Why are the Boeing 747 VS. Airbus 380 answers so emotional?

Question

fjf: Wow! I feel bonafide!

Actually, my Yahoo! Answers ID, to be completely accurate, is Mere_Mortal.

Answer 1

A lot of it is nationalistic pride.
I have many thousands of hours in aircraft built by Boeing, Douglas/McDonnell-Douglas and Airbus. 17,000+ in B727's alone. I have found, for the most part, each airplane, from a flying standpoint, (marketing success is another story) has it's advantages and it's disadvantages and it light of that, individual opinions will differ based on individual preferences. There have been a few clunkers along the way but, by and large, most airplanes that gain wide acceptance are decent machines. Airbus fans love to point out the "new technology" and it is great. A long day in weather in a A320/319 isn't as tiring as other planes. But I never liked that "technological help" in gusty x-winds. That's just my opinion. Anyone who has had to listen to noisy Boeing cockpits for 8 hrs. is certainly aware of that drawback.. Boeing backers complain about European government support, but they forget that much of the technology that found its way into Boeing cockpits going clear back to the 707's and up to today was initially developed as a result of military or NASA contracts. That is government assistance also, just not as obvious. Both builders get huge amounts of governmental help, just in different ways.
I can't tell you why it has become so emotional, pilots should be more analytical about their professional opinions but that unfortunately doesn't seem to be the case.
Just chalk it up to preferences that become emotionally charged!

Answer 2

buy an airbus a380! they're new, modern technology, have more capacity, are waaay more fuel efficient, quiet, new engines, majestic and have bendy wings. the 747 was a great aircraft - in its time, the 70's and 80's when it was new and big. now they are an old design,stiff old technology and being phased out of airline fleets in favour of new "aircraft of the 21 century" like the a380! if you wanted to buy a 747, it would have to be second hand (dodgy) or a 747-800, which is essentially a cargo plane, refurbished old design and old technology. also they have huge waiting lists. support the aircraft of the new century!

Answer 3

Technologies in Boeing planes result directly from for example, the money utterly wasted on the YF32 programme.

In a few years, that free windfall will be on the latest Boeing plane. Meanwhile people here will be blindly screaming that it's the best plane in the universe even though they won't know anything about it.

No US carrier will buy A380 because it'll be seen as unpatriotic by the people who litter this site with pro-Boeing speculation. Moreover I think we're all aware of US government pressure on foreign governments to buy American or risk being deprived of various benefits.

Americans love monopoly, THAT'S why Europeans are so emotional. Getting past the propaganda is an uphill struggle. The government support airbus gets is laden with conditions.

In the end both sides probably have dirty fingers, but what makes ME emotional are statements like the one I saw about the Eurofighter "easily" being beaten by even the F15.... in FACT a single TRAINEE PILOT totally OWNED two experienced F15 pilots over Scotland some time ago.

Similar BS-spouting is found in this arena, hence "emotional".

Answer 4

National pride might be an issue but who could get mad at the frogs?

The 747 defied imagination when it first took off significantly larger than existing aircraft. And it did it without the aid of computer simulation design and computerized simulators where pilots could get 100's of hours before getting into the air.

The A380 is just getting to much fanfare for increasing the size of what's been done. But basically there is a huge gamble on strategy.

If Hong Kong, Singapore, Tokyo, LA, New York, London, etc remain Hubs. Airbus wins. If these area's are bypassed for direct international flights into Manila, Shanghai, Phoenix, Seville, etc, Boeing wins.

Answer 5

I feel the reason is because the Airbus 380 is a spoiler. It's a product that its various government owners felt would draw sales away from B747 -- WHETHER OR NOT EADS would turn a profit over time.

The A380 is too large for all but the very largest airfields -- a good sign that the Europeans rushed ahead with production without seeing ANY drawbacks to the craft.

The multi-billion euro losses they'll eat on the meager production run will be justly deserved.

From a passenger perspective, would you want to wait EVEN LONGER to retrieve your luggage upon arrival?

Now THAT'S where we need innovation -- in the luggage handling. My suggested motto: "NO LUGGAGE LEFT BEHIND".

Answer 6

The A-380 is simply a better plane.
Nothing emotional about that.
According to a friend who is an airline captain with over 30000 hours of experience on Boeing 767 and 747, McDonnell Douglas DC8, DC9, Lockheed L1011, as well as Airbus A320, 330 and 340-500, the 747 is "old technology" Plain and simple.

TEVA B: The long waits for luggage havenothing to do with the A380 rather the ineptitude of airport personnel. When you go to modern airports like the one in Kong Kong, your luggage is usually ready for you before you even get to the conveyor belt.

Answer 7

Because Boeing has been the world leader in aviation for so long that with Airbus taking that place with their 380 it shifts the balance of aviation towards Europe for the first time in aviation history and it is a sore spot. It is made more sore due to the fact that Airbus is government supported and Boeing is not. It leaves the appearance that Boeing is now competeling not just against other companies, but whole other governments as well.

Answer 8

It's as simple as American product verse a European product. There are really only two manufacturers of large jetliners, Boeing and Airbus. Boeing is an american company and Airbus is European. Both companies make great jets that perform very similar roles and are arguably equivalent in the market place. American pride makes it emotional. Americans want to be the best.

Answer 9

Quite frankly, the A380 isn't the golden egg EADS was hoping for (look at all the delays and resulting order cancellations) and the B747-800 isn't even out of the design phase yet.

The A380 may be novel, but the B787 is realistic and will solidify Boeing's position as the premier aircraft manufacturer.

Answer 10

When the EU subsidizes something, please keep in mind that it means that European farmers and workers are exploited to pay for it.

Euros argue that Boeing is subsidized via its US military aircraft program, but in reality, successful companies almost always dump unprofitable product lines.

Besides, if you've flown on these products, you'll notice that the Air Bus rattles more if you're in the rear seat section.

check out www.f___france.com. Can't spell out the full name here, but it's a rant site with gobs of technical data about the Airbus vs Boeing wars....