Today the first Airbus A-380 (Emirates) lands at JFK.

[DemoTex]

In honor of that occasion, let's watch a video of A-380 Vmu (minimum un-stick velocity) certification flight testing, Sparky.

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/1155270/airbus_a380_tailstrike_1/

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

1. Looks like...

One of those wheelstanders at the drag races. Which is spectacular but not a good thing in an airliner with hundreds of souls on it.

[ReverendDeuce]

14. It's video of minimal velocity takeoff testing, sparks are completely normal...

(poor translation, but you should get the gist of it...)

The VMU test, VMU (velocity, minimum, us-tick; VMU; Minimum us-tick speed) is in aviation a spectacular test prescribed with each airplane, with which possible take-off speed geringst with maximum angle of incidence (English fishes OF attack) on the ground is determined.

With airplanes with nose gear wheel chassis thereby, briefly before the airplane takes off, the tail sets on the concrete runway on (English tailstrike). Without abrasion protection the tail would be broken and damaged heavily. Normally therefore temporarly wood or sheet metal reinforcement is installed for the protection of the trunk lower shell. When sharpening the safety divices over the runway develop sparks, which are to be seen regular on photographs of such tests.

The VMU does not emerge in the flight manual, it is however in as much important later as on its basis the VR (English expressed: vi-rotate; dtsch. Speed, at which one rotates; not rotation speed), at which the pilot introduces the removal procedure by pulling the control stick, is computed. This VR again must be selected in such a way that the airplane takes off only at a speed, which is appropriate for at least ten per cent with a normal start and in case of an engine loss still at least five per cent over the VMU.

[DemoTex]

32. Vmu is outside the coverage of the AFM limitations .. good point.

And good analysis, ReverendDeuce. You got some aeronautical engineer in you?

Un-stick, by the way, refers to the speed at the highest angle of attack possible on the runway (tail-strike limited) at which the aircraft flies. I do not know what weight the Vmu tests are done.

[Gold Metal Flake]

2. That's not a bug, that's a feature.

The Republicker nominee loves him some Airbus.

[liberal N proud]

3. Dragging it's tail like that can't be a good thing

[devilgrrl]

7. No doubt!

:wtf:

[Angleae]

8. It's a test

part of Airbus' A380 certification tests. In addition, it isn't actually draging on the fuselage but a tail skid purposely installed there for just this situation. (Most passenger jets have one).

[devilgrrl]

11. The sparks gave me pause...

if you know what I mean.... :scared:

Can you blame me?

[ReverendDeuce]

13. No, if you've never seen this before then I can't blame you at all...

The sparks are normal. Here's a Boeing 777 undergoing the VMU test, complete with sparks as well:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VqG2WRe0CA

This is typical stuff, but I can see how in the wrong hands it could stir up panic.

[devilgrrl]

19. If I was piloting that plane there would be major-league sparks-from the wings scraping the ground!

:silly:

[ladjf]

4. That didn't look like a good takeoff to me.

[ReverendDeuce]

15. It's video of minimal velocity takeoff testing, sparks are completely normal...

(poor translation, but you should get the gist of it...)

The VMU test, VMU (velocity, minimum, us-tick; VMU; Minimum us-tick speed) is in aviation a spectacular test prescribed with each airplane, with which possible take-off speed geringst with maximum angle of incidence (English fishes OF attack) on the ground is determined.

With airplanes with nose gear wheel chassis thereby, briefly before the airplane takes off, the tail sets on the concrete runway on (English tailstrike). Without abrasion protection the tail would be broken and damaged heavily. Normally therefore temporarly wood or sheet metal reinforcement is installed for the protection of the trunk lower shell. When sharpening the safety divices over the runway develop sparks, which are to be seen regular on photographs of such tests.

The VMU does not emerge in the flight manual, it is however in as much important later as on its basis the VR (English expressed: vi-rotate; dtsch. Speed, at which one rotates; not rotation speed), at which the pilot introduces the removal procedure by pulling the control stick, is computed. This VR again must be selected in such a way that the airplane takes off only at a speed, which is appropriate for at least ten per cent with a normal start and in case of an engine loss still at least five per cent over the VMU.

[annabanana]

5. Yikes! Sure.. THAT'LL get people up and flying again! . . n/t

[Posteritatis]

30. Why wouldn't it?

It's called a test for a reason, not that most of the people in this thread can be bothered to learn what flight testing involves.

[Wilber_Stool]

6. If I didn't know better,

I'd bet money that thing couldn't fly.

[ReverendDeuce]

16. It's video of minimal velocity takeoff testing, sparks are completely normal...

(poor translation, but you should get the gist of it...)

