Paris Air Show

Ra · Post by Ra » Mon Jun 13, 2005 9:17 am

CNN.com wrote:Paris Air Show opens at Le Bourget

Monday, June 13, 2005 Posted: 7:38 AM EDT (1138 GMT)

LE BOURGET, France (AP) -- More than 200 planes and helicopters went on show alongside displays of aeronautical and military hardware from 41 countries as the Paris Air Show opened Monday.

Tens of thousands of visitors are expected to descend on Le Bourget airfield, north of the French capital, throughout the aerospace industry's biggest gathering.

French President Jacques Chirac arrived to inaugurate the weeklong show Monday morning and was to tour of the exhibits before witnessing the first display flight, performed by the Airbus A380 "superjumbo."

The 555-seater Airbus drew crowds when it arrived Sunday for its first air show appearance, and looks set to be the star of Le Bourget this year, with flights planned for every day of the show.

But the show comes at a time when Airbus and its parent European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co. are struggling to maintain the lead that Airbus took over Boeing in 2003.

Sales of Boeing's fuel-efficient 787 "Dreamliner" have soared in recent months, while Airbus has yet to get its own mid-size rival A350 off the ground. A decision to launch the A350, initially expected during Le Bourget, has been postponed until September at the latest, EADS said last week.

The newest addition to Boeing's airliner family, the 777-240LR, flew in early Friday and will be part of the static displays.

On the military side, another pair of trans-Atlantic rivals, the Boeing F-15 Super Eagle and Rafale, from France's Dassault Aviation, will go head-to-head with aerobatic displays as the two fighters compete for a 20-plane order from Singapore.

Linky

Robert Walper · Post by **Robert Walper** » Mon Jun 13, 2005 9:22 am

Interesting. Wish I was there. I've never been to an air show myself, and there's a lot of aircraft I'd love to take a peek at. I still haven't seen the 777 model. I only know it's supposed to be bigger than the 747.

Ra · Post by Ra » Mon Jun 13, 2005 9:34 am

I would personally love to see the A380 myself, as well as the 777. I actually didn't know it was bigger than the 747, actually. Makes since though, since the old jumbo is forty years old.
- Ra

Kreshna Aryaguna Nurzaman · Mon Jun 13, 2005 10:28 am

Yup, 747 is only 777 is only 239 feet-long, while 777 is two-feet longer. However, IIRC that big-ass 747 (SR version?) can carry about five hundret passenger, while 777 is about 380 or such.

Now I wish I was there.. Damn, there's aerobatic TGOD between F-15 Super Eagle and Rafale. I really wish I was there....:(

Dartzap · Post by **Dartzap** » Mon Jun 13, 2005 10:38 am

Bet you a tenner that some sort of crash occurs..

Kreshna Aryaguna Nurzaman · Mon Jun 13, 2005 12:28 pm

Dartzap wrote:Bet you a tenner that some sort of crash occurs..

I'm pretty much confident on the Super Eagle's reliability. After all, it's built on the proven concept of F-15 . Not sure about the Rafale though... :P

Ra · Post by Ra » Mon Jun 13, 2005 8:23 pm

It would be a slight surprise on my part if Singapore bought the Rafael. So far, there are no operators outside of the French military. It hasn't been able to attract buyers, quite unlike the Mirage family.
- Ra

Kreshna Aryaguna Nurzaman · Mon Jun 13, 2005 9:18 pm

Ra wrote:It would be a slight surprise on my part if Singapore bought the Rafael. So far, there are no operators outside of the French military. It hasn't been able to attract buyers, quite unlike the Mirage family.
- Ra

IIRC Mirages (be it 2000 or III series) were popular because they're budget fighters. Probably Rafale fails to attract buyers because the "cheap" association of the Mirages?

Ra · Post by Ra » Mon Jun 13, 2005 9:53 pm

That's true. The Rafael is France's attempt at a superfighter, so it costs much more than a Mirage. Nations that traditionally buy the Mirages often can't afford the Rafael, or at least not many of them.
- Ra

frigidmagi · Post by **frigidmagi** » Mon Jun 13, 2005 10:12 pm

Plus there's a hell of a support network assoatated with buying American Fighters.

Kreshna Aryaguna Nurzaman · Mon Jun 13, 2005 10:21 pm

Ra wrote:That's true. The Rafael is France's attempt at a superfighter, so it costs much more than a Mirage. Nations that traditionally buy the Mirages often can't afford the Rafael, or at least not many of them.
- Ra

Yup. I also heard than Rafale often perceived as the "weakest" superfighter compared to the likes of F-22 Raptor and EF2000. Could anyone confirm or deny this?

frigidmagi wrote:Plus there's a hell of a support network assoatated with buying American Fighters.

Plus Rafale is a FRENCH fighter. :P

Cpl Kendall · Post by **Cpl Kendall** » Tue Jun 14, 2005 5:15 pm

Kreshna Aryaguna Nurzaman wrote:
Yup. I also heard than Rafale often perceived as the "weakest" superfighter compared to the likes of F-22 Raptor and EF2000. Could anyone confirm or deny this?

I've heard the same thing.

Info on Rafale

Info on Eurofighter

Info on F-22

I'll let you read and draw your own conclusions. But I think it is.

frigidmagi · Post by **frigidmagi** » Tue Jun 14, 2005 6:13 pm

I should point out that all the super fighter programs have ran into problems.
The Raptor for example has been cut down in number and has suffered assualts for detractors and doubters, while the Eurofighter is victim of many comittee "actions," and the always popular demand for different configurations. Just for some examples.

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