said.

'Our people are grounded in reality, after all. The good news is that the technology that is needed to make this kind of thing work already exists, it’s just not used.'

Lufthansa to operate world’s longest passenger plane

Lufthansa will next year begin operating flights using the world’s longest passenger airliner – the Boeing 747-8.
The German airline is the launch customer for the new plane, which measures 76.3 metres in length, making it six metres longer than the 747-400.
Boeing’s first 747-8 Intercontinental emerged from the company’s Everett factory near Seattle this week in Lufthansa livery, sporting a white fuselage and a blue tailfin with the airline’s logo – a crane in flight – set against a yellow background.
The plane will undergo extensive ground tests before initial trial flights in November.
It is scheduled to go into service in spring 2012.
As well as being longer than any other aircraft currently in operation, the Boeing 747-8 features new engines offering greater fuel efficiency and lower emissions and noise levels.
It also has redesigned wings offering better aerodynamics.
Lufthansa has ordered 20 of the new airliners, which are scheduled for delivery between 2012 and mid-2015, and has options on a further 20

The World’s Fastest Passenger Planes

Passenger Aircrafts have an average speed of 500 miles per hour which allows users to quickly get from one place to another. Passenger planes are a popular form of transport because they are quicker than the many other options including road and water-based transport. While their speed is already impressive, there are a few passenger planes that easily push the boundaries when it comes to speed on air which promises shorter travel times.

Gulfstream G500
Featuring a 673 miles per hour top speed, the Gulfstream G500 is one of the fastest and fuel-friendly passenger planes today. Complementing the flight speed is its ability to fly up to 6,000 miles without the need for refueling. It also features modern controls such as a master control for temperature, entertainment and even lighting.

Gulfstream G550
The later version of Gulfstream G500 is only bested by 2MPH. The Gulfstream G550 has a maximum speed of 675 miles per hour. Aside from the upgrade in top speed, the G550 also features additional conveniences such as on-board WLAN and satellite system for phone calls.

Falcon 7X
The Flacon 7X is not only known for its top speed (685 miles per hour), it’s also known for its size. With a length of 40 feet, the eight passengers will definitely feel spacious while it shoots across the sky. Because of its near Mach 1 speed (Mach .90), it comes with a technology that limits noises.

Cessna Citation X
The world’s fastest passenger plane has the top speed of 700 miles per hour. The seven-passenger plane also features an entertainment center with additional area dedicated for pre-landing preparation for passengers. Its Mach 0.92 speed makes it the fastest passenger airplane with near Mach 1 capability.

Operational History

A340-300 entered service in 1993 with the first user is Lufthansa and Air France, followed soon thereafter by a version of the -200 and A330. With the introduction of a heavier aircraft Boeing 777, like 777-200ER and 777-300ER in particular, sales of the A340 begins to decline. In recent years the sale of 777 A340 has been defeated with a big difference. Although the GE90 engines larger 777-300ER uses far more fuel than the Trent 500, but by using only two compared to four Trent engine means providing between 8-9% cost savings.

In January 2006, Airbus announced plans to develop A340E unruk (Enhanced / Additional). Airbus states that A340E is more fuel efficient than the A340 and close early versions 8-9% difference with the Boeing 777 with Trent 1500 engines.
Airbus expects to produce 127 units A340 until the year 2016, and after that production will be stopped.

In mid 2008, with the increase in jet fuel prices doubled from a year earlier, the high consumption of fuel made the airline to stop flights A340 so far that has a travel time of more than 15 hours. Thai Airways International to cancel flights 17 hours non-stop from Bangkok to New York / JFK on July 1, 2008. All A340-500 aircraft eventually sold. When the flight distance dently gives the load on the plane rather than long-haul flights, and spend more fuel to take off and landing are more frequent, very long haul flights to make the aircraft should be fully charged with fuel, which means that, during the plane trip much material fuel to carry fuel, a "flying tanker with a few passengers in it" said the chief executive of Air France-KLM Pierre-Henri Gourgeon told the Wall Street Journal.

When Thai Airways to consistently fill 80% seats in NYC-Bangkok flight, it is estimated that the price of fuel in 2008, it takes 120% of seats filled to break even, where rights are not possible.

