Bjorn’s Corner: Airliner yaw stability

Feb. 22, 2019, ©. Leeham News: After discussing an airliner’s pitch stability we now turn to the yaw stability. A stable aircraft in yaw means we don’t want the aircraft to wag its tail sideways while flying. The… Read More

Airbus, Boeing pause on some production rate hikes

Subscription Required Introduction Feb. 21, 2019, © Leeham News: Airbus is boosting the A320 production to 60/mo this year and 63/mo next year. But it’s put a pause on increasing the A350 rate from 10/mo to 13/mo. Boeing… Read More

A380 end opens opportunity for A350-2000

Subscription Required Introduction Feb. 18, 2019 © Leeham News: Airbus’ decision to end the A380 program clears the path, if chosen, for a plane that was studied three or four years ago: the stretch of the A350-1000 to… Read More

Pontifications: Which airplanes are revolutionary or evolutionary?

Feb. 18, 2019, © Leeham News: Last week’s column about the revolutionary Boeing 747 prompted some Twitter interaction asking what other commercial airplanes might be considered “revolutionary.” I have my views. Let’s ask readers. There are also three… Read More

A380 launch aid in limbo at WTO, member states following program termination

Feb. 14, 2019, © Leeham News: Termination of the A380 program leaves unanswered Airbus’ obligation of outstanding launch aid from France and Germany. But apparently it removes any overhang of this aid in the long running trade dispute… Read More

Airbus’ 2018 results conference: Enders hands Faury a clean deck

By Bjorn Fehrm February 14, 2019, ©. Leeham News: Airbus announced its 2018 results today at a press conference in Toulouse. It was the last Yearly press conference for Airbus CEO Tom Enders and CFO Harald Wilhelm. Both… Read More

A simple solution to congested skies

By Dan Catchpole Danieljcatchpole[at]gmail[dot]com Subscription Required Introduction Feb. 14, 2019, ©. Leeham News: Flight delays cost the airline industry Traffic back ups are increasing–so much so that Airbus has invested in improving air traffic management to avoid congestion… Read More

Airbus ends the A380 program

Feb. 13, 2019, © Leeham News: Airbus announced today (Seattle time, Feb. 14 in Toulouse) that it is terminating the A380 program. The last airplane will roll off the assembly line in 2021, for Emirates Airlines. Emirates cancelled… Read More

A380 program termination expected tomorrow

Feb. 13, 2019, © Leeham News: Airbus is expected to announce tomorrow the termination of the A380 program, a move that had been rumored for weeks. Tomorrow is Airbus’ annual press conference for 2018 results. Its Board of… Read More

A380 termination good for Airbus, tough on suppliers, analyst says

Feb. 11, 2019, © Leeham News: Terminating the A380 program may be a blessing in disguise for Airbus, writes a US aerospace analyst. At the same time, it could cause headaches for the supply chain. Carter Copeland of… Read More