1/18/2005: Airbus Unveils the Prototype A380

DALLAS — Today, in 2005, the prototype Airbus A380 Superjumbo was unveiled to the world at an elaborate ceremony in Toulouse, France.

The appropriately registered F-WWOW was hidden behind a large curtain as the event got underway. Dancers put on a show as images of Airbus' catalog of airliners were projected across the massive hangar walls. Finally, children tugged on an array of white cords, which let down the curtain. This revealed the huge jet in all its glory, bathed in blue light.

Speaking at the event was then-French President Jacques Chirac, who told the 5,000 guests that the A380 was "a veritable liner of the skies." He said its debut "is, for all of us, a moment of emotion and pride." The UK's then Prime Minister, Tony Blair, claimed that the A380 "would change the way we travel."

The aircraft was painted in a new Airbus livery. There were 14 launch customers and 149 orders for the A380 and its freighter version, the A380F. The spectacular Reveal ceremony featured fireworks, dry ice, lasers, dancers, and projected images of all of Airbus’ aircraft flying around the hall, while a narrator in the form of a hologram wizard spoke of "the magic of aviation and how the dream of the A380 had become a reality thanks to the vision and spirit of Airbus."

The event was streamed live to hundreds of thousands of people through the airbus.com website – which recorded a record number of visitors - and a number of television channels broadcast it live. Airbus employees enjoyed their own special replica Reveal ceremony, which was broadcast live to employees at Airbus sites around the world.

Maiden Flight

On April 27, F-WWOW, powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engines, operated the type's maiden flight. The flight lasted 3 hours and 54 minutes. Five A380s were built for the rigorous testing program, which lasted over two years.

The airframe went on to become a flying testbed for the manufacturer. Airbus used it to test the engines for the A350-1000.

Emirates took delivery of its 123rd A380 aircraft on December 16, 2021, marking the 251st and final A380 produced by Airbus and delivered to airlines across the globe. Despite the A380's development cost of approximately US$25 billion, Airbus was unable to recover this investment before discontinuing production.

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