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[AVIATION] STORY BEHIND NAME: WHY IS IT CALLED AIRBUS A380?

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AIRBUS A3XX JUMBO AIRLINER

Just recently, the last superjumbo rolled out of its hangar and departed for its maiden flight. While the history of the A380 does not end with that – the giant will most likely remain flying in the skies for decades to come – the end of the aircraft production is still a bitter date for its fans. 

By Valius Venckunas

Nevertheless, it should be remembered that this aircraft’s birth was as dramatic as its size. For over a decade Airbus, and its various divisions, worked on the concept of the world’s largest airliner. It went through various stages, one weirder than another, and became the aircraft we know and love through thousands of decisions made by hundreds of engineers. 

One of those decisions was the name of the aircraft. Believe it or not, there was a very high chance the A380 would be called differently. Through its development, it had a lot of names before the company settled on the current one. 

Birth of the A3XX

The first project that would later become the A380 was initiated by Airbus in 1988. It was called the UHCA: Ultra High Capacity Aircraft. Quite predictably, one of the goals for it was to break Boeing’s monopoly in the jumbo market and create something that could rival the legendary 747. But it would have also competed with other similar projects by Lockheed Martin and McDonnel Douglas. Building a massive double-decker aircraft just seemed like a perfect idea at the time.

The first idea for the UHCA – drafted by Airbus engineer and the mastermind behind the A330 and A340 Jean Roeder – was to attach two A340 fuselages to each other side-by-side, making the aircraft ultra-wide, instead of double-decked. This model was called HDB (horizontal double-bubble), and while the concept did not progress much further, it became the earliest version of what would later become the A380.

Still not throwing away the HDB, the team behind the ULCA project came up with another idea. They pitted various Airbus subsidiaries against each other to design the superjumbo, with an expectation to eventually merge their creations into one. So, in the early 90s, a whole bunch of European double-decker jet proposals appeared, such as the DASA A2000 and the BAe AC14. While all of them could be considered as predecessors of the A380 – as the final aircraft inherited a lot of their features – there was no chance that either one of them would be built or that Airbus’ final superjumbo would be called by any of their names.

In 1993, three of them got joined together and the real development of the A380 began. Those were the DASA P502/P602 (further developments of the A2000), the BAe AC 14, and the Aerospatiale ASX 500/600. All of them were called the Family 1 by Airbus, and the working title of the aircraft that could be born from joining them was the 3E P500-100 (smaller version) and the 3E P500-200 (larger version). 

Variants, variants, variants

Of course, we know that a new Airbus aircraft with a name like that would sound weird. Airbus names start with “A3” – a tradition that began a long time ago and has a story of its own. 

The new airplane would have to follow that format. But what number would it get? Airbus already had A300, A310, A320, A330, and A340. The logical answer would be A350, right?

For many, that was not apparent. At this early stage, Airbus did not want to reveal too much and renamed the project to the A3YY. This meant that the airplane was on route to become a real member of the Airbus lineup, quite a big deal for the company. It was also a rather brief moment. For one reason or another, the “Y” got changed into “X” shortly and when Airbus started presenting their new creation to the wide public, it already had a name that stuck to it for many years to come: the A3XX.

However, at that point it was still not clear how the airplane would eventually look. Even the HDB, the twin-A340 design, was still being seriously considered, by this point becoming the A3XX-H600. The conjoined 3E P500 project, a collection of Family 1 airplanes, got designated the A3XX-V600.

By 1994, the H600 was thrown away as not economical enough and the Family 1 got combined into one aircraft. The A3XX took its now-familiar shape, with two versions: the base A3XX-100 with approximately 500 seats and the A3XX-200 with approximately 600 seats. Meanwhile, its evolutionary stages, with subtle changes to the airframe, got assigned internal designations: Status 1, Status 2, Status 3, and so on, until Status 10. The tenth variant was what we would recognize as the A380 today. 

With the design nearly finished, the talks with potential customers began. A long-range variant, the A3XX-100R, was added to the lineup in 1996, following some recommendations. In 1997, it was joined by the A3XX-50, a shortened variant specifically for Lufthansa (LHAB) (LHA). The A3XX-100E freighter (later renamed the A3XX-100F) and the A3XX-100C combi (half-freighter half-passenger aircraft) were also in the works. Airbus was drawing crowds at airshows with scale models of the A3XX, and the future seemed bright. 

Rebranding

But then, several problems struck. The Asian financial crisis began, forcing many potential customers to back off. The Airbus design team was also unable to meet the required fuel efficiency levels that would make the A3XX much more attractive than the competing Boeing 747. The program slowed down. Had it not, there was a large chance that the superjumbo would have been called the Airbus A350 to this day, with its -50, -100, -200, and other variants ‒ a logical continuation after the A340.

By 2000, there were fears that the aircraft would never see the light of day, just like many of its superjumbo peers. Despite an interest from airlines, a new push was needed. And a rebranding.