Other airlines also oversee re-distance flights. In August 2008, Cathay Pacific told the Wall Street Journal that the increase in fuel prices is very disturbing long-distance flights, and will reduce the number of such flights and offers as well as lowering the aircraft in flight with the shorter distances such as between Hong Kong and Australia. "We would ... reshape our network to ensure we fly aircraft to where it can cover operational costs and also provide benefits," said Cathay Pacific CEO Tony Tyler told the newspaper.

Variants

There are currently four variants of the A340. and A340-200 and A340-300 was launched in 1987 and began service in March 1993. A340-500 and A340-600 was launched in 1997 and began to enter airline service in 2002. All these variants are also available in the corporate version of the Executive and Private Aviation Airbus.

A340-200

One of two early versions of the A340, A340-200, with 261 passengers in three-class cabin look with the distance 7.450 nautical miles (13797.4 km), or with 240 passengers in three class configuration with a distance of 8.000 nautical miles (14 816 , 0 km) This is the shortest version of the aircraft and the only version with a wingspan greater than the length of the aircraft. The aircraft is powered by four CFMI CFM56-5C4 engines. This aircraft drencanakan to open lines long and thin, especially if passing the open sea. Closest competitor from Boeing for this aircraft was a Boeing 767-400.

One version of this type (called by Airbus as A340-8000) ordered by the Sultan of Brunei who want a flight distance as far as 8.000 nautical miles (14816.0 km). A340-8000 has a capacity of more fuel, with a maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) of 275 tonnes is equivalent to A340-300, and little change in the bottom. Once completed, obtain the maximum mileage as far as 8.100 nautical miles (15001.2 km). The aircraft is powered by 34,000 lbf-powered machine called CFMI CFM56-5C4-300E equivalent. Only one A340-8000 manufactured by Airbus A340-213X code (msn 204). The aircraft was delivered to the airline based in Brunei Sultan in November 1998, but never entered the ministry and neglected in the Lufthansa Technik in Hamburg. The aircraft was later bought by Saudi Arabian VIP in February 2007 as an additional wide-body fleet, according to flight data center Acas.

A340-200 aircraft other then given a performance that helped the development package has the ability equivalent to the A340-8000. The aircraft are labeled A340-213X. This version of the mileage reaches 8.000 NM (14.820 km).

Due to the large wingspan, four engines, low capacity, and the version of the A340-300, -200 version becomes difficult to accept and does not popular with major airlines. Only 28 A340-200, produced by some to be a VIP aircraft. South African Airways is the largest operator with 6 aircraft generally fly the route Cape Town. Another operator is Aerolíneas Argentinas (4), Royal Jordanian (4), Egypt Air (3) and Conviasa (1).

Some A340-200 is used for military or VIP keperluar. Examples used by the Royal Brunei Airlines, Qatar Amiri Flight, the Government of Egypt, the Air Force Saudi Arabia, Jordan and the French Air Force. The airline that once operated this aircraft is Cathay Pacific, Philippine Airlines, and Air Bourbon, along with other airlines. This version now has been discontinued.


A340-300

A340-300 flies 295 passengers in three-class cabin configuration with the distance as far as 6.700 nautical miles (12408.4 km). This aircraft is an early version, began flying on October 25, 1991, and entered airline service with Lufthansa and Air France in March 1993. The aircraft is powered by four CFMI CFM56-5C engines, equivalent to the version of 200s. The closest competitor is the Boeing 777-200ER.

A340-300E, often incorrectly referred to as A340-300x, have an increased MTOW of up to 275 tonnes and powered by a more powerful engine (34,000 lbf) CFMI CFM56-5C4. Range with 295 passengers was between 7.200 nautical miles (13334.4 km) up to 7.400 nautical miles (13704.8 km). Lufthansa's biggest operator with 30 aircraft. The aircraft was first delivered to Singapore Airlines in April 1996, but Singapore Airlines had not operate this model. Two A340-300 bought by the German Luftwaffe Flugbereitschaft from VIP transport to serve the German government leaders and the President of Germany. The aircraft will enter service in 2011.

A340-300 Enhanced is the latest version of this type and was first delivered in 2003 to South African Airways. The aircraft is using the latest engine CFM56-5C4 / P and avionics and fly-by-wire newly developed for A340-500/-600.

