Damaged A380 Wing Update
The gearbox problem is not the only recent technical glitch that occurred. The aircraft’s huge propellors built by French company Ratier-Figeac, (indirectly owned by U.S. group United Technologies _UTX.N_,) developed cracks prematurely.
What: A380 superjumbo, Where: Le Bourget airport, Paris When: June 17, 2011 Who: no reported injuries Why: Before an audience including 2,100 exhibitors from 45 countries—a jury of its peers—during the Paris Airshow, Airbus had to pull its A380 display.
The A 380 was withdrawn from the flying display when the jet had an on-the-ground collision with a building, clipping a wing on a taxiway structure.
Also, although it made a fly-over, the Airbus A400 M military transport demo was cancelled due to a “a minor gearbox problem”
Then on Saturday Airbus announced that two of three versions of the A350, would be delayed for about two years. We commend the decision to delay, because while Rolls Royce will be granted more time to develop a more powerful motor, hopefully Airbus will take the time to work on whatever bugs are in its system. A delay in release is clearly an opportunity to perfect the product, from a safety perspective.
To include the featured image in your Twitter Card, please tap or click their icon a second time.