A380 takes off

[Az]

I've been thinking about this: wouldn't making multiple-story bunk beds, and then putting all the people horisontally, and asleep, would be much much more practical, comfortable, and allow for more room?

[Lancer]

"I've been thinking about this: wouldn't making multiple-story bunk beds, and then putting all the people horisontally, and asleep, would be much much more practical, comfortable, and allow for more room?"

[Winston]

I'm most impressed by the news of this. I mean, an airplane takes off, flies around for a while and lands again a little later.

Colour me purple, peel gently and eat me in one bite, now I've seen it all.

[Az]

Winston

[Ming]

Originally posted by paiktis22


whereas the 787 will serve mainly regional airports. why would the two be competing? i see them more as supplementary to each other.

Very insightful... both planes were designed to meet the two diferent primary airline strategies/needs, so that they wouldn't compete directly. Both companies have a different view on the needs of the market, and what the future of the airline business will be. Plus, neither wanted to go head to head, because the market can't really support two similar aircraft.

[Atahualpa]

What are the stats of the 787?

[Lancer]

Age of pirates mod eh Ata? I'll have to check that out.

[Atahualpa]

Hey cool if you have tried, tell me what you think!
It's a bit complicated, because you need to download the big one first, then apply beta1_patch1, beta3 and finally beta4.

Beta 5 will probably be available early next week. I think I have to reduce the natives strength a bit. Make their chieftain 3/3 instead of 4/3, increase the costs a bit and make the brave require support.
I also think about a cheaper settler for pirates and remove the military police limit again.

[Lancer]

Yes I just read the thread in your link. Looks a bit complicated. Maybe I'll wait until it's further along. I'm not a comp whiz and lazy about such stuff. Will BETA 5 be easier?

[DeathByTheSword]

Very insightful... both planes were designed to meet the two diferent primary airline strategies/needs, so that they wouldn't compete directly. Both companies have a different view on the needs of the market, and what the future of the airline business will be. Plus, neither wanted to go head to head, because the market can't really support two similar aircraft.

now it all depends what the airlines want...i dont think i will change of the hub system any time soon (or maybe never) because they know the system and the profitmarges...i think boeing wont sell many except for the less importent lines...they can use the directtravel approach much easier...

but the beauty of tha A380 is that it is the first plane not made of wood or alliminium...so it is like a lot lighter and even stronger go european air and space projects :b.

[Ming]

Originally posted by DeathByTheSword
now it all depends what the airlines want...

And that was the question Boeing had to deal with. They knew they were in a weak position to directly compete against the A380... so they couldn't just come up with an identical plane... Research done against the airlines showed that this strategy was the best for them... But as usual in the aircraft business, the time between the start of the project and actually delivering the first aircraft is a long one, and the market conditions change. It was a far better idea at the time than it is now. The major carriers have totally adopted the hub system due to it's advantages... But even so... there will be a limited demand for the A380, and there would have been no room two aircraft in this class... so Boeing did the only thing they could... time will tell whether they should even have bothered.

[Dinner]

It does seem like there was a big subsidy given to Airbus to make this plane. The intial design capital was all arranged and partially put up by various European governments thus Airbus got to borrow money at below market rate. How is Boeing supposed to compete with a company which gets such massive government subsidies?l

[Ming]

Originally posted by Oerdin
How is Boeing supposed to compete with a company which gets such massive government subsidies?l

Yes, Airbus had a distinct advantage due to direct subsidies from their partner governments. Which is one of the reasons Boeing decided to build a different type of aircraft after determining what the total potential for that type of aircraft was...

But let's not shed any tears for Boeing... While they don't receive any direct subsidies from the US government... they get a bunch of indirect (wink/wink) dollars from the US government in terms of defense contracts. They are the largest defense contractor for a reason. Granted, not the same thing, but don't doubt the dollar advantage that gives them.

[Dinner]

I love how the pictures all show large seats with tons of leg room. Anyone have bets on when the airlines will change the seating and start cramming people in like sardines?

[Dinner]

Originally posted by Ming
But let's not shed any tears for Boeing... While they don't receive any direct subsidies from the US government... they get a bunch of indirect (wink/wink) dollars from the US government in terms of defense contracts. They are the largest defense contractor for a reason. Granted, not the same thing, but don't doubt the dollar advantage that gives them.

Not only is it not the same thing but I don't even see that as a subsidy. The military market is like any other buyer and the US Air Force needs cargo planes and all of the contracts are publically bidded. European contractors can and do win large lucrative defense contracts so how is it when Boeing competes and wins in this market that it is some how a subsidy?