A340-300 already tidah produced again with the last of 218 aircraft A340-300 sent to a private airline from the island of Cayman Island named Klaret Aviation in September 2008, with the latest airline to receive this is a Finnair plane in July 2008. A340-300 will be followed by the A350-900

A340-500

A340-500 was introduced as a commercial passenger plane to reach the furthest distance in the world. This aircraft first flew on February 11, 2002, and certified on December 3, 2002 with initial pegiriman to the Emirates. If the KC-10 Extender is a production aircraft with the farthest range, the A340-500 is a commercial plane with the farthest range until the introduction of Boeing 777-200LR in February 2006. A340-500 can fly 313 passengers in three-class cabin configuration as far as 8.650 nautical miles (16019.8 km), the aircraft is capable of flying non-stop from London to Perth, while flights in the opposite direction requires extra rest because of wind resistance.

Singapore Airlines, for example, initially using two-class configuration, 181-passenger flight to Newark-Singapore nonstop route, SQ 21: 18-hour travel time, 45-minutes to the west (actually to the north to save a distance of 70 nautical miles ( 129.6 km) through the north pole, then move to the south across Russia, Mongolia and China), and 18-hour, 30-minute eastward, with the distance 8.285 nautical miles (15343.8 km), which until now into the flight the world's longest scheduled commercial.

At the end of June 2008, Singapore Airlines completed the conversion of five A340-500 into a single business class configuration, with 100 seats, karen market demand. The aircraft is also used to route nonstop flights Los Angeles-Singapore SQ. Thai Airways International to use this model for nonstop flights from Bangkok to Los Angeles and New York / JFK, but stop service to New York on July 1, 2008 due to increased fuel prices. U.S. aviation magazine reported in late January 2010 that the Thai consider to reopen the route Bangkok-New York / JFK with a fleet of A340-500nya.

Route Los Angeles-Bangkok Thai is still in service. Armadac airlines in the form of four A340-500 would actually be sold, but due to low prices led to Thais pulled from the market in October 2008. Thai now use these aircraft for European lines thinner, such as Bangkok-Athens, However may sell them after receiving a reasonable price. Each aircraft is worth U.S. $ 180 million. A large airline flight to the Thai bid for each U.S. $ 50 million for a fleet of A340-500nya, who later rejected. Etihad Airways is the latest new user.

In the first A340-500 deliveries between airlines, TAM Airlines has hired two planes of Air Canada for use in São Paulo-Milan route. The aircraft will be moved to a new TAM route between São Paulo and Johannesburg apda financial year 2010. In addition, Nigerian airline Arik Air has purchased three A340-500 of Kingfisher Airlines. Kingfisher cancel one of five A340-500 aircraft orders in November 2009. In total there are 37 A340-500 which has been ordered by seven airlines, of which 6 diantarangan in VIP configuration for government service (including Qatar and Algeria) and private owners, with 31 deliveries in June 2010.

Compared with the A340-300, -500 version has a 4.3 meter longer hull, a larger wing area, significantly increase the fuel capacity (around 50% over -300), slightly higher cruising speed, larger rear wing and vertical tail smaller. A340-500/-600 has taxi cameras to help the pilot while maneuvering on land. A340-500 turbofan engine powered by four Rolls-Royce Trent 553-powered 53 000 lbf.

A340-500HGW Version (English:''High Gross Weight / Weight empty large) has a mileage 9.000 nautical miles (16668.0 km) and MTOW of 380 tonnes and first flight on October 13, 2006. The aircraft uses a reinforced structure and increased fuel capacity in the A340-600HGW. Shipping inaugural flight will be given to Thai Airways International, on 11 April 2007 Kingfisher Airlines plans to use this type of aircraft to operate nonstop flights from India to North America. However, in October 2008, Kingfisher divert shipments of three of the five positions to Arik Air of Nigeria, due to global recession. Arik Air received three A340-500 in November 2008, and put the aircraft for the new route London Heathrow-Lagos and Lagos-Johannesburg route, with a nonstop flight to New York that ditambahnkan in January 2010. Atlanta, Miami and Houston are planned to be added later-500HGW A340 four-engine turbofan powered Rolls-Royce Trent 556 to power 56,000 lbf. Emirates is the largest operator with 10 aircraft.

