philidor
in service - 6 years
Posts: 8,950
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Post by philidor on Jan 9, 2018 14:12:12 GMT 1
Gosh things are that theoretical are they nowadays that the computer models suggest it will work, the whole machine is built and only then are specific joints tested to see if they are robust enough? Part of me felt that they might have done the testing on real materials before final construction but in the immortal words of Manuel 'I know naathing'! Of course, they test everything at different stages. They perform a simulation first, then they test all components, sub-systems and systems. The final ground and flight tests are an additional layer of security, hopefully just to reconfirm that everything is fine.
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Post by airboche on Jan 9, 2018 15:25:19 GMT 1
Is a number of five the absolute maximum to be built? Wouldn't they need more? What about checks and repairs after all of the old Beluga 1s are retired? Is this production run so tight limited because of the simplified certification?
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Post by stealthmanbob on Jan 9, 2018 16:17:25 GMT 1
Is a number of five the absolute maximum to be built? Wouldn't they need more? What about checks and repairs after all of the old Beluga 1s are retired? Is this production run so tight limited because of the simplified certification? You are right, 5s your limit for the simplified "prototype" style certification process. The 5 XLs will be able to move nearly 35% more cargo (parts) then the current Belugas with the same number of flights !
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mjoelnir
in service - 2 years
Posts: 4,089
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Post by mjoelnir on Jan 9, 2018 16:55:27 GMT 1
In the moment the plan is to decommission one Beluga for every Beluga XL coming into use.
If their would be a need for more frames, it would be easy to build a second run of frames, changed so one would be able to move it under another simplified prototype certification. They would be even able to use the A340-500, because not every frame would have than to land in Broughton.
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philidor
in service - 6 years
Posts: 8,950
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Post by philidor on Jan 9, 2018 17:24:09 GMT 1
If Airbus were to need more Belugas in the future, I think they would bring as few changes as possible to keep the task simple.
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Post by kevin5345179 on Jan 9, 2018 17:24:41 GMT 1
In the moment the plan is to decommission one Beluga for every Beluga XL coming into use. If their would be a need for more frames, it would be easy to build a second run of frames, changed so one would be able to move it under another simplified prototype certification. They would be even able to use the A340-500, because not every frame would have than to land in Broughton. I thought Beluga will be in service at least until 2025 while EIS for Beluga XL is next year ...
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Post by stealthmanbob on Jan 9, 2018 17:46:54 GMT 1
In the moment the plan is to decommission one Beluga for every Beluga XL coming into use. If their would be a need for more frames, it would be easy to build a second run of frames, changed so one would be able to move it under another simplified prototype certification. They would be even able to use the A340-500, because not every frame would have than to land in Broughton. I thought Beluga will be in service at least until 2025 while EIS for Beluga XL is next year ... Beluga #5 is only 17 years old, #1 is 23 years old. So #5 can carry on for 7-10 more years, they might even monthball it in the end, and keep it as an emergency spare ?
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mjoelnir
in service - 2 years
Posts: 4,089
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Post by mjoelnir on Jan 9, 2018 17:50:57 GMT 1
In the moment the plan is to decommission one Beluga for every Beluga XL coming into use. If their would be a need for more frames, it would be easy to build a second run of frames, changed so one would be able to move it under another simplified prototype certification. They would be even able to use the A340-500, because not every frame would have than to land in Broughton. I thought Beluga will be in service at least until 2025 while EIS for Beluga XL is next year ... It takes a while to build all Beluga XL and commission them. This one starts with test flights for the certification, necessary even if it is only the symplyfied prototype certification. I would assume that 2025 is when the last Beluga leaves. Perhaps it happens earlier if everything goes well with the XL.
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XWB
in service - 11 years
Posts: 16,115
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Post by XWB on Jan 9, 2018 17:52:11 GMT 1
According to Airbus itself, the current Beluga is due for retirement by 2025.
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Post by kevin5345179 on Feb 3, 2018 19:19:52 GMT 1
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