I give it thumbs down. I posted the following yesterday on another foum site:
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Bigdog's Prediction - "Chirac's Folly" flops, as France unveils White Elephant with wings. The first crash with total loss of life will doom the behemoth to oblivion.
Puts me in mind of another huge marvel of an airplne, that flew only once.
Travelers want speed, not size. The main thing that killed the SST was a combination of high operating costs and that silly law against going super-sonic over US land areas. The Concorde was a good first step - Boeing and Lockheed had bigger and better aircraft waiting, but lost it to the politicos.
France is betting on a passenger market that will prove too fickle. Their niche in freight hauling by FED/UPS may be the only salvation for "Moby Jetliner".
Tune back in a year from now . . . see if I'm right.
all the hype, and it hasn't had its first test flight yet. i think it has more use for cargo than people. i cannot see that landing at Springfield Tennessee International Airport.
however it might be perfect for shipping all the lib whiners to France were they say so often they are going. cattle prod everyone
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MOE! LARRY! THE CHEESE!
Life Member the Elmer Fudd Hunt Club
i cannot see that landing at Springfield Tennessee International Airport.
The biggest we handle is a Gulfstream G5 the strip is only 5000ft x 100ft
I personally don't think it will work in the USA as a major plane since most of the stuff we see a 737 is the most effective and can get in anywhere but the extra's this offers would be on those 14 hours flights I have experienced Overseas. If the plane has a shower, and sleeping areas that's a plus.
yup get ready for a crash or two...on our localnews last nite they had a story about this. the company that makes parts for this planes landing gear is in tulsa and the manager they interviewed said that he was in disbeliefe when he first saw the drawings for the big plane because the dimentions of the landing gear seemed way too small for such a huge plane.
Worst thing is, most airports can't handle the monster. Those that want the business will have to expand their terminals, install multi-level boarding ramps, expanded parking and service areas - the list is endless. They may have to get bigger firetrucks, hire more servicing people. This is gonna cause major headaches for the airport management.
Restricted to the freight business, it wouldn't be so bad.
Say, y'all remember the big disaster at that french airport a few months ago?
If they can't build the buildings to hold together, I have no faith in their aircraft.
Don't know if it's still the world's biggest...but at one time it definitely was. Check out the following link to see the Spruce Goose designed and flown by Howard Hughes.
Mechanical Backup: Pitch through horizontal stab trim, Lateral through rudders, Differential power. Both stab and rudder use cables going to controller and require hydraulic power. Bottom line here, very little “manual reversion” and if no hydraulic power you are a lawn dart. Red “MAN PITCH TRIM ONLY”
Dang! Your probably right,but it wouldn't look too good on the maiden voyage if folks couldn't belt up,especially if the landing gear failed on take off,where seat belts might actually help,nope,wouldn't look too good!
I give it thumbs down. I posted the following yesterday on another foum site:
