Seems like on landings the beast is squirly...has to flare wildly, creating a high AOA... wings bounce too heavily. Doesn't seem like it could take that kind of beating for 10 - 20 years.
2007-03-19 15:38:09 · 5 answers · asked by RUNINTLKT 5 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Aircraft
As in, I'm not ever riding that thing..
2007-03-19 16:00:17 · update #1
I think we saw the same video of its first North American landing. I was thinking exactly the same thing. I hope that was heavy cross winds or a crappy landing. I wouldn't want to fly in something that unstable. It looked like it almost crash landed.
I don't think any plane could take that type of landing for more than 20 days.
The question now: "Is the A380 a p.o.s.?"
2007-03-19 15:57:02 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, this is normal. Considering the amount of weight, the wings have to flex a considerable amount. The "beast" will handle normally if you have the numbers on the money. There should not be any guessing in this department. Bringing the ship in "hot" in a crosswind can surely cause what you have observed. The "flare" should be as docile as a cessna citation or a 727 and require no more "stress"on the airframe than what you would expect. If you are "bouncing" the wings, check your numbers, weight and the fuel in the outboard quadrants of the wings. Perhaps better fuel management is in order.
Good flying to you, and try to nail down the numbers better and you will be surprized at how well the "beast"settles in to a nice smooth landing.
2007-03-19 22:54:50 · answer #2 · answered by james hart 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I just watched the video. The landing was a little off. The starboard gear touched down before port gear. Some flexing and correction but nothing major. Fun to watch the rudder flip about.
I have to disagree that there was too high of a AOA. The roll looked absolutely perfect to me. At least from my vantage at the LCD personal computer terminal.
Pilot probably having some nerves and camera shyness. The weather was not so ideal as well.
2007-03-19 22:59:57 · answer #3 · answered by Mere Mortal 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Airplane wings must flex, especially ones lifting as much weight as the A380. It might have been "squirrelly" because it might have been windy wherever you saw it landing.
I saw the video just now on Yahoo. The winds at JFK when the A380 was landing were gusting to 30 kts or about 35 mph. Lots of wind, even for an airplane of that size. Didn't look squirrelly to me. Looked like a textbook landing.
2007-03-19 22:57:27 · answer #4 · answered by Andrew 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Just as general information, the venerable B-52 had the wing flex you speak of. From the droop at the beginning of the take-off roll to the wings taking full weight when airborne, the wings flexed a total of 17 feet at the wing tips.
2007-03-19 23:49:16 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