A routine service test for an Emirates Airbus A380 aircraft on April 1 has ended with a surprising result. The aircraft, registered as A6-CJE, spent two years in storage and has recently been reactivated by the flag carrier of...
To read the full article, please log in or enter your email below:
A routine service test for an Emirates Airbus A380 aircraft on April 1 has ended with a surprising result.
The aircraft, registered as A6-CJE, spent two years in storage and has recently been reactivated by the flag carrier of the United Arab Emirates. According to a source inside the company, the test was successful, with the jet reaching its maximum speed at the cruise altitude, as planned.
However, upon the completion of the test, the aircraft entered a shallow dive and started picking up speed, before breaking the sound barrier at approximately 10,000 meters (33,000 feet).
According to the source, the maximum speed the aircraft achieved was 650 knots (1,200 kilometers per hour), which is almost 70 knots (150 kilometers per hour) faster than the speed of sound at that altitude.
“We thought it is done for, we really did. But when it landed, we performed all the checks, and it turned out the plane was completely fine,” an employee of the company, who wishes to remain anonymous, told AeroTime.
Not only did the aircraft break the sound barrier, but it also maintained stable supersonic speed for over two minutes, before the engines started overheating. According to the source, only certain components sustained minor damage. For example, a drainage tube, which is used to discharge waste from the lavatory system, was clogged.
“Theoretically possible”
There have been previous instances of subsonic commercial airplanes breaking the sound barrier in a dive. The most prominent example occurred in 1961, when Douglas DC-8 maintained the speed of Mach 1.012 for 16 seconds in a dive. However, the DC-8 had much weaker engines than the A380, and thus could not sustain such speeds for longer periods of time, or in level flight.
AeroTime contacted Solomon Epstein, the deputy chief engineer at Airbus S.A.S Propulsion Systems Attachment department. Between 1995 and 2001 Epstein oversaw the selection and fitting of Rolls-Royce Trent 900 turbofan engines during the design phase of the Airbus A380.
“Theoretically it is possible. It would be extremely dangerous, but possible. I am not at all surprised they managed to pull it off,” Epstein commented when presented with the results of the testing.
The maximum theoretical thrust of the Trent 900 is almost 380 kN (kilonewtons), Epstein explained. During a routine take-off, the engine usually produces no more than 330 kN, while during cruise flight at high altitude, no more than 90 kN is needed.
Northrop Grumman has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with ROMARM, a Romanian state-owned leader in defense, to collaborate in offering…
Northrop Grumman successfully launched a threat-representative target recently for the Missile Defense Agency’s (MDA) Long Range Discrimination Radar non-intercept operational…
Boeing has been awarded a $2.8B contract for the Evolved Strategic Satellite Communications (ESS) program, the space-based component of the…
The Philippine Navy (PN) has confirmed ongoing discussions regarding the possible transfer of Abukuma-class destroyer escorts from the Japan Maritime…
Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG), the parent company of Malaysia Airlines, has confirmed an order for 20 additional Airbus A330-900 aircraft,…
Indonesia is reportedly preparing to purchase up to 24 additional Rafale fighter jets from Dassault Aviation, according to La Tribune,…
Air France–KLM announced on Friday that it is initiating proceedings to take a majority stake in SAS. The group currently…
AGlaze International Ltd. and Gryphon Aviation Partners (UK) Ltd. have announced that Maldivian, operated by Island Aviation Services Limited (IASL),…
Ethiopian Airlines has introduced a fifth weekly direct flight between Addis Ababa and Singapore, expanding its services on the route…
Thailand’s long-delayed plan to procure a Chinese-built S26T submarine has received formal approval from Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister…
Aselsan, Türkiye’s leading defense company, has successfully completed the test of YILDIRIM 100 Directed Infrared Countermeasure (DIRCM) System, deflecting live…
A handover ceremony for the KRI Brawijaya (320), a Multipurpose Combat Ship (MPCS/PPA), was held on 3 July at Fincantieri’s…
The Board of Directors of Baykar Piaggio Aerospace S.p.A. has appointed Giovanni Tomassini as Chief Executive Officer. Tomassini had been…
Clarion Events Defence and Security has announced the appointment of Colonel (ret) Bernd Kögel as Managing Director of DSEI Germany,…
Fincantieri Marine Group (FMG), the U.S. subsidiary of Italy’s Fincantieri, has appointed George A. Moutafis as its new Chief Executive…
Scoot, the low-cost subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, has announced the launch of new services to three destinations: Da Nang and…
More European countries are expected to acquire the Elbit PULS system in the years to come. Important industrial partnerships, operational…
Fokker Services Group (FSG), an aircraft maintenance, modifications, completions, and conversions company, has installed a Supervisory Board, effective July 1.…
Spanish defence technology company EM&E Group has completed the delivery of two aunav.NEO HD robots to the Indonesian Marine Corps’…
TEST-FUCHS Aerospace Systems GmbH and Deutsche Aircraft have begun prototype testing of the D328eco regional turboprop's fuel system, including trials…
The European Space Agency (ESA) has confirmed the successful launch of Sentinel-4, an air quality monitoring instrument developed by Airbus,…
XTEND Reality Inc., a developer of human-guided autonomous drone systems, has opened a new headquarters and manufacturing site in Tampa,…
Philippine's Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. has reiterated that the country’s planned Multi-Role Fighter (MRF) programme must be pursued as…
The European defense sector has taken a significant step forward with the launch of the Project MARTE (Main ARmoured Tank…
Embraer is now accepting applications for the new edition of the Master of Science in Aeronautical Engineering Program, a career…
TEST-FUCHS Aerospace Systems and Deutsche Aircraft have announced a significant achievement in the development of the D328eco, a next-generation regional…
The Romanian ministry of defence has selected the Rafael Spyder air defence system. The contract is valued at about €1.9…
Sentrycs, specializing in Protocol Manipulation-based counter-drone technology—commonly known as Cyber over RF—has announced the integration of its solution into Rafael’s…
Blueberry Aviation, global aircraft sales specialist, has appointed Gwenola Robert as Vice President Contracts. Robert will work alongside the Commercial…
AL TAIF, a maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) service provider under UAE-based defence group EDGE, has signed a Memorandum of…
Headquartered in Singapore with reporters spread across all major regions, GBP Aerospace & Defence is a leading media house that publishes three publications that serve the aerospace and defence sector - Asian Defence Technology, Asian Airlines & Aerospace and Daily News. Known industry-wide for quality journalism, GBP Aerospace & Defence is present at more international tradeshows and exhibitions than any other competing publication in the region.
For over three decades, our award-winning team of reporters has been producing top-notch content to help readers stay abreast of the latest developements in the field of commercial aviation, MRO, defence, and Space.
Copyright 2024. GBP. All Rights Reserved.
Home Defence & Security Space Commercial Aviation Maintence Repair & Overhaul Daily News Events About Us
2025 GBP all rights reserved.