The VMU test, VMU (velocity, minimum, us-tick; VMU; Minimum us-tick speed) is in aviation a spectacular test prescribed with each airplane, with which possible take-off speed geringst with maximum angle of incidence (English fishes OF attack) on the ground is determined.

With airplanes with nose gear wheel chassis thereby, briefly before the airplane takes off, the tail sets on the concrete runway on (English tailstrike). Without abrasion protection the tail would be broken and damaged heavily. Normally therefore temporarly wood or sheet metal reinforcement is installed for the protection of the trunk lower shell. When sharpening the safety divices over the runway develop sparks, which are to be seen regular on photographs of such tests.

The VMU does not emerge in the flight manual, it is however in as much important later as on its basis the VR (English expressed: vi-rotate; dtsch. Speed, at which one rotates; not rotation speed), at which the pilot introduces the removal procedure by pulling the control stick, is computed. This VR again must be selected in such a way that the airplane takes off only at a speed, which is appropriate for at least ten per cent with a normal start and in case of an engine loss still at least five per cent over the VMU.

[magellan]

9. Not A380, but this is my favorite crosswind test video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3j5ATweHh4

[HCE SuiGeneris]

25. Those test crews have some huevos.

[magellan]

27. Don't they though?

They're awesome. I had no idea it was possible to land planes that were so skewiff!

[GreatCaesarsGhost]

10. msnbc almost covered it

they cut to it after it landed and was taxiing to its gate.

[ReverendDeuce]

12. That's part of a test... STANDARD PROCEDURE...

"Airbus is testing the effects of minimum velocity takeoff as part of the certification process. It is called VMU testing (Velocity, minimum, unstick)."

Notice the red protective instrument on the tail. That's part of the VMU test.

You can also see a Boeing 777 undergoing a VMU test, with a similar tailstrike, and explanation of the same instrument and what it is used for:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VqG2WRe0CA

Dude, seriously, the A380 is fine. This is SAFETY TESTING... Jesus...

[DemoTex]

20. As I posted .. certification flight testing.

You should see the Boeing 757/767 max. weight rejected takeoff video! As a long-time airline pilot, these videos give me an extra sense of confidence in the "normal" operating envelope of these aircraft. The test pilots fly the aircraft so far outside the envelope that I never worried when I was within the stated limitations of the airplane flight manual.

[DemoTex]

21. Watch this B-777 certification flight test video .. good explanation with it.

RTO (rejected takeoff). Note the brakes glowing!

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=24817250

[Posteritatis]

28. Get your logic out of our kneejerk!

;)

[RushIsRot]

17. That sort of thing could cause a heckuva case of runway rash.

[Canuckistanian]

18. That's a huge bugger of an aircraft

Unusual dihedral on the wings.

[Eurobabe]

22. We watched them test flying at Pfaffenhoffen

These mothers are HUGE. Very cool. :D

[DemoTex]

23. Is that the old Oberpfaffenhoffen Luftwaffe base?

I flew the prototype Dornier Do-328 at Oberpfaffenhoffen (near Munich).

[Eurobabe]

33. Cool, yep that's the place.

There's a big brouhaha about OP airport now, they have opened it up to small private jets (for companies) and the people who live around it are afraid they will make it into a commercial airport, there have been alot of protests. It's not far from me. 36.5km.

[HCE SuiGeneris]

24. I hate Airbuses.

They bounce around 2-3 times as much in turbulent air.

[2KS2KHonda]

26. 2-3 times as much as what?

:D

[HCE SuiGeneris]

29. As much as a comparably sized Boeing...

[DemoTex]

31. The wings on the A-319 series Airbus are a bit stiffer than generic Boeings'.

However, not as stiff as the Fokker F-28 and F-100. I flew the F-28 for a short while. Hated it in turbulence. Most of my airline time was flying the B-737 series and the MD-80 series aircraft. Both rode the bumps fairly well.

[Eurobabe]

34. uh, I think they all bounce in turbulence.

that's just been my experience. I love Airbus, jmho. :hi:

Last flight across the pond I flew Virgin Atlantic, we were supposed to have a 747, but ended up getting an Airbus 340-300. IRRC, Airbus has more bathrooms. Big plus. Virgin has the best planes for transatlantic flights, they are clean and crew is fantastic. Lufthansa is second in my book. I wonder who is going to be the next to have the A380? I'd love to fly that puppy home. :D

[old mark]

35. Emirates are probably getting a great deal on the fuel

for this beast, don't know who else can affore to fly it.

mark