Unit 4
Page
Airbus A 380 - The Largest Plane in the World
The Airbus A 380 is the largest passenger plane that has ever been built. It can carry more passengers and cargo than any other airplane and its designers say that it uses less fuel and make less noise.
The A 380 is a giant in the skies. Its wings span about 80 metres and it has a length of 73 metres. When filled with passengers the A 380 weighs over 500,000 kg. It has three decks - two passenger decks and one for cargo. Up to 840 passengers can fly on the plane. Up to now, the biggest plane was the Boeing 747 which could carry 416 passengers. Designers have used special materials to keep the plane light. Plane makers say that the engines are very low in noise - they produce about half the sound of other engines.
The A 380 can fly about 13,000 km non-stop. The plane can reach destinations on other continents without refuelling. The A 380 is so big that putting it together causes some problems. It is not built in one place. The parts of the plane come from all over Europe and are put together at the Airbus headquarters in southern France.
There are, however, problems such a big plane may cause. Are airports big enough for the plane to take off and land or can airlines sell enough tickets to fill the plane?
Testing has shown that the A 380 does not need longer runways. But airports may have problems getting people on and off the huge planes. Waiting lines may be very long and passengers could wait for their baggage for some time. "Airbus Industries" says the A 380 will focus on big airports like London, New York or Hong Kong where many people travel to the same city.
cargo = the goods that are transported on a plane or ship
fuel = petrol, oil or gas that makes a car, train or plane move
span = to extend or spread between two limits or across an area
weigh = measure how heavy something is
light = not heavy
destination = a place that someone or something is going to
refuel = to fill up a plane and continue with a journey
headquarters = the home town of a company
runway = the place where a plane lands and takes off
baggage = the bags, suitcases, and personal things that a person carries when travelling
The Airbus A 380 is the largest passenger plane that has ever been built. It can carry more passengers and cargo than any other airplane and its designers say that it uses less fuel and make less noise.
The A 380 is a giant in the skies. Its wings span about 80 metres and it has a length of 73 metres. When filled with passengers the A 380 weighs over 500,000 kg. It has three decks - two passenger decks and one for cargo. Up to 840 passengers can fly on the plane. Up to now, the biggest plane was the Boeing 747 which could carry 416 passengers. Designers have used special materials to keep the plane light. Plane makers say that the engines are very low in noise - they produce about half the sound of other engines.
The A 380 can fly about 13,000 km non-stop. The plane can reach destinations on other continents without refuelling. The A 380 is so big that putting it together causes some problems. It is not built in one place. The parts of the plane come from all over Europe and are put together at the Airbus headquarters in southern France.
There are, however, problems such a big plane may cause. Are airports big enough for the plane to take off and land or can airlines sell enough tickets to fill the plane?
Testing has shown that the A 380 does not need longer runways. But airports may have problems getting people on and off the huge planes. Waiting lines may be very long and passengers could wait for their baggage for some time. "Airbus Industries" says the A 380 will focus on big airports like London, New York or Hong Kong where many people travel to the same city.
cargo = the goods that are transported on a plane or ship
fuel = petrol, oil or gas that makes a car, train or plane move
span = to extend or spread between two limits or across an area
weigh = measure how heavy something is
light = not heavy
destination = a place that someone or something is going to
refuel = to fill up a plane and continue with a journey
headquarters = the home town of a company
runway = the place where a plane lands and takes off
baggage = the bags, suitcases, and personal things that a person carries when travelling
1) The A 380 can carry more passengers than any other plane before it but also needs more fuel for long distance trips.
