I see in the newspaper today (Wednesday, July 12)that the Airbus A380 is woefully behind Boeing's 787 Dreamliner in Sales, and that Boeing will have "bragging rights" as the largest aircraft manufacturer in the world.That's pretty good news here in the U.S....although I love flying Airbuses as well as all Boeings in FS.I'd love to have a GREAT Boeing 787 model in FS with real quality (payware or freeware) that also has a great panel with all sideviews and WINGVIEWS. It should also have a superb VC. Are there any in the works, other than the ones that exist already? Stan

I suppose that as Airbus have had the top slot for 5 years running, Boeing would be likely to get it back at some time.Comparing A380 sales to 787 sales seems a bit odd. I mean it's like saying the Eurobus Company sold far fewer 50 seat buses than the US car company sold SUV's.Interesting bit of maths, 787 orders times number of seats compared to A380 orders times max number of seats ;-)What will be interesting is what Airbus are about to announce.Dreamfleet Project ManagerGreatest Airliners - DC-8Greatest Airliners - 727 Whisperjethttp://www.dreamfleet2000.com/gfx/images/F...BANNER_PAUL.jpg

Interesting bit of maths, 787 orders times number of seats compared to A380 orders times max number of seatsYeah, a shame that number of seats doesn't allow a project to break even. :-lolIn any case, I am glad Boeing's back on the lead... Let's see how long it lasts.Daniel P.http://www.precisionmanuals.com/images/forum/supporter.jpgMember of SJU Photography. [A HREF=http://www.jetphotos.net/showphotos.php?userid=9004]Click Here[/A] to view my aircraft photos at JetPhotos.Net!The official psychotic AA painter. :)

Greetings all!As a European with a keen interest in the Airbus-Boeing competition (business competition being GOOD!), I'll venture a little prediction on the future of the A380: plain, undiluted disaster.Not because the aircraft is bad or unpromising, or because it's showing teething problems: ALL new designs tend to do this. The big problem with the enormous 380 lies in the logistics.For some never talked about but undoubtedly nationalist/chauvinist reason, the final assembly HAD to take place in Toulouse, France. That's the worst location for assembling such large components, for they're too large to fly in, there's no sea harbor within any reasonable proximity, and the roads (yes, transport of those enormous parts goes by ROAD!) wind through tiny villages with occasionally barely a couple of centimeters to spare on either side. Some heads have already rolled, but too few and, especially, too late.By deciding on Toulouse as the final assembly place, they killed the 380 before it was even born. Abortus provocatus aeronauticus, one might say...Be well!Jaap Verduijn.

I saw a TV show about Airbus moving the A380 components to Toulouse.It was amazing, moving things by road through those villages. The Airbus exec's seemed happy enough, but I did think, "wow, what an expense and trouble".Rhett