Is there a parka big enough to cover a whalejet? We may soon know the answer, as the Airbus A380 is scheduled to make its first-ever flight to North America Monday, where it will undergo cold-weather tests in the Canadian province of Nunavut.
The world's biggest passenger plane faces operational tests in temperatures of 40-below-zero-Celcius. About 50 Airbus engineers will travel to the provincial capital of Iqaluit aboard the along with the A380 to conduct and monitor the tests.
"We're pretty honored to be hosting the first arrival of the newest plane of the 21st century here at Iqaluit," said airport manager John Graham to the Associated Press.
The Iqaluit airport has become a favorite for cold-weather testing, with its VERY cold temperatures -- at this writing, it's a comparatively balmy -18 degrees Celcius, or about zero Fahrenheit -- and 8,900-foot runway.
Aero-News Network
The world's biggest passenger plane faces operational tests in temperatures of 40-below-zero-Celcius. About 50 Airbus engineers will travel to the provincial capital of Iqaluit aboard the along with the A380 to conduct and monitor the tests.
"We're pretty honored to be hosting the first arrival of the newest plane of the 21st century here at Iqaluit," said airport manager John Graham to the Associated Press.
The Iqaluit airport has become a favorite for cold-weather testing, with its VERY cold temperatures -- at this writing, it's a comparatively balmy -18 degrees Celcius, or about zero Fahrenheit -- and 8,900-foot runway.
Aero-News Network
