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.