Airbus A380 by Guy Norris & Mark Wagner

Author:Guy Norris & Mark Wagner
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: MBI
Published: 2010-04-15T04:00:00+00:00

The nose landing gear retracts forward and is fitted with a single-stage oleo-pneumatic shock absorber. The unit is just over 16 feet tall and is steered using power from the “green” hydraulic system. The rear axle of the body landing gear unit, which also can be steered, is powered by the “yellow” hydraulic system. A ladder into the nose gear bay provides access for maintenance of the nose radar. Mark Wagner

Airbus really owes its success to the air transport system that brought finished subassemblies, wings, and tails from the partner factories across Europe to the Toulouse final assembly line. The brainchild of brilliant engineer and Airbus pioneer Felix Kracht, the system’s backbone was a fleet of bizarre-looking Super Guppy transports. Originally developed in the United States to transport sections of space rockets for NASA, the heavily modified Boeing 337/KC-97s were perfect for transporting sections of A300Bs and later A310s. After buying the two original Super Guppies, Airbus contracted with UTA at Le Bourget in Paris for two additional conversions. One conversion, number four, is pictured in the last few weeks of operation at Manchester International Airport in the United Kingdom. The Guppy could carry up to 170,000-pound loads in its cavernous hold, which measured 25 feet, 6 inches tall at its highest point! NASA later bought one of the Airbus Super Guppies and expected to be operating it in regular service again by 2006. Mark Wagner

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