The world’s newest and largest passenger aircraft will make an appearance in Wichita Thursday morning, as the double-deck Airbus A380 will make a low-pass over Wichita Mid-Continent Airport.
The Wichita Airport Authority will be pleased to offer news media the opportunity to see the A380 from the airfield. Pre-registered media will be accommodated in a designated area.
Airbus is bringing the A380 to the skies over Wichita both to salute the longstanding local tradition of aircraft design and manufacturing here as well as to pay tribute to the important engineering work on the aircraft performed by local Wichita employees of Airbus North America Engineering. Airbus’ Wichita staff is assigned full engineering responsibility for the A380 wing. This effort includes all structures engineering and electrical and systems equipment integration, as well as A380 wing program management and program integration responsibility.
Airbus North America Engineering currently employs more than 170 engineers in Wichita and expects to be hiring additional qualified engineers to keep up with the important work on the A380 and other Airbus programs.
The aircraft’s visit to the Wichita area is part of the flight test program for the A380 powered by Engine Alliance GP7200 engines. The Engine Alliance, a joint venture between Pratt & Whitney and General Electric Aviation, was formed in 1996 to develop modern technology engines for new high-capacity, long-range aircraft.
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