In the last months of that year, Airbus came to a decision: the aircraft was going to be launched and it would have the final name: the A380. 

There are many versions of why the company jumped from “4” straight to “8”. Some say it was because such a sequence left the gap that could later be filled by intermediary aircraft – larger than the A340, but not as large as the A380. Others say that it was because “8” is considered a lucky number in China – a badly needed symbolic boost, considering the company’s relative failure in Asia. 

While those are valid guesses, and likely contributed to the decision in their own right, the man behind that decision is of a different opinion. As Guy Norris and Mark Wagner write in their book “Airbus A380: superjumbo of the 21st century”, Noël Forgeard – the CEO of Airbus SAS at the time – had a different idea. 

“8 suggests double-decks, one on top of the other,” Forgeard reportedly said. And so, the decision was made, and the name got stuck to the aircraft. 

The whole proposed family underwent a significant revamp too. The A3XX-50, the smallest variant, was dropped. Another, larger stretch was proposed. The old designation system – with -100, -200, and so on – was dropped due to sounding “obsolete”, and the new outlook of the family was drafted, with numbers that would better emphasize the size and the advancement of the airplane: the A380-700, the A380-800, and the A380-900. With these three models, the aircraft was launched. Later joined by the ultimate version, the A380-1000, and the freighter A380F, the aircraft seemed to be the successful forerunner of the new market. Until it wasn’t. But that is a story for another day.

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DSS-EFCC FACE OFF: CONTENTIOUS PROPERTY (15A AWOLOWO ROAD IKOYI) BIRTHPLACE OF NSO-DSS – AFUNANYA

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…Says no rivalry between the Service and the EFCC who are partners working for the good of the nation.

The Department of the State Security Service, DSS, Tuesday denied reports making the round that its officials engaged in a fight with the officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC over Lagos property.

Reports have emerged this morning that DSS prevented officials of the anti-graft agency from gaining access to their office in Ikoyi, Lagos.

It was reported that the said building was barricaded by secret agents and an armoured tank was parked at the front of the building.

Reacting to the report in a statement sent to Vanguard, Peter Afunanya PhD fsi, Public Relations Officer, Department of State Services, faults the report, noting that DSS was only occupying its facility where it is carrying out its official and statutory responsibility.

He advised the general public to dismiss the purported report, noting that DSS was never in a fight with EFCC.

His words: “The attention of the Department of State Services (DSS) has been drawn to some media reports that it barricaded the EFCC from entering its Lagos office. It is not correct that the DSS barricaded EFCC from entering its office. No. It is not true. The Service is only occupying its own facility where it is carrying out its official and statutory responsibility.

“By the way, there is no controversy over No 15A Awolowo Road as being insinuated by the Media. Did the EFCC tell you it is contesting the ownership of the building? I will be surprised if it is contesting the ownership. Awolowo Road was NSO headquarters. SSS/DSS started from there. It is common knowledge. It is a historical fact. Check it out.

“There is no rivalry between the Service and the EFCC over and about anything. Please do not create any imaginary ones. They are great partners working for the good of the nation. Dismiss any falsehood of a fight.”

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YOU MAY NOT LIKE THESE CREEPERS; WELL, THEY ARE PARTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY

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This is called the Oniscidae. You may find them under a brick or a damp object.

You may have felt disgusted and wondered why they exist in nature. Well, let me tell you, the oniscidae, better known as cochineal, is a subgroup of isopod crustaceans whose function is to remove harmful heavy metals from the earth such as mercury, cadmium and lead.

They contribute to the cleansing of soil and groundwater to reaffirm the wisdom of nature.

Do not damage them or spray pesticides.

credit to: Sheher Yar/National Geographic

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AIRPLANE LIGHTS: WHAT EACH LIGHT DOES (RED/GREEN, STROBE, BEACON)

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You may have noticed the seemingly random flashing and solid lights on an aircraft and wondered what they are supposed to mean. This article will explain all the different lights you may encounter on an airplane and their purpose.

Although every aircraft may have slightly different lights, a framework of the same types of lights exists. The types of lights fitted to an aircraft depend on the type of aircraft, operation, and even the time of day.

In general, external lights can be divided according to three different purposes:

  • To illuminate areas that the pilots need to see.
  • To make the aircraft more visible.
  • To provide illumination for various purposes.

Many of the lights fitted to an aircraft serve more than one of the purposes mentioned above. For example, the landing lights provide illumination for the pilots but also make the plane more visible.

Although many lights are legally required, a surprising amount are not, and a broken light will seldom cancel or even delay a flight because they are relatively easy to replace.

Now let’s examine the most common lights fitted to aircraft, according to the three different purposes.

Lights That Make the Aircraft More Visible

Navigation-Lights

Navigation lights (also referred to as position lights) are required for all aircraft operating at night.

