| Description:
The back reads:
A fascinating behind-the-scenes film documenting the construction and assembly of the worlds biggest airliner. The technical and logistical challenges are extreme, resulting in an extraordinary international effort with teams from 30 countries including Britain, France, Germany and Spain contributing to one of the largest industrial projects in history.
The Airbus A380 is more advanced than any airliner that has flown before and can fly no-stop a third of the way around the world. It is three times as long as a blue whale and five times heavy. The tip of the plane tail is as tall as an eight storey building. The four Rolls Royce engines, built in Derby, cost the same as four tons of solid gold.
At every stage of its design, the sheer scale of the project has thrown up new problems that have required completely new approaches. Even the plumbing and in-fight entertainment systems have necessitated the creation of record-breaking design and testing facilities.
The Components are transported thousands of miles by land and sea for final assembly Toulouse headquarters. The Multi-million pound wings are manufactured in Broughton, Wales at a plant the size of twelve football pitches. Their journey to France includes heart-stopping navigation under a bridge, where the water level must be precisely calculated to avoid disaster.
Finally, the worlds press, Heads of State, major airlines and ten thousand VIPs arrive in Toulouse to witness the historic first test flight of the most ambitious plane ever. |
