philidor
in service - 6 years
Posts: 8,950
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Post by philidor on Nov 25, 2014 9:47:35 GMT 1
How difficult would it be to change engines (he says with a complete lack of technical knowledge)? Is it a sufficiently difficult/expensive procedure to become a significant show stopper? A different engine also requires at least another nacelle and another pylon. I guess there are other differences I am not aware of. Changing all this, and re-using the present engine and pylon on another frame is possible of course, but it would be time-consuming, expensive, and not so simple as one might think (there are several versions of each engine type - if the next one comes with some improvements, will the BC one be accepted by a customer ?). I think Airbus would only do that as a last resort, if the frame could not be sold as is. |
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noistar
Final Assembly Line stage 2
Posts: 388
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Post by noistar on Nov 25, 2014 12:53:27 GMT 1
How difficult would it be to change engines (he says with a complete lack of technical knowledge)? Is it a sufficiently difficult/expensive procedure to become a significant show stopper? A different engine also requires at least another nacelle and another pylon. I guess there are other differences I am not aware of. Changing all this, and re-using the present engine and pylon on another frame is possible of course, but it would be time-consuming, expensive, and not so simple as one might think (there are several versions of each engine type - if the next one comes with some improvements, will the BC one be accepted by a customer ?). I think Airbus would only do that as a last resort, if the frame could not be sold as is. What will happen to ex-emirates frames? More frames have EA but more airlines use RR Perhaps Airbus will come up with a relatively straightforward procedure to change engine types |
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s543
in service - 2 years
Posts: 3,959 
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Post by s543 on Nov 25, 2014 13:41:58 GMT 1
......What will happen to ex-emirates frames? More frames have EA but more airlines use RR Perhaps Airbus will come up with a relatively straightforward procedure to change engine types That is very very hard to imagine. I would guess it is almost impossible. |
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Post by FabienA380 on Nov 25, 2014 14:29:54 GMT 1
My idea on this is that second-hand A380s would be somewhat interesting price-wise, I would then imagine that many airlines could be interested in acquire some, leading to think that they might not be too picky if the frame doesn't have the engine that they would have liked them to have?.... I might be wrong.
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noistar
Final Assembly Line stage 2
Posts: 388
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Post by noistar on Nov 25, 2014 14:46:52 GMT 1
My idea on this is that second-hand A380s would be somewhat interesting price-wise, I would then imagine that many airlines could be interested in acquire some, leading to think that they might not be too picky if the frame doesn't have the engine that they would have liked them to have?.... I might be wrong. Do airlines have lease/maintenance contracts on engines? In which case would it be more of an issue that it seems. Airbus have had RR - EA Conversion experience, plus I imagine the A350 engine on MSN001 was at list a bit different to the original. If it's merely a pylon swap, it must be straightforward- but I openly confess ignorance. Would Transaero, or leasing companies be less fussy about, the second-handness of the Skymark frames might not be an issue. |
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someone
in service - 1 year
Posts: 3,334
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Post by someone on Nov 25, 2014 14:58:38 GMT 1
Do airlines have lease/maintenance contracts on engines? Yes, and often the owner of the engine is not the same as the owner of the airframe |
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philidor
in service - 6 years
Posts: 8,950
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Post by philidor on Nov 25, 2014 16:04:34 GMT 1
My idea on this is that second-hand A380s would be somewhat interesting price-wise, I would then imagine that many airlines could be interested in acquire some, leading to think that they might not be too picky if the frame doesn't have the engine that they would have liked them to have?.... I might be wrong. You are right, second-hand frames might be a real bargain, especially if leased ! The BC frames are different, as Airbus obviously needs to sell them as new. They 'll eventually be sold, but we'll never know at what price ... I would like to point out that Skymark has a huge stake resting on that sale. To settle their dispute with Airbus, they will have to compensate Airbus for all losses resulting from the breach of contract, especially the differences between agreed contract prices and actual selling prices (if the latter are lower), so Skymark certainly hopes Airbus will get a very good price ... Of course, Airbus will have to show that they did their best efforts to re-market the aircraft. |
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Post by peter on Nov 25, 2014 16:59:48 GMT 1
......What will happen to ex-emirates frames? More frames have EA but more airlines use RR Perhaps Airbus will come up with a relatively straightforward procedure to change engine types That is very very hard to imagine. I would guess it is almost impossible. It is not impossible (technically) but seldom done (due to finances) to change the engine type on second hand aircraft. Only a few examples from the past show that it is only done to lower costs. I'm thinking here about Convair propliners which were converted from piston to turbo prop engines and the DC-8-60 which was converted to the (somewhat less) fuel guzzling DC-8-70. Changing engines on second hand A380's would be costly without any financial gains in the future from that change, because the EA and RR engines differ only marginal from each other. |
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s543
in service - 2 years
Posts: 3,959
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Post by s543 on Nov 25, 2014 17:08:29 GMT 1
Right, but the changes were done on DC8, on 707 owned by ARMY/NAVY (over 500 pcs), but those were planes almost without electronics, I imagine that all the electronics around the engines is completely different and to change that... + all that corresponds with it !
I believe that mechanically it would not be such a big deal, but all together - forget it.
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UK380
First Flight
Posts: 788
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Post by UK380 on Nov 25, 2014 17:13:50 GMT 1
for the sake of completeness this aircraft was seen stored on the A380 test ramp yesterday, 24th Nov.
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