Back when ships were the primary means of transportation, ship operators quickly realized that collisions were happening far too often. As a result, green, red, and white lights were added to certain positions on ships. When aircraft were invented and became more advanced, they were added to them in the same places.

The right wingtip contains the green light, with the red light located on the left wingtip. The white light is located on the aircraft’s tail and sometimes additionally on the wingtips, facing backward (aft).

These lights allow an observer to determine the position and direction of an aircraft. For example, if an airplane were flying directly towards you, you would see a green then red light (from left to right). If an aircraft were flying past you towards your left, you would only see a red light.

Pilots have jokingly created different phrases for remembering what seeing certain lights mean, such as “Green then red, turn right or you’re dead” when an aircraft is approaching head-on.

Although only a requirement for flying at night, pilots generally have these lights turned on all the time to increase visibility.

Beacon (Red Anti-Collision) Lights

Beacon lights, also known as anti-collision lights, indicate when an aircraft is in operation. They are sometimes referred to as rotating beacon lights, harking back to the days when these lights did rotate.

Beacon lights are flashing red lights located on the top and (on larger aircraft) the bottom of the airplane. They are turned on as soon as the pilots begin the process of starting the engines and are only switched off after the engines have been shut down.

Beacon lights flash in an alternating on/off fashion. Newer aircraft such as the latest Boeing and Airbus airplanes use LED (Light-Emitting Diode) lights as anti-collision lights, and their red flash (the “on” cycle) is noticeably longer than their Xenon counterparts.

If you see any aircraft on an apron, the fastest way to determine if that aircraft will start its engines (and if you need to stay away) is to look for the flashing beacon lights.

Strobe (White Anti-Collison) Lights

Strobe lights, also known as anti-collision lights, are flashing white lights located on the wingtips of an aircraft. On some planes, these lights flash in rapid bursts, while on most aircraft, they flash in a regular on/off manner.

These lights are only used during flight and on the runway, as they are too bright for use on the ground, particularly at night.

LED lights are commonly used for strobe lights, particularly on newer aircraft.

Lights That Illuminate Areas the Pilots Need to See

Taxi Lights

Quite simple and true to their name, taxi lights are used to illuminate the taxiway so that the pilots don’t have to guess where they’re going at night (this, as you can imagine, is very helpful).

These lights are typically located on the nose gear strut and the wing. They are also commonly integrated with landing lights, where landing lights on a dimmer setting are used as taxi lights.

Landing Lights

Landing-Lights

Landing lights are the most powerful and provide the most significant illumination to the flight crew. You will typically find landing lights mounted on the wing, nose, or beneath the fuselage of an aircraft. They are positioned downward to illuminate the runway and, as mentioned earlier, are sometimes used as taxi lights when dimmed.

In addition to providing illumination for the crew, landing lights also improve the aircraft’s visibility. On newer aircraft, supplementary systems such as the Alternating Landing Light System (ALLS) pulse the left and right landing lights in alternating fashion, further increasing visibility. These systems can even be found on newer General Aviation (GA) aircraft such as the Cessna 172, with a “recognition light” setting activating the ALLS.

Interestingly, on the newer GA Cessna aircraft, one LED landing light on each wing serves as the landing, taxi, and ALLS enabled recognition lights, controlled by one switch with two modes – landing and taxi/recognition. Suppose the switch is set to taxi, and the aircraft is flying above 40 knots; In that case, the lights automatically change from dim taxi lights (half of the total amount of LEDs) to full alternating pulsing landing lights, known as recognition lights.

Runway Turnoff Lights

Runway turnoff lights share many similarities with landing lights but are not as bright and are positioned on either side of the aircraft’s nose to illuminate the exits of a runway. Typically found on the nose strut, these lights also assist the pilots during tight turns, as the primary taxi lights generally only illuminate the area in front of the aircraft.

Wing Inspection Lights

Wing inspection lights are mounted on the aircraft fuselage and point backward toward the wing. They are used to aid ground and flight crew in detecting ice formation on the wing.

Various Purpose Lighting

Searchlights

Some military and law enforcement aircraft are equipped with searchlights that are used to illuminate objects on the ground.

Logo Lights

logo-lights

Logo lights are lights mounted on the horizontal stabilizer of an aircraft and point upward toward the vertical stabilizer, illuminating the airline’s logo. On older aircraft, they are sometimes located on the wingtips, pointing backward.

These lights are not a legal requirement and were initially introduced as a marketing topic for aircraft manufacturers but have since proved useful.

These lights aid others in visually identifying an aircraft at night, increasing aircraft visibility in the air.

Formation Lights

Some military aircraft have dedicated lights positioned on the plane to aid pilots in maintaining the correct position when flying in formation. They are often only visible in the infrared spectrum, which is visible only when using night vision equipment, allowing the aircraft to keep their lights off for operational reasons.

Conclusion

You now have a unique understanding of the reasoning behind the flurry of flashing, different colored, and bright lights located on an airplane. It turns out it’s more than just a Christmas tree simulator!

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