A340-600 Enhanced!!! Options

[mnztr]

Airbus is examining the possible revision of the A340 with A350 engines and lithium alloys to compete against the 777. Pretty cool stuff!!! The two giants are really going at it !!! 8)

[TWA727]

Hmmm...Got any links? it will be interesting to read this.

[mnztr]

Linky


http://www.flightinternational.com/Article...+the+skies.html

[Fluffdoc]

The A340 will never be a good competitor with the 777 until it loses two engines. Oh, they did that already - it's called the A330!

[kobester]

I agree, I dont know why Airbus tries too hard? Everytime Boeing does something, airbus tries to beat them. I think they are hitting a hammer on their own legs! A340 is not that famous right now.. it will not be in a future as well... It's just my opinion!

[niko_future_pilo...]

I agree, I dont know why Airbus tries too hard? Everytime Boeing does something, airbus tries to beat them. I think they are hitting a hammer on their own legs! A340 is not that famous right now.. it will not be in a future as well... It's just my opinion!

and likewise, every time airbus does something, boeing tries to beat them... thats the principle of competition...

anyways, i agree that the A340 can't equal the 777, but you can't say it isn't famous! seriously there are a lot around and its a great aircraft!

cheers

niko

[gary o]

i like the A340,the problem is that the A340 is always produced ahead of the 777,the first models were out before the first set of 777's,then airbus brought out new A340's to beat the old 777's,then boeing made new 777 to try & out do the A340's,i think the A340-600 is superior to a 777-300ER,i don't think the 777-200LR is worth while as i can't see many people wanting to fly from sydney to london non-stop.

[mnztr]

I think Boeing has sold more 777 then Airbus has sold A340, however, the 330 and 340 have a great deal of commonality, and therefore, the economics of the A340 hull vs Boeings 777 hull are in favor of Airbus. The 4 engine strategy allows Airbus to incorporate the new generation 787 and A350 engines and a great deal of A350 technology. So it will probably end up being the A350/360 family.

[alex-y]

Who would be buying this improved bird??

maybe this new and improved aircraft will be a boost to QANTAS interest with the a340-500/600 and it will get [their] minds off the 777 plan w[h]ich i do not support. just an opinion :D

[flyingfox]

Maybe Airbus is trying to improve the climb rate of the A340? just a thought because they do have slow climb rates

I dont think Airbus or Boeing try too hard making advanced and new hi tech planes because they are both big businesses that must be constantly on the move otherwise they will be too late meeting customer demands

They also make very safe planes and thats the most cool thing about them, also other manufacturers make great planes aswell, i mustnt leave them out lol 8)

[HorsePower]

Pay attention mnztr, you are mixing up the A340-500/600HGW (of wich the proto is already flying) with the A340-500/600E (paper aircraft).

The EIS date of the later would be 2011, if it ever enter service. It will be powered with engines of the thrust class of the Trent 500, but with the improvements of the Trent 1000/1700 family (some are already talking about Trent 1500).

This proposed new A340 would incorporate the A350 cabin and alu-lithium fuselage structure, as well as aerodynamic improvements. According to sources, this A340-500/600E will have significantly better operating cost and range performance than the current B777-200LR/300ER.

I think the improvements evocated are not really impressive. Also, by this time (2011), Boeing will have all the time they want to come with an enhanced B777 with once again better perfos... But understand this is only a study right now and probably it won't ever see the light of the day, or at least not in this current configuration. To me, it needs to be reworked a lot more if Airbus wants it to be a success...

Regards

Seb.

[HorsePower]

More infos on here.

Seb.

[{DaRk}]

i like the A340,the problem is that the A340 is always produced ahead of the 777,the first models were out before the first set of 777's,then airbus brought out new A340's to beat the old 777's,then boeing made new 777 to try & out do the A340's,i think the A340-600 is superior to a 777-300ER,i don't think the 777-200LR is worth while as i can't see many people wanting to fly from sydney to london non-stop.

Sydney to Austria with a stopover in Kuala Lumpur with a 777 is bloody long enough!

[Chrome777]

HorsePower:
This proposed new A340 would incorporate the A350 cabin and alu-lithium fuselage structure, as well as aerodynamic improvements. According to sources, this A340-500/600E will have significantly better operating cost and range performance than the current B777-200LR/300ER.

sorry but i disagree with that paragraph there. the A340E will never beat the 772LR!!! or the 300ER!. think about it the 777 is the airliner that has the biggest luggage space in the world and only two engines. remember this 2 Engines are better than 4. the only "competitor" the A330 like some folks said before is not a competition for the 777. its a 767 competition, the A330 does not have enough range performance and size to compete against the big T7.

[mnztr]

sorry but i disagree with that paragraph there. the A340E will never beat the 772LR!!! or the 300ER!. think about it the 777 is the airliner that has the biggest luggage space in the world and only two engines. remember this 2 Engines are better than 4. the only "competitor" the A330 like some folks said before is not a competition for the 777. its a 767 competition, the A330 does not have enough range performance and size to compete against the big T7.

Heh heh, not if you have 2 engine failures......but seriously, twin engined planes have to me more overpowered then 4 engined planes to meet ETOPS and have the ability to takeoff with an engine loss. The 777 is an excellent plane, but I would not rule out that an improved A340 can take it on.

[HorsePower]

sorry but i disagree with that paragraph there.

This statement comes from Flight International article, of wich I've gave the link above.

Sources say the combination of weight-savings and new-generation engines should enable the A340-600E to offer significantly better operating cost and range performance than the 777-200LR/300ER – which is now regarded as the benchmark, long-range airliner family in the 300-400 seat sector.

Of course, you still have the right to disagree with it!

Regards

Seb.

[Blackhawk]

Although the Triple is a gracious bird, there´s still an eon between it and the A346 when talking about the "lusciousness" factor! The Long-lady is simply the most Beautiful gal soaring the skies(yeah, the beauty is in the eye of the beholder)! So said, it would be a pity if the 777 family takes all the clients away from the Bus, which currently looks to be the case, and not without reason. One thing is sure: I´m gonna keep my fingers crossed that the aforementioned Long-lady burgeons ahead