Comparable Boeing 777-200LR is, which entered service in February 2006, through the A340-500 as a commercial passenger plane with the farthest distance, but the Boeing 777-200LR is plagued with ETOPS regulations.

A340-600

Designed as a substitute for early generation Boeing 747, A340-600 flies 380 passengers in three-class cabin configuration (419 in 2 classes) as far as 7.500 nautical miles (13890.0 km). This aircraft provides similar passenger capacity to 747 manun with a cargo of 25% larger, and lower travel costs for each seat. A340-600 maiden flight performed on April 23, 2001. Virgin Atlantic mwmulai commercial service in August 2002.

A340-600 is approximately 10 m longer than the -300, empta meters longer than the Boeing 747-400 and 2.3 meters longer than the A380. This aircraft became the longest commercial passenger aircraft until February 2010 with the inaugural flight of the Boeing 747-8. A340-600 turbofan engine powered by four Rolls-Royce Trent 556-powered 56 000 lbf with Honeywell APU 331-600 [A] The aircraft also has tmbahan four rear wheels in the middle of the hull planes to be able to cope with increased MTOW. Airbus aircraft cabin empty upper floors to provide additional facilities such optional crew rest area, kitchen and toilet on the ground floor plane.

In April 2007, The Times reported that Airbus had advised carriers to reduce cargo at the front of the plane by 5 tonnes to cope with excess weight in first and business class sections. The addition of weight causes the aircraft center of gravity moves forward and reduces the efficiency of flight mileage. Airlines that are affected by these suggestions are considering demanding compensation from Airbus.

Version of the A340-600HGW (High Gross Weight / English: Gross Large) first flight on 18 November 2005 and certified on April 14 this 2006.Pesawat MTOW of 380 tonnes with the distance reaches 7.900 nautical miles (14630.8 km), which may be due to the strengthening of the structure, additional fuel capacity, more powerful engine and new manufacturing techniques such as laser welding. A340-600HGW turbofan engine powered by four Rolls-Royce Trent 560-powered 60 000 lbf.

Version of the A340-600HGW (High Gross Weight / English: Gross Large) first flight on 18 November 2005 and certified on April 14, 2006. This aircraft has a MTOW of 380 tonnes with the distance reaches 7.900 nautical miles (14630.8 km), which may be due to the strengthening of the structure, additional fuel capacity, more powerful engine and new manufacturing techniques such as laser welding. A340-600HGW turbofan engine powered by four Rolls-Royce Trent 560-powered 60 000 lbf.

Emirates became the first user-600HGW version when ordering 18 planes at Paris Air Show 2003; but then postponed and eventually canceled the order. Rivals, Qatar Airways, which place an order on the same aerospace exhibition, only received four aircraft with first flight on 11 September 2006. This happened because they let their options orders expired.

The aircraft made by Boeing of the most equivalent to A340-600 aircraft is a 777-300ER.A340-600 will soon be replaced by A350-1000, which also will compete with the 777-300ER.

In March 2010 a British aviation magazine reported that Virgin Atlantic Airways has changed the orders six A340-600 aircraft left in the Airbus A330 for the route development. (This article does not state whether the version of the -200 or -300 is selected, however mentioned as a possible destination Vancouver and mentioned that the plane will have the latest-generation entertainment system.) The article states that Airbus has changed six A330 orders to make no more orders A340-600 are left. This makes the magazine speculates that the A350 has been closed making production line A340. 

Airbus A340 Commercial Passengers Airplanes

Airbus A340 is a large commercial passenger aircraft manufactured by Airbus. It has a design similar to the type Airbus A330 but the A340 uses four engines are not just two like the A330. Intended to replace the previous generation aircraft like the Boeing 747 but this latest variants now compete with the Boeing 777. More than 370 A340 operated worldwide in September 2010.

Development

The first study published on the A340 which has the code 1981 TA11, which is shown in the magazine Air International edition in November (along with the appearance of the A300 in the same year at the Farnborough Airshow.) Image concept of A320 (SA 9) and A330 (TA9) also published, along with performance estimates made by Airbus Industrie. Airbus A340 last sent to Iberia in 2010.

