Ops-Normal.org

Someone linked me to a video on FB of an A380 landing about 20 seconds after a preceding aircraft (A330?) started its take off roll. It seems to be at Farnborough, so I'm prepared to believe they were that close in separation but operating pretty much empty. The A380 wingspan is much wider than the Farnborough runway.

In doing measurements I noted that the runway at Farnborough appear to only be 4000ft long between the piano keys and got to wondering what the unladen performance of an A380 is - how short a runway does it need for take off and landing? I'm guessing the ballpark figure is "not much" if everything was dialled up to 11. The departing aircraft looks like it only used about 2000ft. I assume they've done the numbers and someone in ATC was ready and told the departing aircraft "GO!" at the appropriate point in the A380 approach.

Both those aircraft types displayed at the last two Farnborough airshows (the last in 2018 being probably the very last show ever at Farnborough and possibly one of the last for the A380 as well)!

O tempora o mores!

The short take off and climb performance (high alpha) of the A380 with minimal fuel and minimal load save for the pilots was extraordinary to behold for such a large aircraft. Don't know the numbers for that aircraft but no doubt an A380 Captain will happen upon your interesting question and answer it.



For the A380 take off go to 2:36

I couldn't help myself. I had to look it up.

A380 800

5000 ft seems to be the shortest a production aircraft might be looking at for a take off but place two test pilots in a very light aircraft and magic happens...