What is the glide ratio of a A380?

The A380 has a glide ratio of about 15:1, which means that for every 15 kilometers (9 miles) it travels horizontally, it loses 1 kilometer (0.6 miles) of altitude. Therefore, if an A380 is cruising at 12 kilometers (7 miles) above sea level, it can glide for about 180 kilometers (110 miles) before reaching the ground.



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The A380 will be able to glide for about 30 minutes, covering a distance of 110 miles from a starting point of 35,000 feet. It would be able to stop without reverse thrust.

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Without engine thrust, the 747 had a glide ratio of 15:1, meaning it can glide forward 15 kilometres for every kilometre it drops. After calculating the glide ratio, the crew realized that they had less than 30 minutes to regain power before they smashed into the ground.

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The key measure of performance in gliding is the glide ratio which is related to the lift-to-drag ratio of the aircraft. The glide ratio of a clean A320 is 17:1 which means it can travel 17 units of distance forwards for every 1 unit of distance downward at best glide speed.

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For example, if an aircraft is said to travel 2.5 nm with every 1000 ft loss in altitude, its glide ratio is equal to 15:1. This is the typical glide ratio of an airliner. Gliders have better glide ratios. There are gliders with glide ratios of 70:1.

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Because the A380 is so large and heavy, you'll get a very smooth ride without feeling much turbulence.

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An A380 crosses the landing threshold at a docile 140 knots and touches down, depending on its landing weight, at a speed as slow as 130 knots, about the same touchdown speed of some corporate jets that weigh 1/50th as much as the world's biggest airliner.

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While it is possible for an A380 to operate on a single engine, it is not ideal as the aircraft would experience a decrease in speed, drag, and loss of altitude, making it crucial for the crew to restart the other engines or find a suitable airport for an emergency landing.

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Specifically, the Airbus A380 handles turbulence very well!

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