A340 was launched in June 1987 as a complement to long-haul flights from short-haul aircraft A320 and A300 medium-range. At that time, a twin-engine Airbus aircraft have a weakness compared to aircraft such as Boeing 747 ETOPS problem which is defined as a rule: a twin-engine aircraft should remain at the farthest distance of 60 minutes daribandara alternative, which prevent them from competing in long distance flights over water. Furthermore, wide-bodied aircraft ETOPS qualified berpenumpang 250-300 seats, peaswat engined three DC-10 and L-1011, is aging, because it was entering the ministry since the early 1970s.

A340 is designed in parallel with the A330 twin-engine aircraft: two planes have the same wing and similar aircraft hull structure, and borrow almost keseliruhan avionics technology and composite structures developed for the A320. A330 and A340 are assembled together in the center of final assembly at Toulouse-Blagnac, France.

A340 is expected to use the new superfan engines made by International Aero Engines, but the development of the machine is stopped. Engine house of the superfan engine has enough space that allows the laying of a large fan at the rear of the machine. As a result of the superfan cancellation by IAE, CFM International CFM56-5C4 engine used as the sole option than to choose another alternative machines. A longer version, the A340-500 and -600, powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 500.

When the A340 make its debut in 1991, warned that the wings are not mechanically strong enough to carry the machine beyond the cruising speed tanpamembengkok and vibrate. To overcome this, a buffer under the wing of the so-called Plastron developed to fix airflow problems around the engine mountings and to add flexibility. A340 modification begin commercial service in 1993 with Lufthansa and Air France

In the 1990s, when airlines began looking for a replacement aircraft for the flight back to the 1970s made 747-100/200, Airbus studied extension of the framework to make the A340-400, which is planned over 70m long. This has become unpopular because of CFM56 engines limit the capability of growth and mileage will be reduced to 10,000 km (5399.6 nmi). When this plan was canceled, a larger wing and new engines decided kembinasi made. Initially, Pratt & Whitney to provide a proposal for a new machine, but the problem of contract makes Airbus chose Rolls-Royce Trent in 1997.

A340 flight control system is equipped with fly-by-wire digital. The aircraft also use the joystick dariapda side using the front wheel, with one stick on the left side and stick the other pilot on the right side of the co-pilot. A340 flight instruments are very similar to those owned by A320, and hiring pilots with the same rating with the A330. this allows the crew to fly the A320 A330/A340 flight and vice versa with minimal additional training. This saves costs for airlines that operate both types of aircraft. The cockpit uses a digital cockpit system using CRT display for aircraft A340-200 and A340-300 and now using screen liquid crystal display (LCD). some major structural composites are also used.

A340 is also the first commercial aircraft that allows passengers to use cell phones during flights. In March 2008 Emirates introduced a system that allows passengers to make calls using their cell phone. But they can not receive calls and the system is not available when the flight prophecy and during takeoff and landing.

Airbus A380: Taking the Largest Passenger Jet for a Test Drive

Aboard Lufthansa Flight 8942, March 21—It took a mere 16 seconds for the largest airplane in the world to lift off runway 4L at JFK International Airport. The short takeoff, which we could watch on our individual TV screens thanks to cameras positioned on the plane's exterior, confirmed that the world’s largest jetliner could use less runway than many smaller jets. It also was testimony to the force of the aircraft’s four Rolls Royce engines—which each provide about 70,000 lbs. of thrust. 

The plane’s normal takeoff weight is 1.2 million lbs. It was a little less today because of the light payload: This plane, A380 model number 007, is configured to hold 520 passengers, but carried fewer than 200 on this flight.

NASA ponders next-gen passenger planes

NASA this week announced the results of its Fundamental Aeronautics Program, which aims to cook up the next generation of passenger planes. These planes take green concepts, energy efficiency and other goals and wrap them into realistic designs.
Indeed, Smart Planet’s Deb Gage examined how the NASA-MIT ‘greener’ airplane could use 70 percent less fuel (NASA statement).
Here’s a look at a few of the more notable concepts. You can find the full gallery of NASA’s next-gen plane entries on ZDNet.
Boeing’s Subsonic Ultra Green Aircraft Research (SUGAR) cooked up this design, the Volt.

MIT came up with the D8.

And Lockheed Martin went for some flare.

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