Airbus’ A380 flight test aircraft will not now perform a flying display at this year’s Paris Air Show, after one of its wingtips “touched a structure near the taxiway” at Le Bourget airport.
Flight test aircraft MSN004 had been due to carry out a flight display during this year’s show, but Airbus released the following statement yesterday (June 19):
“During ground manoeuvres with the Airbus A380 flight test aircraft MSN 004, the aircraft’s right hand wing-tip touched a structure near the taxiway ‘’Victor’’ at Le Bourget airport at 1550 local time.
“Airbus experts are currently inspecting the aircraft, but it is already confirmed that the A380 MSN04 will not perform the flying display at the Le Bourget Air Show 2011.”
Korean Air is also displaying its new A380 on the ground at the show, and it is believed the aircraft will now replace the test model for flight display purposes.
For an exclusive Tried and tested review of Korean’s A380 aircraft on its inaugural commercial flight between Seoul and Hong Kong, click here, and for a comparison of the six A380 operators, including images, videos and seatplans, click here.
Visit airbus.com, koreanair.com.
Report by Mark Caswell
