Test Flight Lasts Over Four Hours

Aero-News has learned the first A380 Airbus aircraft powered by Engine Alliance engines successfully completed its maiden flight on Friday August 25th, 2006, touching down at Blagnac International Airport in Toulouse, France at 14:10 local after a flight lasting 4 hours and 10 minutes. The flight took off from Blagnac at 10:00 am.

The A380 -- serial number 9, with registration number F-WWEA -- is powered by four Engine Alliance GP7200 engines capable of delivering thrust up to 81,500 pounds each. The aircraft is equipped with heavy flight test instrumentation and ballast to produce a take off weight of 947,988 pounds.

The flight was captained by test pilot Guy Magrin, who flew with Franck Chapman. The other crew members were Test Flight Engineer Bruno Bigand, and Flight Engineers Patrick du Che and Jean-Philippe Cottet.

At a postflight media briefing Claude Lelaie, Senior Vice President and Head of Airbus' Flight Division, confirmed the new aircraft handled as anticipated.

"The aircraft once again handled as expected and the GP7200 engines performed very well," said Lelaie. "There's still many tests and optimisation ahead, but I expect the new Engine Alliance engines to be a success."

During the flight around southwest France, the aircraft's flight envelope, cruise speed and handling were tested. MSN9 becomes the fifth and last developmental aircraft to join the fleet of A380 test aircraft. So far, with the other four test aircraft, which are powered by Rolls Royce Trent 900 engines, over 1,800 flying hours have been accumulated in over 575 flights.

Six A380 customers have selected the Engine Alliance GP7200 engine for a total of 82 firm aircraft orders. These include, in alphabetical order: Air France, Emirates Airlines, FedEx, ILFC and Korean Air and UPS.

Designed to operate out of any airport where today's largest aircraft can, using shorter runways and generating half the noise, the A380 complies with some of the world's strictest noise restrictions (QC1 for landing and QC2 for take off at London's Heathrow), reinforcing the A380's growing recognition as the quietest large aircraft in the world.

To date, the A380 has garnered 159 firm orders from a total of 16 customers. The airliner may also be powered by Rolls Royce Trent 900 turbofans.

Engine Alliance is a 50/50 joint venture between Pratt & Whitney and GE Aircraft Engines.

FMI: www.enginealliance.com/, www.airbus.com