THE A380 AND THE GP7200: MAKING THE WORLD SMALLER

Four Engine Alliance GP7200 engines power each Airbus A380, providing the speed, power and efficiency needed to fly commercial aviation’s longest legs with ease.

Engine Alliance – the engine manufacturer behind the A380.

Before entering service on Emirates’ A380s in 2008, the GP7200 required more than a decade of engineering. Developing an engine to handle the A380’s size and complex aerodynamics demanded volumes of original research.

Quiet power

Power enough to lift such an aircraft was only one consideration. To be viable for airports, the A380 was going to be held to stringent noise standards, along with high maneuverability on the ground.

Consistent durability

Because the bulk of the service was centered in the Middle East, the demands on the engine to withstand unrelenting heat and the destructive forces of wind and sand were unprecedented.

Affordable efficiency

Fuel burn would be one of the most critical measurements of the engine’s success. Fractions of percentages of efficiency could swing millions in operating costs one way or the other.

Incredible size

Then there was the “simple” problem of transporting an engine for assembly. As there was only one aircraft in the world large enough to carry a fully assembled GP7200 from engine manufacturer to assembly site, a cost-effective modular shipping system would have to be devised.

See how Engine Alliance solved all these problems to become the leading manufacturer with the best-performing engine for the A380.

A380 and GP7200 – a powerful team.

Dubai to Auckland.

Dubai to Auckland.

The A380 features an 8,200 nautical-mile range (15,200 km), enabling it to service some of the longest routes in commercial aviation.

Approaching the speed of sound

Approaching the speed of sound

With a cruise speed of .85 Mach and a top speed of 634 mph, the A380 ranks among the top five fastest airliners.

Powerfully economical

Powerfully economical

A fuel capacity of nearly 82,000 gallons, a fuel consumption rate of 10 g/nm and space for up to 853 passengers makes the A380 more fuel efficient per passenger than an average economy car.