Wales
by Joske Vermeule, September 1
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Jun 14th, 2026
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Joined: Sep 2006
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Talk Morgan Guru
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OP
Talk Morgan Guru
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The brand spanking new Airbus 340-600, the largest passenger airplane ever built, sat in its hangar in Toulouse , France without a single hour of airtime. Enter the flight crew of Abu Dhabi Aircraft Technologies (ADAT) on November 15, 2007 to conduct pre-delivery tests on the ground, such as engine run-ups, prior to delivery to Etihad Airways in Abu Dhabi .
The ADAT crew taxied the A340-600 to the run-up area. Then they took all four engines to takeoff power with a virtually empty aircraft. Not having read the run-up manuals, they had no clue just how light an empty A340-600 really is.
The takeoff warning horn was blaring away in the cockpit because they had all 4 engines at full power. The aircraft computers thought they were trying to takeoff but it had not been configured properly (flaps/slats, etc.) Then one of the ADAT crew decided to pull the circuit breaker on the Ground Proximity Sensor to silence the alarm.
This fools the aircraft into thinking it is in the air.
The computers automatically released all the brakes and set the aircraft rocketing forward. The ADAT crew had no idea that this is a safety feature so that pilots can't land with the brakes on.
Not one member of the seven-man crew was smart enough to throttle back the engines from their max power20setting, so the $200 million brand-new aircraft crashed into a blast barrier, totaling it.
The extent of injuries to the crew is unknown, for there has been a news blackout in the major media in France and elsewhere. Coverage of the story was deemed insulting to crews. Finally, the photos are starting to leak out.
   
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New to Talk Morgan
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New to Talk Morgan
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I believe the technical term is Oops
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Talk Morgan Regular
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Talk Morgan Regular
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The brand spanking new Airbus 340-600, the largest passenger airplane ever built,
Not actually entirely accurate The 555 seat, double deck Airbus A380 is the most ambitious civil aircraft program yet. When it enters service in March 2006, the A380 will be the world's largest airliner, easily eclipsing Boeing's 747. The International Directory of Civil Aircraft As Etihad has the 380 on order there is potential for even better photos! 
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Retrobate Has a lot to Say!
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Retrobate Has a lot to Say!
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I suppose the old standy excuse of 'A large dog suddenly ran out in front of me' isn't going to work for the insurance on this one!
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Joined: Sep 2006
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NGUNS!! Part of the Furniture
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NGUNS!! Part of the Furniture
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I suppose the old standy excuse of 'A large dog suddenly ran out in front of me' isn't going to work for the insurance on this one! 
Cheers
BtG
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Mr Fezza Talk Morgan Expert
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Mr Fezza Talk Morgan Expert
Joined: Oct 2006
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Hi Aeroman - this is around a year old this story - unless I'm mistaken and they ahve done it again(!) - wouldn't be totally suprised! Having said that it's an amazing story (I'd not seen it before) and the pictures are rather scary! I have the pleasure of dealing with these people (but not their test crew). I'll make sure not to let them borrow my car ever! More details here if any one is interested... http://www.airlineempires.net/blog/2007/11/26/airbus-a340-meets-wall-airbus-loses/
Last edited by mr_tony; 01/10/08 09:11 AM.
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Maxxed out!
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